Senior Strategic Communication Officer (SEO) - Infected Blood Compensation Authority
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
In recognition of the hurt caused by the infected blood scandal and highlighted by the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI), compensation will be paid to those infected and affected. This role is an opportunity to join a new Arms Length Body – the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) – as we build a team of Communications and Engagement professionals to put the infected and affected community at the heart of our communications and support them to get the compensation they are entitled to.
The number one goal for this new organisation is to build and maintain trust with its users. Effective, open and transparent communications will play an important part in this.
The Communications and Engagement team sits at the heart of the IBCA to ensure we explain the new compensation scheme with clarity, simplicity and effectiveness.
Job description
This is a critical role responsible for ensuring we plan and deliver communication about the development of IBCA and the creation of the service to pay compensation so that those entitled to compensation can take action to access the service and be paid the compensation.
You will deliver a range of externally-focussed channels and products that target the broad mix of our audience, ensuring that we stay audience-focussed with content that is targeted, bespoke and effective.
We are creative, fast-working and encourage collaboration. With a big job to do you’ll be striving for innovation and excellence as we build the team together.
Job holders in this grade will carry out a range of activities across communications. This may involve being deployed across functional areas to support priority work.
Responsibilities
- Plan and oversee the delivery of planned communications IBCA, incorporating a range of audiences and channels.
- Task lead a team of Communication Officers; allocating and overseeing their work based on team and business priorities while supporting and helping them develop.
- Identify opportunities to promote IBCA messages and support those we serve.
- Build and maintain strong relationships across the organisation and externally with appropriate stakeholders and Other Government Department officials to enable accurate, appropriate and timely delivery of key messages.
- Provide strategic communications advice, counsel and constructive challenge to senior managers and others as required on how communications can help support IBCA objectives.
- Develop and deliver the overall approach to insight, evaluation and reporting across the team.
- Commission additional research to gain insight into issues, where required.
- Identify and manage emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit IBCA's work.
- Contribute to strategic plans, evaluation documents, reports and other IBCA communications materials and briefings.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience of developing and delivering clear, accurate and effective communications plans and products
- Excellent written skills with the ability to take complex policy information and explain it to non-expert audiences in a straightforward way
- Experience of tracking the effectiveness of communication efforts across a team and providing insights for improvement
- Experience of effectively planning and overseeing the work of a team to hit delivery expectations
- Experience of working collaboratively across teams with colleagues at all levels and with external stakeholders
- Ability to work in a fast paced, demanding and unpredictable environment with the ability to prioritise work, often under pressure
- Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to challenge decisions should it be necessary.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of managing colleagues.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Government Communication Service – Implementation
- Government Communication Service – Ideas
- Government Communication Service – Leadership
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Opportunities to move to the new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA). At the moment all IBCA roles are hosted by Cabinet Office within the Civil Service. However, once IBCA becomes operational, it is anticipated that these roles may transfer to IBCA, which is a new public body separate from the Cabinet Office and independent of the Civil Service. Roles that transfer to IBCA from Cabinet Office will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment that are overall no less favourable and it is anticipated that employees who move from Cabinet Office to IBCA will be able to continue to participate in the Civil Service Pension arrangements with no break in their pensionable service.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – W/C: 14/10/2024
Expected interview date/s – W/C: 28/10/2024
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Application process
You will be required to submit a CV and 1000 word personal statement explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.
Candidates will be also assessed on Behaviours and Technical skills.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the GCS criteria of implementation. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please refer to the Government Communication Service Technical Framework for the technical skills questions - https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/
Interview process
Candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical and Strrength based questions.
Further Information
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 recruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Farida Leander
- Email : Farida.leander@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
