About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Head of Content, Deputy Head of Digital

Building/Site: 102 Petty France (MoJ) London, SW1H 9AJ

Grade: Grade 7

Post Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time. The role will be based at 102 petty France. We currently attend the office for a minimum of two days a week and you may be asked to attend for additional days when required.

Role Type: Strategic Communications

Job description 

We are looking to appoint a Head of Content, Deputy Head of Digital to lead the production and creative strands of our busy and high-performing digital content and channels team. You will lead on quality assuring our digital creative content development, have experience in overseeing the delivery of design work, ensuring it is channel appropriate, has the end users in mind, and meet our strategic priorities.

The Ministry of Justice deals with a vast range of issues that have a profound impact on people’s lives, the digital team brings the justice system to life for everyone in society by commissioning, creating and publishing high volumes of creative, social-first content across our key priority areas - ranging from prison reform to modern justice and support for victims. It’s an extremely fast-paced and ever-changing environment, and you will play a key role in ensuring we stay ahead of the curve in the way we produce and share our digital content.

This is a new role splitting out the roles and responsibilities between our existing Deputy Head of Digital who will oversee ‘Channels and Engagement’ where this role will be responsible for ‘Content’. We are looking for an expert creative to help us communicate the work of the criminal justice system to our audiences in engaging and innovative ways. You will have a strong understanding of brand development, you will keep across trends and the changing way social media platforms treat different types of content, and you will have an instinct for innovation and risk-taking that ensures our content is seen.

You will work with the Head of Channels and Engagement (co-Deputy Head of Digital) to deliver high quality social first content that stays ahead of platform updates and embraces industry trends. You will be a key player in influencing senior colleagues on creative best practice so you will be a hands-on and strategic practitioner focused on the delivery of quality products fit for platform. You will drive our team’s creative and production efforts to develop our digital approach, based on audience insight, learning from leading organisations and influencers in this space. To succeed you will combine your extensive digital production and creative experience, with strong influencing and persuasion skills.

You will report into the Head of Digital Communications and lead talented Digital Content Managers and Social Media Videographers. You will work collaboratively with other leaders in the Strategic Communications team and wider communication directorate including Campaigns, Insight and Evaluation, Press, External Affairs and the Web Team as well as Ministers, Special Advisers and Private Office.

Importantly you will work with your manager to:

• Ensure that the team is a happy, supportive and inclusive place to be - where difference is encouraged and celebrated
• Maintain a “no-blame culture” where it is recognised that occasional mistakes and missteps are worthwhile costs of ambition and innovation
• Facilitate a space that welcomes creative challenge and big ideas - whatever your grade
• Ensure that everyone is supported and empowered to do their very best work

You can review our work here:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MinistryofJusticeUK
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoJGovUK
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uk-ministry-of-justice
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mojgovuk/
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mojgovuk
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ministryofjusticeuk

Responsibilities  

• Manage Senior Digital Content Managers (SIO), Digital Content Managers (IO) and Social Media Videographers, overseeing quality output across production and content that adheres to insights and supports efficiency and innovation.
• Lead on production best practice to produce high quality, social-first content for all commissions from the No10 press grid, x-gov, campaigns, Private Office and proactives.
• Provide creative direction across content and lead on brand development and design standards including our the MoJ social media brand book and creds deck.
• Ensure accessibility guidelines are enforced and that all content produced and published across MoJ channels adheres to industry best practice and GCS guidelines.
• Participate in production, filming, editing and photography where required by business needs.
• Maintain and advance as needed our creds decks and Brand Book.
• Management and procurement of creative and production related support including but not limited to; asset file management system, relevant software (Adobe, Dropbox, Google Drive etc) and filming and photography resources (equipment and storage).
• In collaboration with the Head of Digital Communications and Head of Channels and Engagement lead the implementation of the MoJ’s digital strategy (for the MoJ group)
• Act as a lead for social media content creation and production across the MoJ group – providing expert advice and guidance to the communications directorate including upskilling and training. Where required attend cross government digital meetings and events; build strong partnerships and working relationships with other digital teams across Government and partner organisations. 
• Play an active, engaged role in the Strategic Communications team’s senior management group – supporting other functions within that team, contributing to cross-team decision making and pastoral care and helping drive standards and collaboration.
• Build capability across the team, sharing extensive knowledge of established and emerging online platform content trends and formats ensuring learnings are shared.
• Achieve the best return on investment by managing production and creative resources, maximising the use of existing assets and managing relationships with other agencies and private sector providers when required.
• Work with the Head of Channels and Engagement to identify risks to the MOJ’s reputation and service continuity, work closely with press office colleagues to mitigate risks.

Person Specification  

• A proven track record in the creation and management of multimedia content for digital / social media and offline channels, including video, photography, graphics, illustrations, and animation, with a creative portfolio to evidence work delivered.
• Experience in Adobe suite workflow (InDesign, After Effects, Illustrator and Premiere Pro).
• Extensive experience in managing the delivery of high profile and effective social-first digital communications for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Threads.
• Experience in project management, able to effectively manage resources under pressure to deliver multiple competing projects on time.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills, with the confidence to provide best practice advice to senior officials and ministers.
• A passion for, and detailed knowledge of digital communications best practice. Closely monitor social media developments and platform updates tailoring our content accordingly to keep our communications relevant and help the MoJ stand out.
• The ability to make strategic decisions by having strong analytical skills, using data and content performance to improve communications approaches with a commitment to continual improvement via a ‘test, learn and iterate’ approach. 
• Excellent written and oral communications skills reflecting the need to explain complex policy areas to non-specialist audiences in a clear and engaging way.
• The ability to tell relevant and authentic stories about the complex work involved in the criminal justice system.
• Experience leading teams to perform at their best, developing their skills and helping them to grow and innovate with proven ability to build and maintain a positive, motivating and inclusive work culture.

Application Process

We will be using success profiles to assess your communication and leadership abilities.

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and 1000-word Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience.

Interview / Selection Process

If selected for interview, you will be asked to present your portfolio in answer a question sent to you in advance.

We'll also assess you against these behaviours based on the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework (PDF).

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

And these GCS competences:

• Comms – Ideas: Digital
• Comms – Insight: Digital

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,847, Ministry of Justice contributes £16,418 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.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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.