Army - Digital Engagement Manager

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

We're recruiting for an exciting position that offers the chance to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking communications team.

The Government Communication Service (GCS) is the professional body for more than 7,000 public service communicators working in government departments, agencies and arm’s length bodies.

People work in government communications because what we do matters. We explain the objectives and policies of the government of the day. We provide clarity and reassurance to the public at times of crisis. We support businesses to grow. We protect our environment. We help those in need to access support.

As a GCS member, you will have access to: a network of skilled communicators sharing best practice; a tailor made development curriculum, unique to government and public sector communicators; network events and more.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As a Digital Engagement Manager, you will work with the digital platform team and focus on building meaningful relationships and partnerships that extend our reach and impact. You'll develop an internal influencers (employee advocacy) programme and work with influencers, community groups, and external organisations to create authentic engagement and content opportunities that resonate with target audiences.

You will have the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of government digital communications, shaping content that reaches millions of people and genuinely influences public understanding of Defence. Your work will span from developing creative social media campaigns to building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across the UK.

You will be joining a dynamic digital communications team that values fresh thinking, embraces new technologies, is committed to excellence and operates at the intersection of strategy, creativity and technology. As a Digital Engagement Manager, your primary function will be to deliver meaningful digital engagement and online community engagement opportunities across our official platforms.

The role requires you to analyse performance data continuously, using insights to optimise content and engagement strategies in real-time. You'll work collaboratively across the wider communications team, supporting campaign development, media activities and strategic planning. Travel to military units will be a regular feature, offering the opportunity to create authentic engagement and provide guidance on digital communications best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive strategic development of digital engagement capabilities and community frameworks while leading high-level partnerships with influencers and organisations, ensuring comprehensive risk management and policy governance for major engagement initiatives.
• Designing innovative engagement strategies, helping to develop engaging content, and ensuring all partnership activity aligns with Defence and government standards.
• The role involves serving as senior point of contact for complex digital engagement initiatives, leading strategic development of audience-focused opportunities, and personally managing high-level partner and influencer relationships while providing strategic direction across the team's portfolio.
• Identify and develop an internal influencer programme (Employee Advocacy), identifying these influencers, provide training and support to members and manage strategic support.
• Strategically design and oversee meaningful digital engagement opportunities across official platforms, lead coordination of workload and priorities across Digital Engagement Officers, and provide strategic oversight of operational tasks and crisis response capabilities.
• The position involves maintaining strategic oversight of digital trends and emerging opportunities, overseeing comprehensive data collection and analysis across the team's portfolio, and developing strategic insights to optimise future engagement opportunities while serving as senior liaison on policy development.
• Direct line management supervision for Digital Engagement Officers, foster an inclusive team culture that reflects community diversity, and ensure communications approaches consider accessibility requirements.
• Reporting to senior leadership while providing strategic input to enhance digital activities, coordinating out-of-hours coverage arrangements, and leading solution development for communication activities that may generate unintended adverse effects.

Please note: This position involves out-of-hours responsibilities as part of a duty roster, reflecting the 24/7 nature of digital communications and the need to respond quickly to emerging opportunities or challenges. This may require amendments to Army website using our simple Content Management System. This operational requirement underscores the critical nature of this team’s role in maintaining the Army's digital presence and reputation.

Person specification

We are seeking creative, digitally-savvy communicators who are passionate about storytelling and audience engagement. This role offers excellent opportunities for growth within a supportive, innovative team environment.

Essential skills required:

• Experience working with complex digital channels and content
• Experience working on digital engagement activity
• Experience working with influencers and partners
• Excellent written (especially on digital channels) and verbal communications skills
• Experience working at pace
• Experience of assessing and mitigating risk
• Ability to work in a team and collaborate and be able to work independently on projects
• Experience in building new partnerships with external and internal parties, and supporting the continued success and maturity of these relationships
• Experience using evaluation and audience insight to drive real change and continuous improvement

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of Government Digital Services guidelines for digital channels
• Experience in developing an Employee Advocacy programme
• Experience in developing and applying digital engagement strategies and activities
• Communicating and influencing skills and excellent customer management
• Ability to support in the creation of Accessible outputs

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words demonstrating how your skills and recent experience meet the essential criteria on this advert.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Behaviour:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Seeing the Bigger Picture.

Your Personal Statement and CV evidence will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview, you will be assessed against your Experience and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating & Influencing
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Wayne Cadman
• Email : Wayne.Cadman125@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

EVP Army TLB Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 3851kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)