About the job

Job summary

Our priorities

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative.

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/

Job description

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) propels the UK to the forefront of global scientific and technological development, driving innovation that profoundly impacts people's lives.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to join our busy, ambitious, and supportive team, taking and editing innovative photos at the heart of a cutting-edge government department.

We are looking to appoint a forward thinking and creative expert to help us deliver daily digital photographic content that truly makes a difference to our vital portfolios: Science, Space, AI, Digital Infrastructure, and Tech.

So what does the job entail?

You will take a leading role in creating, managing, and prioritising digital photographic content for social and traditional media channels, travelling nationally and internationally with ministers and stakeholders to document the department’s work and impact at home and abroad. Our work has a strong audience focus and you will be at the forefront of finding and developing creative visual ways to engage with different groups with an interest in our work. Exceptional creativity, expert understanding of digital photographic creation and editorial practices, well-honed technical skills, attention to detail, collaboration, and a passion for the work we do is key.

We pride ourselves on having a great team culture and a focus on innovation, storytelling and making a difference in people’s lives. You will play an important role in the digital communications community across government and in up-skilling colleagues and senior leaders in photography best practice to maintain our status as a centre for excellence.

If you’re passionate about creating photography for engaging social media content in a newsroom environment, and you want to work on high-profile world-changing issues, this is the job for you.

A few examples of our recent work:

One Year of DSIT https://twitter.com/SciTechgovuk/status/1755841654945140763/video/1

UAE Trip https://twitter.com/michelledonelan/status/1763510842543280597

UK Biobank Development https://twitter.com/SciTechgovuk/status/1755941037258817879

Digital Skills Campaign Launch Video https://twitter.com/SciTechgovuk/status/1759877084132909227

Digital Skills Campaign Launch Photos https://twitter.com/michelledonelan/status/1759961386296152155?s=20

AI Safety Summit trailer https://twitter.com/SciTechgovuk/status/1694590623012024522

You will report into the Senior Content Producer.

You will deliver high quality photographs that suit both government and Ministerial social media channels, and can be supplied to external media outlets:

• You will take and edit ministerial and departmental photos for events, visits, and announcements.

• You will accompany Ministers as they visit labs, businesses, research institutes, major R&D projects  and events, both nationally and internationally. You will take official photographs that can be shared with the media, as well as on social media. It is a requirement of the role that you can travel around the UK at short notice to join these visits. This type of travel is funded by the department.

• You will proactively build an image library of photographs which can be used in future communications to illustrate the breadth of the department’s policy areas.

• You will work with the Communications and Ministerial teams to plan creative content and storytelling ideas, sometimes brainstorming right from the start of a project, sometimes working to very specific briefs designed by other social media experts or senior stakeholders.

• You will work on both longer-term projects, such as national and international campaigns, and projects with tight deadlines that require a newsroom pace of turnaround.

• You will need adaptability, to rapidly develop creative photography for a wide array of complex stakeholders in an environment that often shifts to meet the needs of breaking news.

• You will contribute photos to graphics and video content that help further explain the department’s biggest stories in an accessible way.

• You will build strong relationships across the department and up-skill colleagues in the Communications and Ministerial teams in photography skills.

Person specification

Skills and Experience

We're looking for a creative, enthusiastic self-starter with strong technical expertise and an eye for detail. Experience working with high profile figures and/or journalistic experience will be helpful, although not essential.

You will be asked to provide several examples of work you have created yourself. We are looking for people who create content themselves - if you are used to directing work but are not hands-on, this is not the role for you.

• Photography skills: able to use a range of camera equipment to shoot quality photos on visits and in a variety of locations. We work with cannon R5 (photography/hybrid) and C70 cameras (film), but we can procure a preferred photography camera system if needed.  

• Technical skills: Adobe suite experience is essential, particularly Lightroom and Photoshop. Premiere Pro, InDesign and Illustrator are desirable, but training can be provided.

• Ability to work well under pressure, edit to tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,720, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £9,650 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role. Please include online links to three examples of your work. Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.

Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviours and technical questions. 

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 24/03/2024

Interview dates: w/c 31/03/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

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

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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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. 

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.

Feedback

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.