About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience of managing an intranet platform?

Can you create content that meets user needs and helps them complete tasks?

Are you passionate about accessibility?

If so, this is a great opportunity to join the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

Working for the Head of Internal Communications and Engagement, you will act as a key communications advisor, responsible for the management and governance of DVSA’s intranet. Working closely with Corporate Senior Leaders, subject matter experts and colleagues in communications, you’ll be responsible for the management and governance of DVSA’s intranet platform.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

• Accountable for the management and development of DVSA’s SharePoint based intranet platform.
• Managing the contract for the intranet platform, working closely with the external supplier to ensure the platform meets user and business needs.
• Ensure that the intranet platform meets DVSA’s information management and security requirements.
• Manage relationship with intranet platform external supplier.
• Work closely with colleagues in digital to ensure that the intranet platform is effective and fully supported.
• Own the delivery of intranet communications content which may include policy, guidance, project communications campaigns and ‘products’.
• Set standards for intranet communications, ensuring content is designed to professional communication and accessibility standards.
• Work closely with communications colleagues to ensure intranet communications are planned, prepared and delivered in a timely and effective manner.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

To thrive in this role, you have experience of managing a SharePoint based intranet. You have experience of evaluating intranet communications against agreed key performance indicators and are aware of the tools that can be used. 

You have experience in internal communications – are able to take a brief, identify business and communication objectives, provide sound advice and guidance and evaluate results.  You have knowledge of the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations (2018) and are aware of accessibility requirements.

You will provide leadership to all direct reports to ensure that objectives and quality standards are met. Excellent communication skills are pivotal to this role, with the ability to provide guidance and robust recommendations to stakeholders. You are a confident person who enjoys building solid working relationships at all levels, you can influence others, by encouraging collaborative working to achieve what is right for the agency. 

You are adaptable, flexible and driven by deadlines, you can successfully adjust to the requirements and strategic direction of the agency. 

If not already held, there will be a development opportunity to work towards a professional qualification in communications when in post. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Bristol, Nottingham or Swansea, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.

There will be occasional travel and overnight stays, to other DVSA sites as part of this role. 

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• Make roads safer
• Improve services for our customers
• Make road transport greener and healthier
• Harness the potential of technology and data
• Grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday 
• Latest IT and Tech devices 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page

 

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.

How to Apply 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience of managing a SharePoint based intranet platform
• Experience of developing and delivering communications/content to deliver clear communications objectives based on audience insight and data

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 500 words.

The sift is due to take place 18th to 19th June 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held 09th to 10th July 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An interview and a presentation.

As part of the technical assessment for this role you will be assessed against:

The GCS Career Framework.

Further details around this can be found in the 'Technical' section of the advert and in the attached Candidate Pack.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

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

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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 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.