About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Communications Directorate at DHSC leads the conversation about health and care by engaging people through innovative communications, supporting improvements to the health of the nation and the running of the NHS.

And to meet this challenge, the directorate has set up three new multi-disciplinary integrated teams which will be responsible for driving the communications for the Government’s health ambitions and priorities.

These teams will be the driving force on everything from developing multi-channel strategies for the key health topics, ensuring our audiences and insight is at the heart of our activity, to shaping the narrative and message on our departmental priorities.

They will consist of media and strategic communications professionals working closely together to develop and execute sustained communications activity, aligned to core teams including social media to incorporate all digital channels and external affairs to maximise stakeholder engagement.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and creative head of campaigns to lead one of our new multi-discipline teams and provide leadership and direction as we communicate the most important health issues of the day.

The successful candidate will have a history of establishing and building high-performing teams and a proven track record of leading communication teams to deliver high-profile results.

You will be responsible for leading the team, comprised of media and campaign experts, working on one of our main campaign areas, producing creative and innovative proactive and reactive communications through a range of channels, putting our audiences at the heart of everything we do. The campaign work will focus on major conditions, prevention and public health.

Your role will include setting and delivering the work on insight-driven strategic communications plans on key departmental priorities, shaping the narrative and messaging on departmental priorities.

Your role will involve having an awareness of media trends, maintaining positive relationships with journalists and ensuring that the government’s position is reflected in national, regional and trade media coverage. You will also take part in the media team’s out of hours rota.

You will also work closely with other core comms teams, developing and evaluating project delivery plans covering stakeholder engagement, direct and low-cost/no-cost communications, paid-for marketing and social media content.

You will also have a strong news sense and good political knowledge. You will also be able to thrive in a high-pressure environment, while working with and motivating teams to deliver to their full potential.

The successful candidate will also work closely with key stakeholders including ministers, special advisers and private offices as well as Arm’s Length Bodies such as NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency.

The role will also give you the chance to play a key part across the communication directorate, working closely with senior leaders to help mould ways of working and the working culture and build networks across the department and Whitehall.

You will be supported to develop your career as you become part of a friendly, welcoming team where learning, development and wellbeing are integral parts of our culture.

You will:

• Lead a multi-discipline communications team, advising ministers and senior policy officials on communications issues, including sharing audience research and feedback

• Deliver on the planning, designing and production of strategic communications campaigns including overseeing the delivery of high-quality, insight driven content for use across a wide range of channels and platforms and ensuring that all activity is evaluated in line with GCS standards

• Lead the team to manage proactive and reactive media and other communications around the team’s activity and key work strands

• Lead collaboration across the communications directorate division on key priorities, to ensure alignment and integration with other core teams

• Be part of the “round the clock” media service through participation of the out of hours rota

• Build strong and collaborative working relationships with senior internal stakeholders including policy teams, ministers, and private office; other government department including No10 on main communications activity as well as the NHS and other health stakeholders, ensuring alignment of strategy, messaging and activity across priority programmes

• Managing and prioritising resource to ensure coherent communications plans and strategies are in place for Ministers

• Identifying and managing reputational risks and ensuring coherent communications plans are in place on key priority areas

• Working with special advisors and No10 to ensure they receive a highly professionalised approach to all media handling and communications issues

• Actively participating in the senior communications management team

Person specification

Key requirements for the role:

• A track record of developing and delivering creative campaigns to tackle problems and promote issues
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Experience of leading of proactive and reactive communications
• A strong news sense and the ability to communicate effectively with different audiences
• Knowledge of how to engage the public and media through variety of streams, including broadcast, print and digital
• Strong editorial judgment and ability to communicate effectively with different audiences
• Evidence to inform communications advice and of using evaluation to lessons learned and improve communications
• The ability to build and maintain networks with counterparts in other organisations
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, prioritise workload, delegate tasks to staff according to competing priorities

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,831, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £19,124 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, Strengths and Experience.

Sift date: expected TBC

Interview date: expected TBC

Interview location: The interview will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift. 

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability (750 word max).

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your Statement of Suitability to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Any move to DHSC 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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

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.