Communications Officer
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Communications Directorate is a multi-disciplinary team delivering the Home Office’s communications strategy. We are insight-led and results-driven, and our marketing campaigns support strategic objectives using a wide range of channels. We seek to provide high quality media, rebuttal and social media services. Our Internal Communications team supports employee engagement and business transformation.
As a member of the Communications Directorate, you will be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.
As a Communications Officer in the Home Office, you will work closely with colleagues including policy officials, operational teams, external stakeholders, Ministers and Downing Street to advise on the role communications can play in delivering on government priorities and raising awareness among the general public.
Job description
The Home Office Communication Directorate delivers essential communications to people from all walks of life, every single day. Our work is never far from the front pages, making this a fast-paced and hugely exciting team to be a part of. The successful candidates will work across a broad range of policy and operational areas in the Home Office, with roles available spanning media and strategic campaigns.
There are a number of opportunities available:
For roles on our Newsdesk, you will be part of the department’s frontline, responding to calls from journalists and shaping news as it develops. You will be responsible for monitoring news and social media and protecting the Department’s reputation. You will provide Ministers and their Advisers with updates on news as it breaks; identify and rebut inaccurate reporting or criticism; and ensure the Department’s position is clearly reflected.
For roles on our proactive teams, you will develop integrated communications plans to promote the vital work being delivered across the Home Office.
Media roles will include producing plans to announce new policies or successes; providing media advice; drafting press releases on high profile issues; and facilitating interviews for Ministers.
Campaigns roles will see you deliver impactful communications led by insight and evaluation, including direct, paid-for, low- and no-cost marketing, partnerships, media and digital communications.
Working Pattern
Due to the business requirements of these roles, they are only available on a full-time basis.
You will also be required to join the out-of-hours press office duty rota and contribute approximately one-two shifts a month. In-depth training and over-time pay is provided.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Experience working in a fast-paced communications role or similar, juggling competing priorities, exercising good judgement, and keeping calm under pressure.
- An ability to communicate effectively, and develop trusted and productive relationships with colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.
- Proven ability to distil large amounts of complex information into clear key messages suitable for specific audiences.
- Understanding of how audience insight and evaluation can be used to inform communications strategies and activity.
- Excellent written and speaking skills, with an ability to establish credibility and negotiate effectively.
- Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs, including how to identify and mitigate reputational risks.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Communications - Impact
- Communications - Implementation
- Communications - Insight
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- An annual Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,300.
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
- See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
1. Application – by 3rd October 2024
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- CV detailing job history/skills.
- Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
- Evidence of the Behaviour Seeing the Big Picture (maximum of 250 words).
Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored and used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 7th October 2024
The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour Seeing the Big Picture.
The lead Behaviour will be scored for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the lead Behaviour will progress to a further sift where the Personal Statement and CV will be scored. These candidates will receive sift scores for all elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the lead Behaviour will not have their Personal Statement or CV scored and will only receive a sift score for the lead Behaviour.
3. Interview – week commencing 28th October 2024
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
- Behaviours and Technical Skills based questions.
The interview will take place on Teams.
In addition, candidates will be asked to to undertake a written assessment at interview stage. The exercise will be assessed against 'Experience' on the 'Success Profiles' and will be assessed against the 'Essential Criteria' as listed in the job advertisement. The details will be disclosed closer to the interviews.
For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the Government Communications Professional Competency Framework
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Location Preference
You can select up to three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.
Multiple Roles
As part of the recruitment process, you will be given the opportunity to express your role preferences. Please bear in mind that any offers will be made in merit order, and we cannot provide an assurance that all successful candidates will be offered their preferred role.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further information
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
