Communications Officer

Job summary

We are looking for an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with first-rate written and verbal communication skills.

The post holder will be adept at drafting high quality content, which will make an impact across a range of communications channels for diverse audiences. In addition, the post holder will be competent in dealing with complex scientific issues and statistical data and have the ability to explain this information clearly to non-scientific audiences.

The post holder will also have a strong news sense – identifying and developing proactive communications, particularly digital. Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, enabling the post holder to deal effectively and persuasively with stakeholders, as well as the media.

Working well under pressure and to tight deadlines is essential, as is a flexible approach to work and being a good team player.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

The post holder will:

• Contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA’s key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and managing the organisation’s reputation.
• Possess excellent writing skills, which are essential to this role, and have a proven track record of drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels and platforms including social media.
• Contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA’s key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and managing the organisation’s reputation.
• Possess excellent writing skills, which are essential to this role, and have a proven track record of drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels and platforms including social media, the web and print media.
• Be expected to liaise with and influence journalists – working proactively to ‘sell in’ stories and reactively to rebut any inaccurate media narratives circulating.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide strategic communications handling advice to colleagues both nationally and regionally.
• To draft clear, high quality content for a wide range of channels and audiences.
• To ensure content is underpinned by sound use of UKHSA’s data and intelligence wherever appropriate.
• To identify opportunities for developing quality proactive communications output, as well as identifying any potential reputational risks.
• To manage and support communications around UKHSA’s high profile marketing campaigns.
• To manage proactive and reactive media communications, including:

1. to act as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from journalists and to develop timely responses in line with UKHSA’s corporate view;
2. to proactively sell in stories to the media – press and broadcast;
3. to monitor the range of media channels, including press and digital, and respond to any inaccurate or misleading content particularly where there is a reputational risk;
4. to build and maintain good relations with key journalists;
5. to co-ordinate any broadcast bids and provide support to UKHSA spokespeople undertaking interviews;
6. to undertake evaluation of media projects in line with Government Communication Service standards;
7. to participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota that covers media issues.

• To build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including other government departments and agencies, local government, health partners and charities – using good diplomacy skills.
• To have clear insight of the wider health system and UKHSA’s role within it.
• To work in accordance with Government Communications Service principles with regard to communications planning and evaluation, also ensuring the team does this.
• To develop an understanding of equality and diversity, particularly the needs of 'harder-to-reach' groups, and to ensure that these needs are addressed in communications output.
• To act as an ambassador for the communications directorate in all engagement with all parties, demonstrating UKHSA behaviours throughout
• To ensure that regional UKHSA communications colleagues are engaged in national media issues, especially seeking their input into how those with a local angle are handled.
• To brief and advise senior officials within UKHSA – both verbally and in writing – on media handling around sensitive and complex issues, liaising with senior communications colleagues as appropriate.
• To manage a diverse range of different requests for press office support from within UKHSA, prioritising demands and expectations and identifying sensitive issues that may require escalation to senior communications colleagues.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary communications role, particularly across digital, developing quality content for a range of channels and audiences.
• Experience of working across sensitive and challenging situations/issues, showing diplomacy, tact and a proven track record of using negotiating and influencing skills to achieve outcomes.
• Experience of using initiative and creativity to find innovative solutions to communications challenges.
• Experience of building good relationships with stakeholders a range of organisations including local authorities, government departments, voluntary organisations, charities and health providers.
• Experience of working in a busy communications office, demonstrating a sound knowledge of how media works and developing good relationships with journalists.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex and challenging information clearly and concisely for a diverse range of channels and audiences
• Ability to manage and motivate communications colleagues to maximize their ability, while also being receptive to feedback for own personal development. ensuring their personal development
• Ability to handle crisis communications
• Demonstrating a commitment to equality and diversity in day-to-day working practices, as well as output

Desirable criteria:

• A good understanding of the health and social care environment and the roles and responsibilities within it.
• Good knowledge of the workings of government including local government, current government priorities and agenda.
• Experience of working with scientists and/or scientific material.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,682 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).

• 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 and will assess your Behaviours.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (10) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 750 word supporting statement.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.

Longlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Experience of working in a busy communications office, demonstrating a sound knowledge of how media works and developing good relationships with journalists.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex and challenging information clearly and concisely for a diverse range of channels and audiences

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/ large amount of successful candidates

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and improving
• Communicating and Influencing - Lead behaviour
• Working together
• Delivering at pace

There will be an Assessment included within the interview. Further details will be provided at the interview. No preparation is required.

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria– External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

• £33,422-£40,731 (National)
• £35,587- £43,244 (Outer London)

• £37,749- £45,353 (Inner London)

Please note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk