Content Producer - HEO (TikTok) - NMU - GCS

Job summary

The New Media Unit (NMU) is part of the Government Communication Service (GCS) and sits within the Cabinet Office. The NMU was established in November 2024 with the clear goal to reach, connect and rebuild trust with audiences in the most effective way possible. Our aim is to provide the public with relevant, useful, authentic content when and where they want to receive it and communicate in an entirely new way.

The government has signalled a clear intention to focus on ambitious, measurable, long-term objectives that deliver better outcomes for citizens. This requires a new way of doing government which is more joined-up and better reaches the public to build awareness, understanding and trust in the government’s missions. The NMU is a critical lever in achieving these long-term aims, bringing together the specialist skills required to reach citizens with content they want to consume at a time and place they want to consume it.

The team is evolving, and works in an agile way proactively delivering on priority campaigns and responding to nation-wide communications. We need people who think differently and who can respond to the ever-changing media landscape. At its core this team is focused on flexibility and collaboration across the three pillars (Strategy, Campaign and Creative), working closely with the GCS Strategy & Campaigns and Applied Data & Insight teams, alongside No 10 and departmental communication teams across government.

This is a really exciting time to be joining the NMU as we look to expand our activity, test and learn different approaches and deliver communications which make a difference to citizen’s lives. This is a rare chance to be part of something truly ground breaking, where your ideas will directly influence the future of digital communications at the heart of government.

The Digital Creative and Production team covers creative direction and creation across all areas including graphic design, video, photography and in-app content creation. Production covers shoot planning and production, copywriting, publishing and working directly with creators / real life storytellers to produce content that performs natively in your daily social media feeds.

Job description

The Role

The Content Producer (TikTok) in the New Media Unit will play a vital role in sourcing compelling stories and case studies, producing and managing scroll-stopping content for publication on @UKGov. This role requires a ‘stop-the-scroll’ storyteller who can humanise government messages and connect with diverse UK audiences.

Working alongside two Senior Content Producers, you will manage the end-to-end process for content creation, from identifying opportunities for content creation, to scripting, producing, filming, editing and publishing. You will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure all content aligns with government communication goals. Additionally, you will take on copywriting duties, crafting engaging and accessible content that resonates.

This role is ideal for a social-first content producer who can take government messaging and make it TikTok friendly. We’re looking for someone who is confident to operate in a fast-paced ‘newsroom’ environment and has a passion for social storytelling.

This role reports into the Head of Production.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identifying and sourcing real-life stories, case studies, and examples that illustrate the impact of government initiatives.
• Building and maintaining a network of contacts to provide story leads and background information, ensuring stories align with government messaging.
• Producing and editing high-quality digital campaign content for publication on social media channels.
• Supporting in the management of the full production workflow, from storyboarding and scripting to filming, editing, and final delivery.
• Developing platform-optimised content for TikTok, leveraging trending formats and styles to maximise reach and engagement.
• Working with strategy and insight teams to adapt production so that stories and content are platform specific, making them engaging and accessible for diverse audiences.
• Ensuring all content aligns with government objectives and messaging, is accessible, and speaks directly to the intended audience.
• Collaborating with stakeholders across government departments to ensure accuracy and consistency in messaging.
• Keeping informed on digital and social media trends to incorporate relevant techniques that boost engagement.

Person specification

Skills & Experience

Essential requirements:

• Hands on experience producing first class content at pace across social media platforms.
• Experience in identifying, sourcing, and developing stories or case studies for social media.
• Ability to humanise complex topics and find engaging angles to connect with audiences.
• Deep understanding of TikTok and best practices for short-form video content.
• Familiarity with platform-specific trends, content formats, and audience engagement strategies.
• Excellent writing skills, with experience creating concise, engaging scripts for shoots.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience managing multiple content projects from concept to completion.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and coordinate effectively with teams and stakeholders including Special Advisors.
• Familiarity with social media analytics and performance metrics and how to apply those learnings to impact shoot outcomes.
• Background in communications, journalism, digital media, or a related field.
• Experience in video production and editing, using tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Candidates who are invited to interview will need to prepare a short presentation, details of which will be sent before the interview including where to send a link to their portfolio/examples of work.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,974, Cabinet Office contributes £11,870 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

For your application you will need to provide your CV outlining your work history, experience and qualifications, as well as a 500 word personal statement. It should explain how your knowledge, skills and experience (using examples) meet the requirements for this role in line with the Success Profile element(s) being assessed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using experience from your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

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

• Experience
• Behaviours
• Candidates who are invited to interview will need to prepare a short presentation, details of which will be sent before interview.
• Candidates invited to interview will be asked to send a link to their portfolio/examples of work, details of where to send this will be provided when you are selected for interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – TBC

Expected interview date/s – 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 information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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.

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.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.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 : Tom James
• Email : nmu@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 (2) Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)