Senior Press Officer

Job summary

Information about the Command

The Strategy Directorate drives NCA strategic mission through rigorous intelligence insights, performance insights, risk management and communications. We shape priorities and build influence across government, law enforcement and the public.

Information about the Business Area

Communications plays a vital role in promoting and supporting NCA activity. We use our communications channels as an operational tool to disrupt serious and organised crime. Communications manage the Agency relationship with media outlets and journalists, issuing media releases and statements as well as interviews with Agency spokespersons. The team commission targeted audience research, developing, implementing, and evaluating marketing strategies for awareness raising or behaviour change. Communications lead a range of projects, channels and events to increase leadership visibility and boost Officer engagement.

Job description

The Senior Press Officer role provides an exciting opportunity to join the NCA’s high performing Communications Team.

You will use your knowledge of the media and skills as a professional communicator to build public and partner awareness of serious and organised crime, and confidence in the NCA’s response. Your work will also help to build the Agency’s intelligence picture of the most serious and complex crime threats facing the UK, and to disrupt the criminals presenting the greatest risk.

This is a full time role but we can consider flexibility in working hours to support a work-life balance that can be discussed upon offer

Role Description

The role of senior press officer is to engage with the media to inform the public and other identified audiences about the work of the NCA, to protect and improve our reputation, while also supporting the NCA’s mission of protecting the public from serious and organised crime.

As part of the wider communications team within the NCA’s Strategy Directorate, the press office is responsible for handling reactive queries from the media as well as proactive communications to promote the work of the Agency.

The Communications Team, which includes media, digital, internal comms, and campaigns specialists, work closely together and with a variety of internal and external partners to land our messages with target audiences.

The team’s activity has contributed directly to the capture of wanted international fugitives, the safeguarding of vulnerable people, and widespread public action to mitigate crime threats.

Duties & Responsibilities

Promote the NCA - Showcase the NCA’s unique role in UK law enforcement by delivering engaging, proactive stories on NCA activity, and working up ideas for content that supports communication objectives.

Professionalism - Provide a professional service for journalists by managing high-profile and sensitive media issues and answering enquiries in a timely and informative manner, including on an out-of-hours rotational basis.

Advise NCA officers on the media - Become a trusted source of communications support and counsel for NCA officers.

Build knowledge of the NCA - Develop expertise on the NCA’s wide remit and range of functions.

Engage across communications disciplines - Work with expert colleagues across the communications team – including digital, internal and campaigns - to share knowledge and maximise the impact of content across all audiences.

Build relationships - Develop and nurture excellent relationships with journalists and contacts (e.g. bloggers) in all forms of media, to improve story placement and check progress.

Media handling - Demonstrate techniques and strategies for handling journalists, respond quickly to media requests and agree points of escalation.

Audience - Understand how to optimise audience reach through a mix of media channels.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Insight - Use insight to identify target audiences and stakeholders, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach.

Engaging your audience - Communicate in a succinct and engaging manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact to a range of stakeholders.

Communication skills - Demonstrate an ability to express ideas effectively, flexibly and creatively, both verbally and with strong writing skills, to develop innovative solutions.

Processing information - Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations.

Experience - Demonstrate solid experience of working in a busy press office or other news-focused environment where you used your communicating and influencing skills to deliver at pace while demonstrating awareness of the bigger picture.

On-call working

Officers take part in the on‑call rota covering evenings and weekends, with an allowance paid per session and enhanced pay for any work undertaken (x1.5 weekdays, x2 weekends).

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

Industry recognised communication qualification (such as CIPR) or equivalent

Experience of working in a busy press office or an equivalent track record of being able to multitask in a fast paced role that requires engaging with external stakeholders about the organisations' work.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Communicate to a news audience in a succinct manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing.
• Use of insight to identify audiences, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach
• Demonstrate the ability to express ideas effectively and creatively both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,049, National Crime Agency contributes £13,630 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).

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
• Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway , Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
• Staff support groups/networks
• Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA Website.

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 Technical skills.How we will assess youYour application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 500 word examples on:

• Communicate to a news audience in a succinct manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing (lead criteria)

• Use of insight to identify audiences, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach

• Demonstrate the ability to express ideas effectively and creatively both verbally and in writing

• Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

- Communicate to a news audience in a succinct manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing (lead criteria) .

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit:
https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/careers/applying-and-onboardingNCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical

• Communicate to a news audience in a succinct manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing (lead criteria)

• Use of insight to identify audiences, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach

• Demonstrate the ability to express ideas effectively and creatively both verbally and in writing

• Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations

Assessment OutcomeOutcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
3. If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records. We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled. If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.

Nationality Requirements

This role is broadly open to the following groups:• UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British• 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)• 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 ServiceFurther information on nationality requirementsYou will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.

Security and Vetting

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying VettingIndividuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

Occupational Health

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Things you need to know

Multi Location

Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order for each location.

Please indicate up to three location preferences clearly. Only your first three preferences will be considered. You may be allocated to any of the locations you select. If you decline an offer for a location you have selected as a preference, a further offer may not be made.

If you choose to reject an offer and no alternative preferred location can be offered, you will not be able to return to the process or be placed on a reserve list.

Only the advertised locations are available; any additional notes added to the application will not be taken into account.

Near Miss

If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.

Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.

All offers are made based on merit.

Hybrid Working

The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk before the advert closing date.

Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and 'Reasonable Adjustments' sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.

For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme , Civil Service Careers.

Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.

Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Working for the NCA

The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:

Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

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

Security

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk(quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.