About the job

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions makes a difference to the lives of millions of people right across the country. Our work is often national news; from our multibillion-pound drive to get Britain working and cost-of-living support for the most vulnerable to improving the lives of disabled people and giving pensioners security in retirement.

We are recruiting two senior leader posts within the DWP Press Office:

1) Chief Press Officer

2) External Affairs Team Leader

Chief Press Officer:

As a senior leader in the high-performing Press Office team, you will be responding to breaking news stories, planning proactive press activity and briefing ministers. You will lead a Press team, working closely with Communications colleagues to promote the Department’s work while bringing ideas and energy to one of Whitehall’s busiest press offices. You will also have excellent judgment, thrive under pressure and be media savvy.

External Affairs Team Leader:

As a senior leader in our External Affairs Team, you will lead a team to build relationships with influential stakeholders, explaining DWP’s policies to help manage the department’s reputation and feed valuable insight back to the Department. You will head-up a team of trusted stakeholder engagement advisors, who provide first-class advice to ministerial teams to manage their stakeholder relationships.

For both roles, we are looking for leaders who have a track record of managing risk, excellent influencing skills, strong judgement and who are problem-solvers who can deliver and motivate a team under pressure.

If this sound like you, we would love to hear from you.

Both posts will be based at Caxton House, London

Job description

Chief Press Officer

The successful candidate will support the Head of News, Deputy Head of News and Deputy Head of News: Strategy, as one of the Chief Press Officers who oversee a team within the Press Office. The DWP Press Office works closely with the Digital Communications, External Affairs and Visits team. You will ensure the Press Office provides strategic media advice, devise and deliver detailed media plans (reactive and proactive) and build contacts with journalists to promote DWP messages and policy. 

Central activities include:

• Setting the news agenda across national, regional, digital and consumer channels, telling a consistent and compelling story about the department’s work.
• Building strong relations with Ministers, special advisers, policy officials, key external stakeholders and senior colleagues, offering expert media and communications advice and guidance.
• Initiating and developing communication strategies and integrated media campaigns which keep DWP on the front foot.
• Demonstrating excellent written communication skills and setting standards to ensure appropriate content, messaging, tone and accuracy and consistency in all media communication.
• Directly managing and developing an SIO and supporting a wider team of IOs to deliver communication objectives.
• Participating in the out-of-hours “back up” weekly duty rota.
• Playing an active role in the Press Office SMT and the leadership of this high-performing team. In return, we will support you and help develop your career as a skilled communications professional.

Please Note:
Due to the nature of the role, candidates will be required to work full time hours. Out of hours working is a key feature of this role and you may be included on a duty rota for weekday evenings and weekend service. There is an additional allowance paid for this. 

External Affairs Team Leader

The purpose of the External Affairs team is to:

• Develop and manage long lasting two-way relationships with DWP stakeholders, built on a clear understanding of each stakeholder’s needs.
• Gathering of stakeholder insight, feeding this insight into the Communications Directorate and the wider Department to support the development of better policy. Use this insight to identify and mitigate risks while capitalising on opportunities.
• Deliver exceptional stakeholder communications, partnerships and collaborations to ensure that stakeholders – and through them, our key audiences, understand DWP policies and the Department’s objectives.

The External Affairs Team Leader will:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of an External Affairs strategy based on insight and in support of the department’s wider communications objectives
• Be a trusted adviser to ministers, senior leaders and Special Advisers on engagement with stakeholders, including in times of crisis communications
• Lead a team to provide expert handling advice to ministers and senior leaders across the department
• Be a confident representative and advocate of the Department, representing DWP at high levels across Government
• Lead by example by building open and trusting relationships with stakeholders, identifying opportunities to shift sentiment and build partnerships.
• Develop and oversee a team to build its listening and monitoring function, sharing insight back into DWP and across Government – basing this intelligence on regular stakeholder mapping and horizon scanning.
• Be a leader and member of the Senior Management Team within the DWP Press Office, inspiring colleagues to enjoy their roles, improve skills and pursue their ambitions.

Please Note:

Due to the nature of the role, candidates will be required to work full time hours. Out of hours working is a key feature of this role and you may be included on a duty rota for weekday evenings and weekend service. There is an additional allowance paid for this. 

Person specification

 What we are looking for -  Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with highly effective media, rebuttal, and crisis management skills along with excellent political understanding and news judgement, plus being able to react quickly and confidently in developing situations.
• Experience of leading virtual teams and working closely with colleagues in the wider organisation to achieve objectives, including having the ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally, with strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Proven track record of engaging with stakeholders, designing and delivering engagement strategies, and evaluating impact.
• A track record of being a strong and supportive leader, with history of managing and developing/nurturing teams.
• Clarity of argument and concise writing skills.
• Experience of developing and leading multi-channel media strategies.
• Exceptional influencing skills, confidence and experience advising ministers and/or senior leaders, plus experience in supporting a team to do so.
• Experience of developing strategies and evaluation in a news environment.
• Strong ability to maintain good judgment and attention to detail even under pressure.

In return, will ensure you are fully supported and can develop your career as a skilled communications professional. DWP is committed to creating an organisation and workforce which is as diverse as the customers we serve. As such, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of gender, race, disability, age or sexual orientation

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 23 days annual leave allowance in year one. This may vary for existing civil servants based on their number of years’ service

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.

We’ll assess both what candidates are good at, as well as what they enjoy, to help us measure candidates’ behaviours, strengths and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application and for shortlisted candidates, a short scenario-based exercise and interview.

1. Written application

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.

Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your Personal Statement (max 1250 words) should explain how your personal skills and qualities make you a suitable candidate for this role.  Your CV and personal statement will both be assessed against the essential criteria set out on slide 7.

2. Interview

A ‘blended’ interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of behaviours, technical skills and strengths:

a. We’ll assess candidates against the following Civil Service Behaviours at G7 level:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

b. For this professional communications role, you’ll also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at G7 level

• Insight
• Ideas
• Implementation
• Impact

c. You’ll also be assessed against two Civil Service Strengths relevant to the role. These aren’t defined by grade

d. Shortlisted candidates will be expected to carry out a short scenario-based exercise at the start of the interview. You do not need to prepare in advance for this. This exercise will be assessed against Civil Service behaviour Delivering at Pace and GCS technical skill Implementation.

Please note – Should a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be conducted using the first 4 essential criteria listed above.  Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates:

Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:

• Shortlisting will take place commencing 02nd January 2024
• Interviews will commence 15th January 2024
  
• Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted.
  
• To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.
  
• Please submit your application no later than 23:55 1st January 2024

If you’re an existing Civil Servant and want to know more about transferring to another Department, refer to your current department’s guidance on transfers within the Civil Service.

Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.

If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact corey.charlton@dwp.gov.uk

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP 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

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 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.

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. 

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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

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.