About the job

Job summary

The UK Security Vetting (UKSV) Communication and Employee Engagement Team is a fast-paced and dynamic team, responsible for producing and coordinating UKSV’s communications with all its stakeholders, using a range of media to communicate key messages, strategies and business changes. The Communication and Engagement team play a vital role in building engagement with UKSV’s stakeholders, both internally and externally. As a growing team, we have an opportunity for a Communications and Engagement Assistant to support our work. This role offers insight into a wider range of communications work and the opportunity to use your administrative skills to help us to deliver in a fast-moving environment.

Job description

Roles and Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Providing admin support across all aspects of the team’s work.

• Managing our email inboxes and team drives, ensuring email requests are responded to, actioned, and allocated appropriately across the team and documents are stored in line with Cabinet Office data management policies.

• Supporting the team in maintaining our internal intranet and gov.uk presence, keeping the sites up to date with the latest news and guidance, carrying out regular site audits and ensuring users are following policy and guidelines on content and style. Compile analytics to trace site use.

• Liaising with teams across UKSV to ensure all email contact lists are kept up to date and using them to issue internal and external messages as required.

• Liaising with the UKSV Customer Management Team to manage external stakeholder contract information and distribution of external
messages as required.

• Maintaining trackers for all internal and external communications.

• Helping to organise and deliver a range of virtual and in-person events, ranging from online learning sessions to an annual staff conference.

Person specification

As a Communication and Engagement Assistant within UK Security Vetting, we are looking for people who have the following expertise and
attributes:

• Experience of working in an administrative capacity in an office environment.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.

• Experience in balancing and prioritising multiple tasks with competing deadlines.

• Able to establish and maintain good working relationships, both within and outside of the immediate team.

• Team player and able to work collaboratively with, and through others.

• Flexible and adaptable.

• IT-confident, ideally with experience of Google Applications.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Attention to detail.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,750, Cabinet Office contributes £6,683 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 Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

At the sift stage you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Experience elements of the Success Profiles.

You will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on the Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service,  Delivering at Pace and Working Together.

To assess experience you will be asked to write a 250-word personal statement and a name-blind (anonymous) CV as part of the application process.   

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using only the lead behaviour of Managing a Quality Service, as well as a 250 word personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

At interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Experience elements of the Success Profiles. 

The Behaviours being assessed are Managing a Quality Service,  Delivering at Pace and Working Together. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – 03/06/2024
Expected interview date/s – 17/06/2024
Interview location - Google Meets video Conference

Reasonable adjustments
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 cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.