About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office is the centre of government. Its purpose is: to maintain the integrity of the Union, co-ordinate the security of the realm and sustain a flourishing democracy; to support the design and implementation of HM Government’s policies and the Prime Minister’s priorities; and to ensure the delivery of the finest public services by attracting and developing the best public servants and improving the efficiency of government. 

Cabinet Office Digital is the Government Digital and Data hub for the Cabinet Office. 

We are creating a digital culture where user needs are at the heart of everything we build and through data democratisation, automation, governance, convergence and consolidation we will support creating a better Cabinet Office of the future. 

We are transforming ourselves to be even more effective and efficient in the way we service our users' needs. This exciting transformation programme will shape the organisation, our ways of working, our engagement model and our "delivery engine", enabling CO Digital to become a product centric organisation and delivering through a highly matrixed portfolio of projects and programmes. As both Digital Partner and/or Digital Delivery Partner we advise and assure business units and Arm’s-Length Bodies in developing their own digital capabilities, as well as taking on delivery responsibilities ourselves where relevant. 

We have structured ourselves into eight critical functions to realise this vision - Product, Portfolio, Enterprise Services, Technology, Cyber, Data, Strategy & Digital Transformation and People & Business Services.

Job description

The Enterprise Services function is part of Cabinet Office Digital. It provides, maintains and supports the IT services (hosted and public cloud IT infrastructure, telephony, network security, internet connectivity, Local Area Networks, WiFi, end-user devices, cloud capability and full software portfolio) relied upon by the entire Cabinet Office. Our user base of over ten thousand includes the Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Services, Government Property Agency and a number of ministers. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Delivery team, to lead technical communications on key infrastructure-related services to transform our internal services and the way we communicate complex technical concepts to a broad range of staff. The Delivery team uses a hybrid of Agile and Waterfall methods to apply the best approach to delivery projects successfully. 

As a Technical Writer, you will be expected to take a user-centred approach to make complicated technical concepts easier to understand for the wider Cabinet Office audience. In this role, you will work closely with subject matter experts such as network, server operation engineers, technical architects, Google Cloud engineers, technology leaders and the Delivery team to create engaging content to communicate changes to the wider Cabinet Office users as well as develop technical documentation using a variety of tools. You will be expected to fully utilise existing channels of communication to pitch the changes at the right level to users. 

You will influence how Enterprise Services communicates to thousands of staff based across the UK, developing communication templates and workflows that ensure the right level of information is provided to the right people at the right time – as part of providing an excellent IT service at the heart of government.

Responsibilities

• Develop communications (e.g. email and Intranet) for both non-technical Cabinet Office users, as well as technical teams, on changes and developments for our IT services
• Work with technology and process experts on a variety of teams to get an in-depth understanding of relevant programmes and projects to develop content (including website content, user guides, surveys and briefings) for multiple complex changes
• Communicate with stakeholders at all levels, including managing senior stakeholder expectations
• Work closely with the Delivery team to create and maintain a communication plan for all projects to contribute to the planning and delivery of the team’s portfolio roadmap; help promote better communications across the team and across government
• Use a variety of software to maintain and update user and group distribution lists
• Lead the existing IT service communications processes, reviews and approvals while driving improvement through standardisation and user/stakeholder feedback loops
• Understand the GOV.UK style guide and align content appropriately

Person specification

Essential skills:

• Using Google Workspace tools (such as Google Forms, Gmail and Groups) to understand, prepare and publish/communicate new or updated information
• A deep understanding of IT and the user needs of technologists to effectively translate and write communications or documentation for infrastructure-related services to a non-technical audience
• Impeccable writing skills, and a working knowledge of plain English/plain language or Simplified Technical English (STE)
• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills to extract knowledge from technical and process experts
• An ability to work in a fast-paced environment and deliver to deadlines while coordinating work across distributed teams
• An ability to identify and deliver the most appropriate type of content (for example, written or visual) for a particular user need
• A positive and proactive approach to service delivery and getting things done
• The confidence to showcase your work, challenge poor documentation practices, and receive constructive feedback from peers

Desirable skills:

• An understanding of Agile working practices and working with Agile teams

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 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, Ability and Experience.

After submission of the first stage of your application (basic details) you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23.55 on 02/02/2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Should you be successful in passing the test you will then be invited to complete the final stage of your application, which includes a CV setting out your career history and qualifications, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

You will also be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (750 words max.)

Please use your statement of suitability to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.

Your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the 'Person Specification' section of the job advert.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on behaviours.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – WC 5th February 2024
Expected interview date/s – WC 19th February 2024
Interview location – Video Interview

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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.

Further information

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

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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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. 

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.