HEO Videographer

Job summary

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK’s role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and Hanslope Parkin Milton Keynes.

Job description

You will be responsible for creating high-quality, accessible graphic and video content for ministerial and departmental digital channels. You will ensure that communications are accurate, engaging, visually impactful and aligned with departmental standards, helping audiences understand complex issues while supporting the FCDO's strategic objectives.

Working in a fast-paced environment, you will collaborate with Ministers, senior stakeholders, policy teams and communications colleagues to deliver timely content that supports FCDO priorities, campaigns and crisis response activity. Through specialist expertise in visual storytelling, digital platforms and content production, you will enhance audience engagement, strengthen the UK's reputation and help protect against reputational risk by ensuring content is delivered accurately, professionally and at pace.

As part of the Creative Content team, you will contribute to the FCDO’s digital presence by producing compelling visual communications for domestic and international audiences, supporting ministerial engagement, major campaigns and emergency communications when required. You will also promote best practice in accessibility, branding and digital content creation, helping ensure the FCDO remains effective in an evolving digital landscape.

The successful candidate will:

• Create exceptional video content for FCDO social media channels, delivering engaging and impactful storytelling for audiences in the UK and around the world.
• Generate, pitch and develop creative ideas that support strategic communications objectives and maximise audience engagement.
• Plan, shoot and edit both reactive, fast-turnaround content and premium long-form video formats, including explainers, interviews and documentary-style productions.
• Travel regularly to capture content on location, working effectively in dynamic environments and often to tight deadlines.
• Build strong relationships with communications and policy colleagues, providing expert advice on digital content opportunities and championing the use of social media.
• Use audience insight, performance data and platform trends to continuously optimise content and improve results.
• Collaborate with colleagues across digital, communications and evaluation teams to extend the reach, impact and effectiveness of FCDO campaigns.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong understanding of both short-form social content and longer-form digital video formats, with the ability to tailor content to different platforms and audiences.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Premiere Pro, with the ability to edit and colour grade content quickly and to a high professional standard.
• Excellent technical knowledge of videography and photography, including DSLR cameras, lighting, sound recording and location shooting.
• Demonstrable experience across the full production process, from ideation and planning through to filming, editing and delivery.
• Outstanding organisational skills and experience delivering multiple projects in fast-paced, high-pressure environments while managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently in the UK and overseas, including obtaining any required visas, vaccinations and travel documentation, and working flexibly in a range of operational environments and time zones.

You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you.

This role requires you to attainDeveloped Vetting (DV) security clearance.

For more information about this process, click here. Attaining DV will require you to have been resident in the UK for five of the last ten years. At least one year of this must have been a consecutive twelve-month period. Serving overseas with HM Forces, in some other official capacity as a representative of His Majesty’s Government or having lived overseas as a result of your parents’ or partner’s Government employment counts as UK residency for the purposes of security clearances.

Technical skills

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

• Presentation: Competency 2: Ideas – (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)
• Digital – Insight (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)
• Digital – Impact (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)
• Digital – Ideas (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £11,588 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).

• A Civil Service Pension.
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
• Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached Candidate Pack

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 Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy uses the Success Profiles Framework and Competency framework will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Application Stage

You will be required to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV detailing your employment history. CVs will be assessed against the Essential Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section above.
• A Personal Statement of 750 words explaining how you consider your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the Essential Criteria. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme and require Reasonable Adjustments in order to complete your application, please ensure Government Recruitment Service (GRS) are aware of this on the date of application and certainly by the closing date.

Interview Stage

At the start of your interview, you will be asked a non-assessed warm-up question about your motivation for applying for the role.

Candidates will be required to give a Presentation at the Interview and the topic will be sent to you in advance. The Presentation will test the following Technical Skill:

• Competency 2: Ideas – (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)

You will also be asked questions on the following technical skills during the interview:

• Digital – Insight (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)

• Digital – Impact (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)

• Digital – Ideas (Information Officer (AIOs/IOs)

Please note that the FCDO carries out name-blind (anonymised) recruitment to help build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The personal information on your application form and/or CV will be concealed during the sifting phase, and only the names of those who are being invited for Interviews will be made known to the Panel.

The FCDO has appointed the Government Recruitment Service to manage the process.

Please see the timetable below for indicative dates:

Closing date for completed applications 23:55 on Thursday 12th November 2026

Panel Interview W/C 23rd November and 30th November 2026

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview (in person) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London. There may be the option to conduct the interview by Microsoft Teams for overseas candidates. If this is preferred, you must make this clear at the application stage.

There may be other opportunities in the future. Candidates who meet the required level at interview, will be kept on a Reserve List for 12 months. Should this, or another substantially similar role arise within this period, we may fill it with a Reserve candidate from this campaign. There is no guarantee that Reserves will be offered a role. If you are conditionally offered, and accept, a role your name will be removed from any other FCDO Reserve Lists.

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 fcdorecruitment.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.

Further Information

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

Any move to FCDO 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

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems reading the Candidate Pack, such as through screen reader software, please contact our Team via fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will share a Word version of this.

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.

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : FCDO Recruitment team
• Email : fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

The FCDO’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact External.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)FINAL Candidate Pack - HEO Videographer Opens in new window (docx, 265kB)