About the job

Job summary

Our Mission

We are known as IfATE, we are a group of passionate people who work with employers to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

We are transforming and improving the skills system by putting employers at the heart and making it easier to navigate for all.

You will be part of an organisation that works to help people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to maximise their potential, contribute to improving social mobility and the UK’s productivity.

Find out more about the work of IfATE in the ‘What we do’ page on our website.

We are building an inclusive culture to make IfATE a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, and actively welcome applications from everyone including those from underrepresented groups.

Job description

The purpose of the role is to develop and execute marketing and communications strategies that promote IfATE’s work, through web content design, creating social media content and helping create content for other digital channels.

Working to the Head of Digital Channels, you’ll take a key role in creating content for IfATE’s social media channels, using them to communicate effectively and appropriately with our audiences. You will help in the management and improvement of IfATE’s website (focusing in on accessibility, readability, useability and navigability) and take a lead role in managing IfATE’s newsletters.

You will be expected to plan work and activity through our communications grid. 

The successful candidate will be creative and passionate about turning complex information into interesting, engaging content aimed primarily at business engagement.

You will join a high-performing team who are committed to making a strong investment in the personal and professional development of our people, and you will be supported and encouraged to develop your talent and skills.

You may be expected to support with wider communications team responsibilities i.e. creation of communications plans, media, internal.

Person specification

Our successful candidate will: 

• Support the effective evaluation and analysis of all digital communications activity across IfATE, reporting on key metrics and producing performance reports.
• Clearly understand the value of a strong communications grid, and working closely with the entire organisation.
• Develop strong working relationships with stakeholders, including other government departments.
• Support the team’s work to draft government communications service standard plans on a range of different topics, offering professional communications advice to colleagues right across the organisation.
• Help to identify and monitor communications risks on digital channels, develop mitigating actions where appropriate.
• Work with the team leader and colleagues to agree priorities and manage resources
• Work to provide the best possible customer service for our users and contributing to the team’s strategic objectives.
• Help us understand more about our audience and users.

Essential criteria:

• A good understanding of digital communications, in particular how to drive reach and engagement through captivating content.
• Ability to create engaging social media content in a variety of forms including video creation.
• Experience of website content design, accessibility and best practice, understanding of web based digital channels and content.
• Skilled in evaluating and applying audience insight to develop and improve activity across all digital channels.
• Ability to work independently and manage their time effectively to meet deadlines, with a willingness to travel on occasion to gather content.

Desirable criteria:

• To understand and be able to identify the needs of users, map their journeys and provide excellent customer service and satisfaction.
• Experience in developing and delivering communication strategies: setting measurable communication objectives, measuring outcomes and evaluating impact.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates.

Working flexibly is important to the success of the IfATE, and while you will have specific responsibilities as set out above, you will be part of a ‘one team’ approach and may be asked to be involved in a range of other activities.  As new areas of work progress, you may be asked to move between teams to deliver the IfATE’s key priorities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,842, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education contributes £9,677 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your: Experience and Technical Skills.

Application

You will be asked to submit a Personal statement (word count: 500) in which you will need to evidence how you meet the essential criteria listed above.

Please can you also submit a CV which details your employment history and qualifications. This will not be scored and will be used as a supporting document.

The personal statement will be assessed at sift.  

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the the first essential criteria, so please ensure that the first 150-200 words of your statement are aligned to this criterion. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Candidates eligible for the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) will be invited to interview if they meet the minimum criteria at application stage.  Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Interview

The interview will be a 3-part process: 

Part 1: 10 - minute presentation - details to be shared nearer the time

Part 2: A series of questions about your technical skills and experience using examples, to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. 

Part 3: 60 - minute written exercise - details of the exercise will be given at the interview. The candidate will need access to a computer and Microsoft Word or equivalent program.

Sift is expected to take place w/c 12/02/24.
Interviews are expected to take place w/c 04/03/24.

Please note, the above dates are subject to change.

Interviews will be expected to take place remotely via MS Teams. Please refer to Candidate Information Pack for further information on the process.

Further Information

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education does 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.

Any move to IfATE 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

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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

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 ifarecruitment.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.

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.

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.