About the job

Job summary

At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.  

Are you an effective communicator, who is passionate about delivering key communications and engagement activities?

Do you enjoy a varied workload and managing multiple priorities?  

Can you build strong, influential relationships with a broad range of stakeholders?

If so, we would love to hear from you! 

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in an extremely varied and fast paced role, where you can gain excellent exposure across the DVLA along with a good understanding of the agency at an organisational level.

Job description

The Communication and Engagement Manager (CEM) provides a professional communications service, acting as a single point of contact for all internal communication and engagement activities within the directorate. The CEM develops and drives directorate communication and engagement plans, aligning with DVLA strategy, advising, and supporting the director, senior managers, and teams with their communication objectives.

As CEM, you will be encouraged to proactively engage with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels, building positive relationships. You will be part of a network of CEMs within the agency, and you will grow relationships, share successes, challenges, and ideas. The CEM supports delivery of the agency’s Attraction strategy, including planning and organising attendance to external events. You will also have the opportunity to plan internal staff events, collaborating with the Attraction leads across the agency to deliver across our three sites, for which occasional travel will be required.

You will respond to changing priorities and ad hoc requests at short notice, organising yourself and your team to ensure deadlines are met. You will have line management responsibilities for two staff. If you have not line managed previously, we will help you to develop the necessary skills.

If you enjoy being innovative, working on a variety of projects and engaging with a wide range of people, we encourage you to apply. This exciting role promises an array of challenges and experience!

Responsibilities  

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to: 

• Editing and tailoring internal and external messages as appropriate to ensure corporate standards are applied and that the information and delivery channel meets the needs of the varied audience within HRED and the Agency.
• Attending and participating in various communications forums to ensure HRED Communications and the monthly planner is kept up to date. Ensure that Internal Communications and Strategic Communication teams have forward notice of plans for Agency wide messages.
• Creating and supporting HRED Communication campaigns, advising SMEs on following the communications process and as CEM undertake evaluations to determine success and next steps.
• Leading the HRED Communications Team to deliver clear, simple, and high-standard messages across all HRED communications and Intranet pages. Take responsibility for staff development and support them to achieve their personal professional development goals.
• Supporting the delivery of the Agency’s Attraction strategy including planning and organising the attendance to events and ensuring the Agency’s career sites are maintained and developed in line with business needs.

For further information about the role please see the attached role profile. 

Additional Information  

Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business. If you have a flexible or part time working requirement, you should contact the vacancy holder in advance of making an application to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your desired working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role. To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’. 

This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues. 

Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process. 

For further information please see the attached role profile. Click here to view the PDF and here for the Word version.

Person specification

We are looking for someone with a passion and enthusiasm for delivering high-quality written and verbal communications. You will have experience of delivering key messages to a range of audiences.

You will have strong digital skills and a sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Powerpoint and Excel.

You are organised, adaptable and resilient, able to balance competing priorities, ensuring deadlines are met and work is produced to a high standard.

You are an innovative problem-solver, with the ability to offer creative ideas and solutions. You enjoy collaborating with others, have strong interpersonal skills and are confident building relationships with stakeholders at all levels. You are able to lead on projects in a team environment.

We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues. 

Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 12 months. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. 

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role  
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
• Generous average employer contribution of 27%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme 
• 25 days holiday, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days pro rata 
• Access to the staff discount portal 
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff 

There are many more opportunities and great benefits of working at DVLA, visit our Careers website for further information.   

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

How to Apply  

For this role you will need to submit a CV and Personal Statement of up to 1000 words.   

For your CV and Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria:   

• Communicating verbally and in writing to deliver key messages to a range of audiences.
• Building and maintaining relationships with multiple stakeholders at different levels.
• Planning and organising work effectively to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Demonstration of leadership skills in group scenarios

Click here for further guidance on writing a CV and Personal Statement. 

The sift is due to take place on 9th July 2024.

Interviews will be held from 16th July 2024.

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

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done. 

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

•              An interview and presentation

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order 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.  

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

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

Further Information 

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.