Communication Officer (Band 4 / HEO)

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Communications Officer who can make a positive impact in citizens lives and can work across campaigns and media in a fast paced and collaborative environment.

The post sits within the External Communications Team part of the multi-functional communication Buildings Safety Regulator (BSR) Communication Unit that is responsible for developing and delivering a joint strategic communications approach to support the work of the BSR as a proportionate regulator whose mission is to maintain and improve safety standards for ​the built environment aspiring to be trusted, working together with​ all for better buildings.​

The government announced on 30 June 2025 that BSR is to become an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) of Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and will be moved out of HSE. This is the natural next step in the development of the regulator and was always a likely outcome once BSR was established.

It has been confirmed that the ALB will be a Non-crown, Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and as such it’s employees will be Public Servants, rather than Civil Servants.

Any successful candidates recruited to this vacancy will initially be onboarded to HSE, with a move to the new NDBP to be undertaken in due course.

The BSR Communication Unit team is made up of specialists who work on all aspects of media, PR, campaigns, digital, design, content design and internal communications.

This role can be based in any of the advertised locations however, there will be a requirement to travel to Bootle at least 2 days a month (or when required). Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office or home to Bootle is a feasible distance to travel.

You may also be required to cover media out of hours duties on a rota basis for weekday evenings and weekend service for which full training will be given.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Job description

As a Communications Officer, you will contribute to setting and delivering the communication Strategy for BSR.

Key tasks include:

• Continuous media monitoring and reporting – including proactively identifying themes and sentiment, reputational risks and media opportunities, collection of campaign performance metrics, reporting and acting on insights, contributing to weekly dashboards.
• Media handling (reactive and proactive) - writing press releases, news reports, drafting and providing clear statements, arranging interviews, and developing responses to queries with the support of officials, liaising with partners and media and providing regular media handling advice to officials and colleagues.
• Maintaining a forward look content calendar for activity - including drafting and scheduling social activity, microsite and news/media, bulletin content.
• Researching, writing and creating high quality, audience-led content as part of integrated multi-channel campaigns from complex, technical information for a range of different channels, stakeholders and audiences.
• Cross BSR liaison- represent team at planning meetings and contribute to briefings for Ministers and other senior officials, working with other parts of the comms team to ensure content and activity is integrated, consistent and complementary.

Person specification

This high-profile position requires you to be comfortable working independently and using your own initiative across a variety of communications disciplines, selecting the most effective methods based on audience needs.

We’re seeking someone who is not only well-organised and proactive, but also passionate about shaping the narrative and communicating with clarity and purpose.

Your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and influence key conversations will be critical to success in this role.

You will have excellent organisational skills and an ability to deliver multiple projects on time and to a high standard, working at pace.

You will have excellent understanding of the national news agenda, social media landscape and communications handling, strong news judgement and political awareness and experience of working in a journalism, media, or press office environment.

You will be experienced in building strong working relationships at all levels, demonstrating leadership qualities and fostering a proactive, collaborative, and inspiring team environment that encourages mutual respect, values diversity, different skills, experience and specialism.

You will have an understanding of the broader government agenda and propriety issues.

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Experience of working in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrate experience in public relations, including developing and delivering strategic communication campaigns, managing media relations, and protecting organisational reputation through clear, consistent messaging across multiple channels.
• Proven experience in horizon scanning and media sentiment analysis, with the ability to identify emerging issues, assess reputational risk, and provide timely, insight-driven recommendations to inform strategic communications and decision-making.
• Experience of converting complex information including insight and data into ambitious and effective communication outcomes to meet audience needs.
• Working knowledge of MS Office systems (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Office 365 (SharePoint, Planner and Teams) and content management and analytics systems (e.g. Hootsuite, Google Analytics, Cision, Vuelio).

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,005, Health and Safety Executive contributes £11,010 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete the following:

• A CV that displays your career history, skills, experience and qualifications. Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the essential skills and criteria as listed within the advert.
• You will also be asked to complete an anonymised 750 word Personal Statement based on the essential skills and criteria of the job advert.

Sift Information

The sift will take place during week commencing 31st March 2026 where you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement only.

In the event of a high number of applications, we will complete an initial sift using the lead criterion ‘Experience of working in a regulated environment’, as demonstrated in your personal statement. Candidates that pass the initial sift will then progress to the full sift where the Personal Statement will be assessed.

Interview Information

The interviews will take place during the week commencing 13th April2026, when you will be assessed on the behaviours and experience listed in the advert.

Please note the sift and interview dates could be subject to change due to panel availability.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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.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 : Ian Clarkin
• Email : ian.clarkin@buildingsafety.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HR.Resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address:

HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners:

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…