Senior Social Media Manager
Department of Health and Social Care
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.
As health and social care issues affect us all, the work of the department is always at the forefront of the public’s mind.
The social media team is a happy unit and pride ourselves on having a great team culture and a clear focus on innovation, storytelling and making a difference in people’s lives. We facilitate a space that welcomes creative challenge and big ideas and ensures everyone is supported and empowered to do their very best work.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to build a workforce that is more representative of the UK’s diverse communities and the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit here.
Job description
We are looking for a Senior Social Media Manager who can hit the ground running as part of our high-performing social media team in an exciting fast-paced communications environment.
You will work with colleagues across the communications division to identify opportunities to bring departmental messaging to audiences not following government channels, seeking out and working with influencers and third parties.
You will lead on innovative insight-driven social media plans to bring DHSC policies to life. Your work will directly help the department in its responsibilities to promote its health and social care agenda, including making the NHS fit for the future.
Being able to work at pace is a must in the role. A regular day could include working with content creators to develop ideas to promote a new policy or implementing them by working with wider teams, identifying trusted voices who can carry public health messages, leading on a piece of evaluation or managing engagement on the department’s social channels.
Person specification
Role responsibilities:
You will report into the Deputy Head of Digital and Social Media – Channels, Strategy and Evaluation.
Key responsibilities:
- Produce, commission, oversee and publish high-quality, audience-focused digital content for key DHSC announcements and low/no cost campaigns, making use of creative content, partnerships and existing/emerging digital channels.
- Identify, prioritise and bring to life creative and strategic opportunities to reach intended audiences using DHSC and non-DHSC channels.
- Put insight and evaluation at the heart of all your work – from ideation to evaluation – to ensure we are measuring impact and reach our intended audiences.
- Develop, implement and iterate tailored strategies for DHSC’s key social media channels.
- Manage the content calendar, ensuring there is a steady flow and variety of messages and content in our publishing schedule, in line with our channel strategies.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues in press office, external affairs, campaigns team, policy and the private offices of senior leaders and ministers.
- Build strong relationships with other government departments, health partners and social media influencers to increase the reach of our key messages online, including via no-cost collaborations to reach audiences not following DHSC.
- Confidently upskill others in the use of digital communications to support the department’s objectives including senior leaders, ministers and colleagues.
- Line management where required.
- Attend video recordings within the UK as and when needed.
- Be part of a team rota to cover weekend duty shifts if/when needed.
Key skills and experience required for the role:
- Proven experience in leading ambitious digital content and low/no-cost campaigns that are audience-focused, channel-specific and grounded in insight and data.
- Experience in crafting, commissioning, designing and publishing a diverse range of creative digital content for X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook, with a deep understanding of additional channels which can be utilised to reach wider audiences.
- Very strong written and verbal skills; you will be transforming complicated information into easy-to-understand content and copy for different audiences.
- A passion for and knowledge of best digital content practice, emerging channels and the latest tools.
- Strong analytical skills and experience of using evaluation to analyse the impact of your work and acting on results to revise your approach.
- Good understanding of online risk and how to mitigate.
- Ability to work confidently with a range of colleagues, external partners and ministers, and to influence and prioritise direction of work.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- GCS Communications Digital - Insight
- GCS Communications Digital – Ideas
- GCS Communications Digital - Implementation
- GCS Communications Digital - Impact
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
Applications will be sifted W/C: TBC
Interview date: TBC
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.
Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.
An initial sift based on CV and statement of suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.
Please use your personal statement to set out how your skills and experience meet the key requirements for the role as listed in the job advert, in no more than 500 words.
At interview candidates will be assessed on:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- GCS Communications Digital – Insight
- GCS Communications Digital – Ideas
- GCS Communications Digital – Implementation
- GCS Communications Digital - Impact
Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess the behaviour Changing and Improving. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.
To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here.
Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.
Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DHSC 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
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 dhscrecruitment.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.
Terms and Conditions
Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
New Entrants to the Civil Service
New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:
- Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
- Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
- Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
- Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
- Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
- Probation: 6 month probation period
Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion
All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
Existing DHSC staff, appointed on promotion
If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
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 : Kirsty Clark
- Email : Kirsty.Clark@dhsc.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/
