About the job

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, enthusiastic Head of Communications and Engagement to lead the high performing Communications and Engagement Team at the heart Function. The successful candidate will bring a strategic perspective to the role, building on the great work the team is already delivering to draw together multiple communications channels into a single, coherent Communication Strategy. Our goal is simple: to communicate that we are achieving our vision to be ‘the best commercial function in the UK’.

Job description

• Lead the delivery of the GCF’s communication & engagement products.
• Ensure all events and products are delivered on time and to budget.
• Apply evaluation processes to ensure each event and product is better than the last.
• Develop a GCF Communication & Engagement Strategy, setting out the key communication priorities aligned to the Government Commercial Function Strategy and Business Plan.
• Work with senior leaders and other communication teams in the Function to ensure all products are delivered consistently and coherently; as well as support the GCF’s strategy and priorities.
• Oversee continuous improvement of all communications platforms and services to ensure they meet user needs and provide information in a clear, easy to understand and accessible manner.
• Manage a team of 4 communication & engagement specialists, alongside a large stakeholder network at the centre of and working around the function.
• Develop and implement the internal communication strategy for the Government Commercial & Grants Teams to boost staff engagement.

Person specification

• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering a multi-channel, multi-organisation communication strategy with a reach of at least 6,000 people. The successful candidate will showcase their ability to draw together multiple different campaigns and messages and implement a common core message, tone and delivery approach.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a team responsible for a varied programme of events, written communications and digital content, ensuring all products are completed on time, to budget, and to the required standard.
• Experience of community-building across several organisations, with evidence of iterating the approach based on evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses.
• Provide strategic communications advice to senior leaders across the function.
• Dedicated to continuous improvement; consistently sets robust evaluation criteria and learns from audience feedback to improve implementation plans.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to adjust tone to ensure the message is relevant, accessible and understandable to your specific audience.
• Ability to exploit the use of third party communications platforms and software to achieve organisational outcomes and maximise value for money.
• Exceptional leadership skills and strong belief in the power of communications and engagement within an organisation.

 Desirable criteria:

• Basic understanding of the Government Commercial Function’s vision, strategy and priorities; as well as how a strong commercial function supports good outcomes for public sector organisations.
• Membership of a recognised professional body within the communications discipline.
• A further education qualification in a communications discipline (degree level or equivalent).

 Essential technical skills:

• Insight - Draw on organisational insight to advise leaders on targeted employee communication strategies and actions to improve employee engagement.
• Ideas - Ensure the organisational infrastructure (tools,channels and processes) is in place to deliver high-quality and creative communication.
• Implementation - Continuously review and provide quality assurance for communication and media campaigns. Ensure communication strategies represent value for money. Identify and action opportunities for improvements to current activity.
• Impact - Evaluate the effectiveness of communication against objectives. Review lessons learnt and compare with industry best practice to identify areas for improvement for future communication strategies, advising senior leaders on the overall communications strategy.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a 250 word personal statement and 250 word behavioural statements.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 250 words) to describe how you are suitable for the role.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against the behaviours that are contained within this advert.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date –  w/c 06.05.24
Expected interview date/s – 13.05.24
Interview location - Online.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

Reasonable adjustments

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.