About the job

Job summary

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure that it is what it says it is, and that is increasingly healthy and more sustainable. With so much on our plate, our communications team plays a vital role in connecting the organisation with consumers and stakeholders alike.

We are looking for an experienced and creative Head of Campaigns, Content and Channels to lead our marketing and digital communication activities. This is a new and pivotal role in the FSA, and you will be responsible for shaping and executing our marketing campaigns, overseeing content creation, managing digital communication channels and maintaining brand guidelines.

Job description

You will be an influential voice within the division and will lead a team of dedicated and professional communicators who are excited to support the FSA’s important work. You’ll lead on a range of areas, from low and no-cost campaigning for businesses and consumers to the creation of technical content that is clear and engaging for a variety of audiences.

You’ll oversee the creation and management of website content, and be a champion of accessibility, ensuring that everyone is able to make the most of the information we share online. You’ll also work to build upon our social media strategies to offer effective messaging that is convenient, visually appealing and informative.

As a member of our communications management team, you’ll help to develop and set the overall strategic direction of our work, and to champion personal and professional development.

If you are a talented leader with experience in guiding campaigns delivering behavioural change, this is an opportunity to make a real difference for consumers across the country.

Person specification

Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,404, Food Standards Agency contributes £15,179 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.

Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack. 

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential and desirable criteria. (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in

the event of a tie between candidates).

Experience

1. Lead criteria: Experience in senior campaigns and digital communications roles that have delivered behaviour change through targeted campaigns.
2. A leader with experience of managing diverse teams.
3. Proficiency in website content management, accessibility standards, and social media management.
4. Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions and provide strategic insights.
5. Strong understanding of brand consistency, campaign strategy, and content creation.

Lead Criteria An initial sift may take place on just the identified Lead Criteria indicated.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Technical requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours Level 4

Behaviours

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.

Technical:

• Ideas – Use marketing and campaign assets in conjunction with digital and social media to engage and involve audiences.

As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the day / invite to interview email.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 03/01/24

Sift: Expected to take place 04/01/23

Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 11/01/24

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application.)

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.

Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.

Please be assured that diversity or socio–economic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications.  Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.

We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview, but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.

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.