About the job

Job summary

Do you have a passion for creating engaging content and a keen eye for detail?

Would you embrace the opportunity to be part of an organisation that delivers content to millions of customers?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity available to join our friendly team of communications professionals and would love to hear from you!

Job description

You will join the External Communications team who are responsible for all external-facing communication and media activity at DVLA. As a Content Designer, you will create content that meets customer needs in a clear, simple, and easy to understand manner. You will also develop, maintain and improve customer journeys, following current content publishing guidelines and Government Digital Service (GDS) publishing guidelines, where appropriate.

As the subject matter expert on content creation, you’ll be skilled at taking complex information and making it accessible to a public audience. This will include creating engaging content for a diverse range of channels, such as GOV.UK, social media, letters, forms and other literature.

You will also maintain DVLA’s social media channels and support communications campaigns by drafting and publishing proactive content, including social media, blogs, and email alerts.

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Creating and publishing engaging and accurate content for a range of online and offline channels.
• Supporting DVLA’s communications campaigns by writing and publishing proactive posts on DVLA’s social media channels, blogs, and email alerts.
• Understanding user needs by analysing user research, feedback and other data to develop recommendations for improvements.
• Collaborating with colleagues within DVLA and the wider content community to design, agree and publish high quality content and services.

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

Person specification

About you

You will have a passion for communications and content creation, with the ability to present complex information in a clear, engaging manner.

You will have a keen eye for detail and the ability to tailor your communications style to suit your audience, ensuring that all communications are relevant and accurate.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills and will enjoy being part of a dynamic team. You will be able to develop and maintain positive working relationships with a range of internal stakeholders and Arm’s Length Bodies, predominantly GDS.

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’.

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 employer contribution of 28.97%, depending on 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.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a minimum of 60% of their time in the office over a month, with flexibility dependent on balancing business and individual need.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

For this role you will need to submit a CV with a 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:  

• Using your strong understanding of a range of online and offline communications channels, to effectively deliver information.
• Seeking and identifying opportunities for content to be made more effective by developing recommendations for continuous improvement using available insight and digital tools.
• Writing clear and engaging content for a range of communication channels.
• Working as part of blended teams alongside stakeholders to create and deliver content for the best customer experience.

Click here for further guidance on writing a CV and personal statement.

The sift is due to take place from 16/08/2024.

Interviews will be held from 30/08/2024.

This interview will be conducted on site at DVLA, Swansea. Further 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 written exercise

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.

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.