Senior Social Media Manager
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 8th November 2024
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Salary
For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
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About the job
Job summary
Defra is at the heart of the Government’s commitment to protecting the environment, improving the health of our natural world. We support the UK’s renowned food, farming and fishing industries and aim to grow the green economy and support rural communities. This is all as we aim to hit our world leading targets of reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and hit net zero by 2050.
We are looking to appoint an ambitious and creative Senior Social Media Manager to help us deliver daily digital content that truly makes a difference across our portfolios – water, air, waste, food, farming, marine, fisheries, nature and animal welfare.
You will take a leading role in managing, prioritising and publishing digital content across our social media channels, as well as building partnerships with cross government colleagues, stakeholders and digital influencers in this space.
Our work has a strong audience focus and you will be at the forefront of finding creative ways to engage with different groups with an interest in our work.
Job description
You will:
- Produce, commission, oversee and publish high-quality, audience-focused digital content for key announcements and low/no cost campaigns - making use of creative content, partnerships and existing/emerging digital channels
- Weave digital storytelling into innovative content for our channels, writing storyboards for videos and animations
- Write social media post copy, ensuring copy is accessible
- Conduct insight and evaluation, to ensure we measure impact and reach our intended audiences
- Work collaboratively with a range of colleagues in press office, external affairs, the campaigns team, policy and the private offices of senior leaders and ministers
- Build relationships with other government departments, partners and influencers to enhance the reach of our key messages online
- Confidently upskill others in the use of digital communications to support the department’s objectives
- Line manage Information Officers/apprentices where required
- Take part in an incident or weekend duty rota as required, which may involve occasional working outside office hours and weekends
Person specification
You will have:
- A track record of leading the delivery of innovative, compelling, audience-focussed content to support communications objectives
- Experience using different social media channels to reach target audiences
- Experience building positive and productive relationships and networks externally and internally with stakeholders, partners and colleagues
- Experience using analytics and digital insight to improve our social media engagement, with learnings to inform future activity
- Experience managing others, including the ability to bring the best out of teams, onboarding new starters and investing in their personal development
- Good project management skills with excellent planning, prioritisation and organisational abilities
- Influencing skills and the ability to make the case for creative ideas
- The ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines and carry others with them under such circumstances
- Experience working in fast-paced incident environments, leading on social media communications
- An excellent understanding of social media trends and audiences
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency 1: Insight
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency 2: Ideas
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency 3: Implementation
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency 1: Insight
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency 2: Ideas
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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a CV, personal statement, Civil Service Behaviour statements, and technical skill statements.
For your personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of the criteria in the person specification.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the 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 to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Civil Service Behaviours, technical skills and Civil Service Strengths:
Civil Service Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills:
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency: Ideas
- Government Communication Service (GCS) Competency: Implementation
There will also be an exercise to complete.
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.
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.
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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 defrarecruitment.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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any of the documentation for this role, please contact the email address in the Reasonable Adjustment section.
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.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Higher Security Clearance
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.
This post requires the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Marsham Street, London will be subject to a higher level of clearance (CTC) because of the security requirements for that location; other locations do not require CTC clearance. Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Chris Davidson
- Email : Chris.davidson@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.
