Deputy Director for Media and Content

Job summary

The Department for Education is at the centre of the government's aim to improve life chances for children and young people in England. We want everyone to have a clear pathway to success, regardless of their background.

We not only have one of the best stories to tell, we are also transforming the way we communicate. Audiences no longer consume information the way they have before, so we’re working as part of the wider Government Communications profession towards a model built on compelling content, digital-first storytelling and evidence of real-world delivery.

We are looking for an exceptional communications leader to become our Deputy Director for Media and Content to lead this work. This is an important and truly high-profile role, reflecting our shift towards audience-led, content-driven storytelling at scale.

This is one of the most influential communications roles in government. Working as a trusted professional briefing and presenting to ministers, special advisers and the department's senior leadership team, you will shape the way parents, children, teachers and our valued partners as well as the public hear about – and act upon – the government’s vision for education

Job description

As Deputy Director, you will be directly accountable for:

• Press Office and Media Relations, leading the department's 24/7 media operation, overseeing strategic media engagement, proactive communications and issues management. You will maintain strong relationships with journalists and broadcasters nationally and regionally and – on occasions – internationally.
• You will lead the department's content and channel strategy, ensuring our work is based on evidence and puts our audiences first. This includes making the most of every opportunity to develop our own channels, to work with partners to use their channels and to make sure our stories are seen and shared because they're relevant and compelling.
• You will also lead creative content production across video, photography, graphic design and emerging formats, ensuring our content is suitable for partner and targeted public audiences and channels.
• You will work with our strategic and marketing leads to develop integrated communications campaigns that combine all appropriate channels to demonstrate the impact of our ongoing education reforms through authentic stories, trusted voices and real-life experience.
• You’ll provide advice and delivery plans to ministers, colleagues and advisers which demonstrate exceptional grip, understanding and navigation of complex issues, sustaining trust in the work of the department and mobilising our partners and audiences to improve future prospects of children and young people.
• You will also transform and innovate the way the communications profession works, contributing as a senior leader to the work of Government Communications and the Future Civil Service programme and to the work of the Department for Education.

The outcomes you will deliver:

• High levels of confidence in all our audiences in the work of the department.
• A movement for change driven by your communication abilities that brings pupils, students, parents, teachers, lecturers and everyone involved in education together to deliver the brightest future prospects for our communities and our country

Person specification

Essential Criteria

In your application you should demonstrate the following:

1. Excellent leadership, with a proven track record transforming multidisciplinary communications functions in a complex and high-profile environment.
2. Media expertise, with significant experience leading media engagement and managing high-profile and challenging issues as well as communications risks.
3. A deep understanding of digital and content-driven storytelling, which not only reaches and engages target audiences, but also helps to deliver organisational objectives.
4. The ability to convene and influence senior leaders and partners, demonstrating outstanding judgement and the ability to provide effective advice and constructive challenge to those in positions of authority.
5. Sound leadership and people management skills, with a strong track record of building high-performing and inclusive teams in which communications professionals can broaden their skills across many disciplines.
6. The ability to identify narrative trends and to think ahead, giving our teams the best chance to create joined-up communications at precisely the right moment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £92,000, Department for Education contributes £26,652 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).

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Wednesday 28 October.

Application
To apply for this role you should provide:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. A maximum of two pages, please.
• A Statement of Suitability which incorporates the essential criteria on the previous slide and which addresses two points
  1. why you want to tell the DfE story and
  2. why you would be the best person to join our team. (Up to 250 words on each point and no more than 500 words in total).

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel has limited information on which to assess your application.

Please note if we receive a high volume of applications, then we will consider candidates on the basis of their demonstration of suitability in line with the first two elements of the essential criteria.

To find out more before you apply there will be an informal (in confidence) opportunity to meet the current deputy director and / or the director of communications online on Tuesday 13 October (10:30-11am) and on Wednesday 14 October (1-1:30pm).

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please contact: SCS.RECRUITMENT@education.gov.uk

Please note the following:
• We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
• Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided;
• Please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
• Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
• Feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview

Selection Process
Shortlisted candidates will be required to:

1. Complete online numerical and verbal reasoning assessments.
2. Complete a staff engagement exercise which will take place on week commencing 16 November.
3. Take part in a formal in-person interview in Sanctuary Buildings, London, SW1P 3BT on week commencing 30 November, which will include:
   • A short presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).
   • Interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience.
4. This process may also include a subsequent date for a conversation with ministerial and/or senior colleagues.

As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.

Please note that, at the interview stage, we may ask whether you have any conflicts of interest to declare.

The successful candidate will be subject to a social media check and Due Diligence prior to appointment.

The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview or assessment unless otherwise stated.

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

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

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

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.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

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 Department of Education via scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk 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.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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.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 : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Further information

The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

Attachments

DFE Terms & Conditions - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 215kB)Reasonable Adjustments guide 05_2025 - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 723kB)SCS OGD Transfer Supplementary Information - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 325kB)Candidate Pack - Deputy Director for Media and Content Opens in new window (pdf, 1057kB)