About the job

Job summary

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

Public Spending Group

The Public Spending Group is a high-profile and rewarding place to work.  We help the Chancellor decide what to spend £1.2trillion a year on and ensure government delivers value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and make sure value for money is at the centre of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis. 

We advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance, debt and risk capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money.

About the Team 

Government Finance Function (GFF) 
 
The vision of the GFF, which sits within HM Treasury as a cross-cutting central team, is to ensure that we put finance at the heart of decision making. It is at the forefront of the Government’s functional agenda, building a broad and inclusive function that is breaking down silos, sharing the excellent best-practice that exists across Government, and establishing effective relationships with other functions. 

We’re looking to recruit a Deputy Head of Communications and Engagement to work in the Strategy, Engagement and Governance Team. We’re a high-profile team at the heart of the GFF who focus on:

Setting the strategic direction for the function

Running strategic projects to set best practice and upskill the finance community

Developing communications to connect with over 10,000 finance employees by building a common identity

Running events designed to engage and educate audiences across government

The team is ten people strong with a diversity of background and experience. We work in a collaborative way with significant join up and ongoing opportunities to get involved in new tasks.

About the Job 

As Deputy Head of Communications and Engagement, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day functioning of the communications and engagement team, with specific responsibility for designing and implementing a new, external affairs strategy.

You will have outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with peers within the central team, wider function and across external bodies and organisations. You will leverage these relationships to ensure a consistent, internal narrative, and to identify opportunities to grow the Government Finance Function brand across the Civil Service and beyond.

You must be confident in all aspects of communications, from digital-communications to events and stakeholder management, as well as dealing with external enquiries and managing reputation and other risk relating to externally facing work. You should also be comfortable working with – and advising – senior leaders at the highest levels of government.

You will be an effective, inspiring, and visible leader, who prioritises innovation and continuous learning and development to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the team.

Key Accountabilities for this role include:

1. Redesign our External Affairs strategy – including social media – to take advantage of emerging trends and channels, building the GFF brand in the process
2. Work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of Function to build their external profile amongst key stakeholders – both internal and external
3. Direct line management responsibilities for three individuals, ensuring each member of the team has the skills and support necessary to deliver high-quality work
4. Proactively identify opportunities to improve channels and outputs by using available data and bringing in new technologies where appropriate
5. Provide strategic oversight over internal and external facing campaigns, ensuring you use your organisational insight to advise on relevant and targeted communications
6. Have the ability to anticipate and spot breaking stories and drive the team to issue swift, robust and appropriate responses
7. Play a leadership role within the Government Finance Function central team, modelling desired leadership skills and qualities to influence and direct peers
8. Deputise for the Head of Communications when required

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.

Tuesday 6th February, 16:30 – 17:00 - Click here to join the meeting

Thursday 8th February 2024, 12:00 – 12:30 - Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact David Ewing, David.ewing@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form. 

1. Communicating and influencing - the successful candidate will be expected to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders, including some of the most senior government finance representatives.
2. Working together – the successful candidate will be expected to work with teams and individuals across the central team, departments and other functions and professions
3. Seeing the Big Picture – the successful candidate will be expected to be able to identify the impact of multiple priorities and ensure their own plans and work area reflect this 

The lead criterion is: Communication and Influencing

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.  

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Tuesday 6th February, 17:00 – 17:45 Click here to join the meeting

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 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.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: Wednesday 14th February 2024

Shortlisting: From 15th February 2024

Interviews:  w/c 11th March 2024 

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)   

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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

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.