26.114 Strategic Communications Manager (Fixed Term Appointment)

Job summary

The Strategy and Impact Directorate incorporates core functions that are critical to achievement of the outcomes in the DBS Strategy 2025-28.

The Communications team has four functions: External Communications, Internal Communications and Engagement, Strategic Communications; and Editorial and Design.

Working alongside another Strategic Communications Adviser, you will be involved in the development and delivery of communications relating to our DBS 2025-28 strategy and key projects and programmes at DBS. You will develop engaging content for a range of channels and ensure that corporate messages are communicated to key stakeholders effectively.

Job description

Job description

• To develop and deliver effective communications to employees throughout all parts of DBS about the strategy and projects
• To ensure communications activity is consistent with DBS’s messaging and campaigns
• To develop and implement communications plans following GCS approaches.
• To use the GCS evaluation cycle to monitor the effectiveness of communications relating to the strategy and projects and recommend evidence-based improvements that support corporate priorities
• To develop existing and new communications channels to maximise the delivery and effectiveness of corporate messages relating to the strategy and projects, incorporating digital best practices and accessibility standards
• To maintain and update DBS intranet pages relating to the strategy and projects, ensuring content meets accessibility requirements and user needs
• To source content and write copy for all communication channels relating to the strategy and projects, adapting messaging for different audience segments and stakeholder needs
• To work collaboratively with colleagues and teams across DBS to ensure consistent messaging about the strategy and projects
• To provide communications advice and guidance to project teams and stakeholders on effective communication approaches

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to communicate complex/technical concepts clearly to a diverse audience in an inspiring way
• Proven ability to identify, analyse and segment different audience groups and adapt communications approaches accordingly
• Excellent copywriting and verbal communication skills, including ability to adapt style depending upon audience and occasion
• Ability to implement communications evaluation frameworks, including setting metrics, measuring audience engagement, and using data to improve communications effectiveness
• Proven experience of working in a communications role, with a demonstrable track record in media relations, public relations and digital media.
• An in-depth understanding of various communications channels and how to use them effectively to maximise engagement
• Experience developing strategic communications plans that align with organisational objectives
• Experience of communicating within a complex organisation using different channels
• Knowledge of accessibility requirements and inclusive communications standards

Desirable Criteria

• A degree in Public Relations/ Communications or similar qualification
• Membership of a relevant professional body, such as CIPD
• Knowledge of government communications frameworks including OASIS, COM-B behavioural principles and GCS Evaluation Cycle
• Familiarity with content management systems and intranet platforms

Further Information:

To view the DBS Recruitment and On-boarding Privacy Notice, please click the link below:

DBS Recruitment and On-boarding Privacy Notice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This privacy notice covers personal data collected during the recruitment, security clearance and on-boarding process.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,444, Disclosure & Barring Service contributes £10,557 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The DBS offers a number of excellent benefits for its employees. These can include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Excellent maternity, paternity and adoption schemes (after a qualifying period)
• Commitment to the health and wellbeing of our employees
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible working opportunities
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Occupational Health Service including referrals for counselling and physiotherapy
• 24/7 Counselling and Wellbeing Service
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The DBS vision and purpose is to make people safer by being a visible, trusted and influential organisation, providing an outstanding quality of service to all our customers and partners, where our people understand the important safeguarding contributions they make and feel proud to work here. To do this, the DBS is committed to being an employer that is able to attract, develop, retain and engage diverse talent that is representative of the communities we serve, and to be an organisation providing outstanding service to all our existing and new customers, who are diverse and have a range of different needs. We want all our staff to be able to bring their ‘whole self’ to work.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply for this role, please provide a CV along with a personal statement of no more than 750 words, outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, including all essential and desirable criteria.

As part of the recruitment process the Disclosure & Barring Service will conduct an experience and behaviour based sift exercise and interview process.

For all candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage, you will be invited to interview.

The interview will consist of a panel-based interview.

The aim of the panel interview will be to assess your ability to demonstrate the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews will be held online via MS Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

Recruitment Timeline:

The following timetable outlines indicative dates. Please note, these dates may be subject to change without prior notice.

Advert closing date: Monday 12th October at 10am

The initial candidate sift is due to take place week commencing 12th October 2026.

Interviews are due to take place week commencing 19th October 2026.

Whilst we will endeavour to provide some flexibility with regards to dates wherever possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer an alternative date once an appointment has been scheduled.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : DBS People Support Team
• Email : DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Attachments

Strategic Communications Adviser - Job Description Opens in new window (docx, 448kB)