Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Southampton About the job Job summary Do you have a passion for delivering high quality communications? Are you a creative communications professional? Have you got excellent communication skills and can work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders? If so, we are looking for a Digital Communications Lead to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the governments maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea. Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas. Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams. We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at MCA. This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks groups covering, Womens, LGBTQI, Race, Carers, Mental Wellbeing and volunteer Respect Ambassadors. Job description The MCA are looking for a Digital Communications Lead to join their busy and diverse communications branch. The communications team manages a range of digital channels, both internal and external, that are critical to ensuring the delivery of communications campaigns, messaging, and publications from across all business areas. You will work closely in a small, dynamic team and will focus on the delivery and performance of our external digital channels, support publications and content management of our public-facing websites, including GOV.UK, as well as the continuous evaluation and improvement of our digital presence, and input into the MCAs digital communications strategy. You will have responsibility for producing and auditing online content, and for maintaining and developing the content management systems and infrastructure of our sites. You will be a champion for accessibility for legislations required in government and will encourage best practice. This is an excellent opportunity to further core and specialist communications skills and expertise such as content design, which are highly transferable. This role will be based in the Southampton HQ. MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager. Responsibilities Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to: Content design of high quality, user focused and engaging digital content Drive and deliver the MCAs digital communication strategy, support digital engagement, and ensure digital output is optimised Regularly review and update public facing content, including important corporate information and ensure landing pages are refreshed regularly Work effectively with a range of internal stakeholders to deliver new website projects and enhance existing services, ensuring that their content is relevant and up to date Gather digital insight and metrics, such as engagement levels, to inform communications planning and activity For a full list of responsibilities, please refer to the attached Role Profile. Person specification You are a creative communications professional with experience of delivering against a clear strategy. With excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, you will have the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, improving both impact and understanding. You will have the confidence to interact and build relationships with a variety of stakeholders and be a strategic thinker, able to offer creative ideas and give direction. You will bring experience of content design and editorial expertise. Having excellent attention to detail, you take pride in producing work to a high standard. You can manage multiple tasks, working flexibly and autonomously to meet changing and competing priorities. You can work well on your own initiative and as part of a wider team. Additional Information This role will be based in the Southampton HQ (or relevant office). MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work. The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Managing a Quality Service Working Together Seeing the Big Picture Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: GCS Framework - Digital - Ideas - Level 2 GCS Framework - Digital - Implementation - Level 2 GCS Framework - Digital - Impact - Level 2 Benefits Alongside your salary of £34,233, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £9,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 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 your application, you will be required to complete a CV and a Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Please tailor your CV and personal statement to evidence the following: Experience of content design Experience of managing websites and working with content publishing systems Experience of using analytical tools to evaluate performance Knowledge and understanding of accessibility standards and working with user-centred content Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1,000 words. It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process. The sift is due to take place w/c 24th February 2025 Interviews and assessments are likely to be held w/c 17th March 2025 This interview will be conducted via face to face at one of our offices. Further details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: an interview a presentation As part of your interview you will be assessed against the GCS Competency Framework. Youre encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. Further Information 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 youre 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.grscabinetoffice.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 DRGCommsdft.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 applicants 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. Diversity and Inclusion 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Jasper Snaith Email : jasper.snaithmcga.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission Attachments Role Profile - Digital Communications Lead Opens in new window (docx, 61kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail