About the job

Job summary

Here at Defence Medical Services (DMS) Headquarters we are looking to recruit an Assistant Head (AH) Media and Communications to drive and cohere HQ DMS Media and Communications outputs for Business as Usual (BaU), Transformation and Crises.

The position offers 37 hours per week and requests to work flexibly will be considered, taking into account business needs.

Does this sound like the role for you? If so, we would love to hear from you!

Strategic Command Transformation 

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. 

Job description

The Assistant Head (AH) will write and deliver an exciting, engaging and informative Media and Communication plan for Director General (DG) DMS, ensuring key internal and external messages reach their target audience in a timely and digestible fashion.

The role will have responsibility for the creation and delivery of an effective staff engagement plan, which complements existing formal DMS surveys and that ensures responsive, efficient and timely feedback from staff at all levels across HQ DMS.

Person specification

Responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Create, maintain and exploit the HQ DMS communications stakeholder matrix; to include identification of key groups/people/organisations, key messages and desired outcomes.

• Maintain close and effective links with Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC), United Kingdom Strategic Command (UK Strat Com) Communications team, the HQ DMS Secretariat and Chief of Staff (COS) Function to ensure messaging is coherent, accurate and supportive of the DG’s intent.

• Ensure the HQ DMS Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is kept abreast of DMS related media issues and where appropriate provide Lines to Take on key matters.

• Create and nurture a culture of continual improvement and innovation within the HQ DMS Media and Communications team.

Please ensure you have read the attached Terms of Reference for full details of the position.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to have the following essential skills and experience:

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of developing and implementing communication strategies and plans, including internal communications.
• A proven track record in dealing successfully with media inquiries and delivering communication campaigns.
• An ability to identify key issues of the day and provide timely, accurate and positive communications to enhance understanding and awareness.

During the application process you will be asked to provide a 500 word personal statement illustrating how you meet the Person Specification and Essential Criteria described above and in the attached Terms of Reference document.

The sift will be completed within 5 working days of the vacancy closing date and interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

If you are invited to interview you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the ability to develop a good awareness of both Defence and Healthcare related media channels and issues. You will be asked for your view on relevant media stories of the day. 

Please ensure you demonstrate that you have the required skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications and memberships in the CV section of the application form. Please make sure no personal details are included. 

Please see the link to our Youtube channel for advice preparing your best responses with some hints and tips on answering behaviour based questions. Hints and tips such as: Your behaviours can be based on situations from work, volunteering or home; match your situation to the behaviour requested and how to use your 250-word limit.  

Defence Medical Services - YouTube 

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments.  Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. 

Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.  

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact dbscivpers-sgdmsresourcingteam@mod.gov.uk.

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

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.