About the job

Job summary

At DSIT, we’re all about cementing the UK’s position as a Science and Tech superpower. Our mission is driving stronger growth, better jobs and bold discoveries. We’re the Department investing in today to secure future economic growth. 

To help us get there, our Science and Technology Framework lays out the roadmap for everything we do, giving us a clear plan up to 2030.  Together with stakeholders from across government and the SciTech sector we are:   

• Backing UK science, technology and innovation, boosting investment in our most exciting technologies and sectors of the future, to grow the economy and create high paid-jobs.  
• Tackling global challenges through international influence and partnerships to secure our future and security. 
• Improving lives by championing responsible innovation in the digital economy and public services.

We want DSIT to be the best place to work in government and central to this is our set of core values – think big, value people, create connections, cultivate curiosity. We created these together in our first months as a department and they guide how we work: helping us make decisions, informing our behaviour and interactions.    

From delivering the Online Safety Act 2023 and hosting the world’s first inaugural AI Safety Summit to boosting investment in R&D and Life Sciences, we have already achieved so much since we were created. But this is only the beginning and being a department for innovation, we’re excited to see what the future holds.  

Our Inclusive Environment  

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://buytickets.at/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation/1025519  

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

Job description

At DSIT, we are leading the way in cementing the UK as one of the most innovative economies in the world – growing the economy and improving the lives of everyone in the UK through the jobs of tomorrow and new discoveries that advance the health and prosperity of society whilst ensuring users are protected online. Our varied work makes a real difference to people across the UK and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of and help build a new DSIT communications team.

We are looking for an experienced campaign specialist to join our Campaigns team. The successful candidate will be an experienced and resilient campaigner who is passionate about their work, demonstrates strong strategic insight and has a track record in delivering high profile and impactful paid and no cost/low cost campaigns. You will have experience of leading a team and coaching team members to deliver high quality communications with focus on results and tangible outcomes.

You will lead the work with our media planning, buying and creative advertising agencies to craft creative and targeted marketing activity to drive long-term behaviour change to achieve our objectives set out in the Science and Technology Framework. With innovation at the heart of the campaigns we seek to develop – there's never been a more exciting time to join the DSIT campaigns team.

The ideal candidate should be used to working at real pace and able to influence at the highest level working with ministers, special advisers, and senior policy officials.

Some international experience would be beneficial but not essential. At all levels, you will understand how to use insight to inform campaigns and will have experience of evaluating and improving future campaigns as a result.

Person specification

Key responsibilities:

You will:
•  Develop and deliver insight-led campaigns that lean into non-news opportunities, working closely with social, digital and press colleagues in the wider team.
•  Ensure delivery against clear and SMART communications objectives through a variety of communications channels (digital/social media, advertising, PR and partnerships).
•  Identify, create or capitalise on opportunities that will resonate with target audiences, drawing different policies together where relevant for the audience.
•  Proactively set the direction of your team, focusing on tangible results and ensuring all work delivers against clear objectives, based on policy goals, market research, insight and stakeholder intelligence. Set targets and evaluate impact.
•  Build effective relationships with the wider communications team and stakeholders across your areas of responsibility, identifying opportunities, achieving buy-in and nurturing long-term partnerships. Collaborate with policy teams to generate content.
•  Support DSIT's effective delivery against all key cross government campaigns and PM priorities.
•  Support and manage the central professional assurance process for DSIT and its Arm's Length's Bodies (ALBs) and oversee all communications procurement using central frameworks.
•  Support the management of campaign budgets leading and driving the performance of external suppliers and communications agencies (media planners, buyers, creative and research agencies), ensuring suppliers deliver value for money and deliver high quality work on time.

Skills and experience:

A committed and tenacious communicator with a proven track record of developing, implementing and evaluating creative, impactful communications campaigns. You should:
• Have experience of paid-for marketing. We expect you to have experience of managing multiple agencies concurrently. You should also be adept at developing insight and data driven strategies across the entire marketing mix, including social media, as well as being confident working with partners to support the delivery and extend the reach of campaigns.
• Be good at problem solving. You will be able to find a route through complicated structures and/or policy areas, always keeping audiences and insight at forefront.
• Be able to work at pace, managing competing and sometimes changing priorities.
• Be confident and skilled at working with people at senior levels and building alliances with stakeholders to support story generation and campaign delivery.
• Be able to turn complicated information into clear and engaging communications, navigating risks and capitalising on opportunity. Able to coach others to do the same.
• Be able to prioritise, set and evaluate objectives, evaluate impact and apply learning.
• Have excellent written and oral skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, behaviour and technical statements. 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 tell us why you are suitable for this role and why you are applying.

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 behaviour, technical and strength-based questions. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 19/08/2024

Interview dates: w/c 01/09/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

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.

Further Information

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 /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 

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.