About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates   

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.  

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education 

The Department for Education (DfE) is recruiting for an experienced news, digital and PR professional to join its energetic and high performing communications team as a Chief Media Officer – with responsibility for delivering communications through digital, broadcast and print media.

The DfE is at the heart of the Government’s domestic delivery agenda. Its mission is to deliver a world-class education for everyone, unleash potential and level up opportunity for people, whatever their background and wherever they live.

We are looking for an exceptional communications professional to lead one of our media teams, working to the Secretary of State and Ministerial team to deliver against our priorities of skills, schools and families. 

You will be joining a busy, award-winning communications team that is highly valued by, and works with Ministers and senior officials to influence opinion and shape sentiment in terms of how our communications are received.

You will be a key part of the senior management team working with the Deputy Head of News and Press Secretary (Grade 6), and supporting the Deputy Director for News and Social Media (SCS1) to lead and manage a high performing media team. You will be expected to maintain and build on incredibly high standards, while thriving under the pressure of a delivering a substantial news agenda in a fast-paced environment.

As well as experience of dealing with front page news stories or breaking broadcast news, we are looking for candidates who are equally comfortably using the full range of social and digital channels – X, Facebook and LinkedIn - to innovate and communicate the DfE’s key messages.

Job description

We need a confident, courageous and creative team player, willing to work across communications disciplines to achieve our aim of supporting every young person in achieving a world-class education, regardless of background.

You will have a pivotal role in providing effective leadership and clear direction to the whole office, developing and enabling staff to reach their full potential, and ensuring media officers are working to shared goals in support of the priorities.

You will have the communications understanding and news sense to spot problems before they arise and identify proactive opportunities before anyone else.

You will be expected to quickly win the trust of and work closely with the Secretary of State for Education as well as Ministers, policy teams and communications colleagues in the DfE and across the Government Communications Service (GCS), of which you will be a member.

As part of the senior management team, you will continually seek ways of improving the service provided by the media team including making sure the team has the skills needed.

You will provide advice - and constructive challenge where required - to senior policy teams, the Permanent Secretary, ministers, and special advisers on the communication implications of new, developing and existing policy.

You will take part in the office back-up rota, providing senior management support to our out-of-hours service.

If applicants are not appointable at this grade they may be considered for positions at the grade below.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be a confident, creative and experienced communications leader who can quickly get to grips with fast moving and complex issues. 

You will have experience of leading teams and extensive experience in the media across digital, print and broadcast. Your experience should include both traditional newswriting skills and multimedia knowledge.

You will be expected to maintain and build on incredibly high standards, while thriving under the pressure of delivering a substantial news agenda in a fast-paced environment.

You will have experience of leading junior members of staff and supporting their development.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Leading a team and developing people.
• Handling high profile issues and influencing senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Delivering media campaigns through the team.
• Sharp news sense and first-rate writing skills.
• Ability to build relationships and network.

Benefits

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, with an average employer contribution of 27%

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

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

At the application stage, we will assess Experience. As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

We will assess the CV and statement against the essential criteria.

Interview

At interview you will be assessed on experience, behaviours and technical skills.

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Technical skills:

• Ideas: Press and Media
• Impact: Press and Media
• Implementation: Press and Media
• Insight: Press and Media

Candidates will also be required to take part in a scenario exercise and present their approach to the panel.  

Interviews will be held in person on a date TBC.

Other Information  

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

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.    

For this role the department would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  

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 6 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 centralrecruitment.operations@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.  

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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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.