Communications Officer
Full TimeBookmark Details
We are recruiting a Communications Officer within Defra Group Communications, working for our Operations and Local Communications team.
Operational and Local Communications teams plan, deliver and evaluate strategic communications activity to help Defra, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission and the Animal and Plant Health Agency deliver their organisational priorities. They also help to identify, plan for, and respond to incidents and high-risk reputational issues such as flooding, pollution, and disease outbreaks.
Area communications teams work closely with operational delivery teams and other specialist communications teams to advise on, plan, and deliver communications activities that support behaviour change, warning and informing, and reputation management.
You will need to be able to develop good relationships with a wide range of staff and be a strong communicator. You’ll be confident working across a range of channels and have experience in handling multiple streams of work simultaneously. You’ll also have a passion for evaluation and be able to utilise evaluation tools to gather data and insights to support the team in showcasing the work we deliver.
Job description
Communications Officers lead on the development and delivery of communications plans in support of organisational priorities, contributing throughout the lifespan of communications projects. This will routinely involve:
- Horizon scanning and identification of risks and opportunities
- Agreeing communications objectives
- Designing and developing messaging and content, including press releases and high-impact social media content
- Managing journalists and social media accounts
- Responding to media requests
- Briefing spokespeople and supporting them during interviews
- Evaluating and reporting on communications activities
- Participating in incident response activities, including contributing to an out-of-hours duty rota.
Person specification
Candidates are expected to meet the IO core communications competencies outlined in the Government Communications Core Competency Framework, with experience of:
- Developing and delivering communications plans, including evaluation
- Working well under pressure and meeting tight deadlines
- Working flexibly across a number of different priorities
- Responding to reactive media enquiries, drafting and issuing media statements
- Creating innovative social media content and contributing to the design of communications plans and campaigns that aim to change public behaviour
- Giving advice and guidance on brand identity and publishing
- Tactical delivery across a range of communications channels including campaigning, internal communications, broadcast, social or print media
- Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of internal and external communications
- Building and maintaining relationships with key local customers and communications colleagues
- Displaying strong written and verbal communications skills
- Displaying a keen awareness of the current news, digital trends and political landscape.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a CV, 500 word personal statement, and Civil Service Behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
For your personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of the criteria in the person specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates, as well as the interview location, to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Strengths and the following Civil Service Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, and Seeing the Big Picture.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s). Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :Sarah Mellodew
- Email :[email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email :[email protected]
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission:
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
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