About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience of running a national press office?

Can you demonstrate exceptional leadership skills?

Are you someone who would love the opportunity to manage the development and implementation of an effective social media strategy?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

Working for the Head of External Communications, the post holder is responsible for delivering a first-rate media relations and external communications service for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The post holder is accountable for managing the planning, preparation and approval of DVSA’s reactive media handling and proactive external content production – working closely with the CEO, Directors, Corporate Senior Leaders, the Head of Corporate Communications and individual Heads of Discipline (internal, publishing, external affairs), Strategic Communications and colleagues at all levels in DVSA, DfT press office, DfT Ministerial private office and DfT agencies’ external communications teams.

The post holder is also responsible for managing the development and implementation of an effective social media strategy for DVSA. The post holder is the owner of the social media strategy and will ensure individual channels are operating effectively and regularly evaluated against corporate external communications plans and the GCS Evaluation Cycle.

The post holder will have management responsibility for 4 x HEO Media Managers and 3 x EO Media Officers. The post holder will be accountable for ensuring that customers and stakeholders receive timely, clear and accurate information via appropriate channels, using audience insight, to facilitate two-way communication and meet user needs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

• Accountable for managing the preparation and implementation of corporate external communication and media handling plans, ensuring communications objectives are clearly identified and the desired outcomes are evaluated and achieved.
• Responsible for ensuring all external communications are aligned and consistent with wider DVSA and DfT strategies and communications activities and reflect user needs and communication preferences whilst ensuring DVSA’s and DfT’s corporate reputations are protected.
• Accountable for managing the development and implementation of an effective social media strategy and supporting action plan which protects and enhances DVSA’s reputation.
• Setting standards for external communication, ensuring content is designed and copy written to Government Communication Service (GCS) standards, including plain English in line with Government Digital Service guidance.
• Champion and lead by example GCS communication standards and career development.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

• To succeed in this role, you will have significant relevant experience of running a national press office, working in a press office environment or as a journalist.
• You will have experience of having developed and implemented a social media strategy.
• You have experience of having successfully managed a team and enjoy inspiring others to achieve great things.
• You are confident at expressing yourself and can do so in a clear and appropriate manner, you have experience of working with people at all levels.
• You are comfortable in providing sound advice to senior leaders and officials and can act swiftly to protect the reputation of the agency.
• You hold a professional qualification in communications or are willing to work towards when in post. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham or Swansea, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.

There will be some travel to other DVSA sites required as part of this role, including for line management duties. This may involve overnight stays.

All members of the media team are expected to take part in a rota which involves early morning shifts, as well as weekday and weekend out of hours duty. Overtime is payable for out of hours duty. Applicants are encouraged to contact Damien.Currie@dvsa.gov.uk with any questions in relation to this. 

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday 
• Latest IT and Tech devices 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page

 

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.

How to Apply

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Significant relevant experience of running a national press office, working in a press office environment or as a journalist.
• Experience of developing and implementing a social media strategy. 
• Experience of engaging with and influencing senior leaders. 

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1000 words.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An in-tray exercise and interview.

As part of the technical assessment for this role you will be assessed against:

• The GCS Competency Framework.

Further details around this can be found in the 'Technical' section of the advert and in the attached Candidate Pack.

The sift is due to take place 28 - 29 May 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 17 June 2024.

This interview will be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.