About the job

Job summary

The successful candidate will help to communicate the work of the independent public inquiry into what has been referred to as the “most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history”. 

As part of a small but dynamic team you will use a range of communications channels to ensure the public, media and other stakeholders see and understand the Inquiry’s work on this high-profile story –one which regularly leads news bulletins and has been the subject of an ITV drama, multiple documentaries, frontpage splashes and widely listened to podcasts. 

About the Inquiry: In 1999, Post Office Limited introduced Horizon software and hardware into their post office branches. Over the lifecycle of Horizon, sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses experienced discrepancies and shortfalls in their branch transaction data and accounting. Disputes between Post Office Limited and postmasters have occurred over the last two decades, and the lack of satisfactory resolution of the Horizon issues, the suspension and termination of postmasters’ contracts with Post Office Limited and the prosecution and conviction of postmasters led ultimately to the launch of successful group litigation by postmasters against Post Office Limited. On 26 February 2020, the Prime Minister committed to an Independent Inquiry, and in September 2020 the Chairman, Sir Wyn Williams, was announced. It was converted to a statutory inquiry from 1 June 2021, following a request from Sir Wyn Williams. 

The Inquiry is tasked with ensuring there is a public summary of the failings that occurred, as set out in its Terms of Reference.  

The Inquiry has completed its first four phases; phases 5 and 6, in which Sir Wyn Williams will hear evidence from witnesses including senior figures at Post Office, Fujitsu and Royal Mail; politicians and civil servants; and campaigners, will commence in April 2024.  

The Sponsoring Department: 

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the sponsor department for the Inquiry. However, the Inquiry operates independently from DBT. 

Job description

As a member of the Communications Team, your responsibilities will include: 

• Drafting informative and engaging press releases, briefing materials and other communications products to tight deadlines.  
• Drafting social media copy and visuals for X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  
• Day-to-day running of the Inquiry’s website and social media channels, to ensure these are regularly updated with accessible, timely content. 
• Assisting with media operations and logistics on hearing days for a high profile public inquiry and around key events such as the Inquiry’s final report launch. This may include anything from managing media accreditation to liaising with technical teams and broadcasters to ensure broadcast feeds are available for news outlets. 
• Monitoring the Newsdesk inbox, including handling day-to-day media queries.  
• Contributing to high quality media monitoring, capturing insight, and sharing relevant information. 
• Participation in an out-of-hours press office rota, for which additional allowances are payable.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Experience of working in a fast-paced communications team, such as press, strategic communications, marketing, or digital, working to tight deadlines. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to change communication styles to fit different audiences.  
• Ability to quickly understand and distil complex legal and policy information into media and public-friendly language. 

Desirable Criteria  

• Experience creating content for websites and social media.  
• Experience with graphic design  
• An interest in the work of the Inquiry.

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• Excellent knowledge of, and interest in, the UK news agenda and landscape, combined with strong judgement and the ability to spot stories and emerging issues. 
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a changing environment. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,583, Department for Business and Trade contributes £9,877 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.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:  

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining your motivation for applying for this role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

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

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview. 

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases. 
• 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. Any applicant who has 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. 
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you. 
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

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.