About the job

Job summary

Are you a communications professional looking for a role that makes a difference to people’s lives across the UK? The work of the Department for Work and Pensions is often national news, and we are recruiting a Senior Press Officer, based in London, to be part of our supportive and high-performing press team.

Our work is often national news. From cost-of-living support for the most vulnerable and getting people back into work to improving the lives of disabled people and giving pensioners security in retirement. As part of the Press Office, you will be responding for breaking news stories, planning proactive press activity and briefing ministers. You will also work closely with the rest of the Communications Directorate to promote the Department’s work and services, as well as bringing ideas and energy to one of Whitehall’s busiest press offices. We are looking for people who have good judgement, a strong understanding of how the news cycle works and an ability to solve problems creatively under pressure. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you

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 will be included on a duty rota for weekday evenings and weekend service. There is an additional allowance paid for this. 

Job description

We are recruiting a Senior Press Officer to be part of our supportive and high-performing press team. As part of the Press Office, you will be responding to breaking news stories and planning proactive press activity. You will need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, engaging with journalists and reacting quickly and confidently to developing issues and breaking news.

You will need excellent news judgment, the ability to be able to think strategically, strong interpersonal skills and an aptitude for digesting complex information quickly which you are then able to explain in plain English. Ideally, you will have a good understanding of the political landscape, the workings of Whitehall, Parliamentary procedure, devolution and propriety.

You will lead and develop a small team, championing them both across the department and the Government’s communications profession.

 You will be working in a supportive team and tasked with delivering communications objectives that form a critical part of this Government’s priorities.

This position entails handling interview requests, developing and managing proactive and reactive press, offering and handling advice and oversee a small team to provide a timely, accurate and professional service to journalists.                                                                                                                   

This role is also part of an out of hours duty rota.

The Role will be based at Caxton House, London SW1H 9NA

Some travel may be required for business purposes.  Travel costs will be re-imbursed in these cases.                                                                       

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

Person specification

What we are looking for - Essential Criteria 

• Excellent judgement and understanding of how the news cycle works
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and reacting quickly and confidently to breaking issues
• Excellent writing skills including, identifying media opportunities and planning stories
• Leadership qualities suitable for managing a small team of press officers
• Knowledge of media channels, including the role of digital media
• Experience of briefing and advising senior officials, executives or VIPs
• Comfortable managing and prioritising competing demands, often at a fast pace
• Willingness to be a self-starter and set and maintain high working standards

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%
• 25 days annual leave allowance in year one. This may vary for existing civil servants based on their number of years’ service

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.   

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed 

Hybrid Working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.  This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

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.

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.

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.

Written application

Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your Personal Statement (max 1000 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 in the advert.

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

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

It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

 A. We’ll assess candidates against the following Civil Service Behaviours at SEO level:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

 B. For this professional role, you’ll also be tested against the following  Communications Service (GCS) technical skill at SIO 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.

Sift and Interview Dates

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

• Shortlisting will take place commencing 31st January 2024
• Interviews will commence 14th February 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 31st January 2024

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted. 

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.

To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.

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

If you have questions about the role, or the application process, please contact Robyn.Meadwell@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.