Details
Reference number
382170
Salary
£36,530 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
MOD - Head Office & Corporate Services
Type of role
Communications / Marketing
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
Bristol, London
About the job
Job summary
Are you interested in a role that will influence the future of Defence? We are seeking individuals to join our team and contribute to a transformation programme within Defence People.
Following the launch of modernised HR Services for civilian staff, Defence has initiated a programme to expand and enhance the Oracle Fusion platform. This programme simplifies policies and processes, offering innovative services for Defence’s civil servants, military personnel, their dependants, veterans, and associated organisations. Managers and HR professionals will gain user-centred tools for better staff management and improved self-service user experiences.
We play a key role in the MOD’s Corporate Services Modernisation (CSM) Portfolio and digitalisation goals, supported at the highest levels. Your work will directly improve service and user satisfaction.
We are looking for an enthusiastic communications professional to join our Defence HR Services (DefHRS) Programme. We offer a productive environment and are excited to discuss your potential contributions to our success.
The Change & Communications group drives the digital transformation of HR Services for members of the Armed Forces, diaspora including veterans, MOD Civil Servants, and staff from related entities. We promote a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing to facilitate effective communication and engagement. You will support Defence projects and enhance communications across the organisation.
The team's role is to ensure that the programme’s stakeholders and an audience of nearly 250,000 individuals across the Defence Enterprise based at over 400 global sites receive accurate information in a timely manner. You will be involved in promoting understanding for the case for change, supporting the implementation phase, managing risk and evaluating. With involvement from over 19 organisations across more than 4,000 global sites, the task is extensive and critical.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
This a critical role within the Defence HR Services Programme, and pivotal to supporting the delivery of the Defence People Strategy through providing modernised HR Services and experiences for Military personnel and continuing to improve the civilian personnel service.
With experience in Internal Communications (IC) or a related discipline, you’ll have successfully worked with senior leaders and policy stakeholders to develop high-quality internal communications campaigns, materials, and activities that engage and inform the diverse mix of Defence employees and support the delivery of programme priorities.
Working closely with the Programme Comms lead, Business Change colleagues and the programme’s product owner groups you’ll interact with the programme’s many stakeholders, and counterparts in IC teams across the whole of Defence, as well as other parts of the Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC), and partner organisations,
You will co-develop campaigns, devise, produce and coordinate materials and activities to engage with audiences pan-Defence, supporting organisational change, building upon the four phases in the MOD Change Management Toolkit change lifecycle. You will have experience in a communications discipline such as internal communications, press, PR, marketing, or stakeholder communications. You will be able to work flexibly, effectively, and creatively with staff at all levels, sometimes under pressure.
You will demonstrate knowledge of IC/digital/social media channels, commissioning and project managing content and methods and will have the confidence and ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide range of people at all grades and ranks. You will have an excellent writing ability and strong interpersonal skills.
This role reports to the DefHRS Communications and Engagement lead.
You are advised to examine the full version of the 'Success Profiles: Civil Service Behaviours' attached to this advert and found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
You are advised to examine the full version of the 'GCS Professional Competency Framework' found here: Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS
Responsibilities include:
Internal Communications Delivery
* To be involved in the strategic planning process working with communications teams across the Directorate, policy teams, Private Offices and Special Advisors to inform campaigns communications activity;
* Supporting the internal communications and engagement plan developing new ways for target audiences to engage, providing ideas and content and co-ordinating staff face-to-face events;
* Working closely with the Business Change colleagues to develop, co-ordinate and implement long-range, proactive, multichannel/multimedia internal communications campaigns;
* Identify, create and exploit all potential communication activity. This will involve originating multimedia content (copywriting, video production, photography, infographics, polls, etc.) and placing them onto suitable social and offline channels. You will also be arranging townhall events, influencing internal blogs and drafting factsheets/FAQs. Ensure the content is produced based on audience insight: their information consumption behaviour, attitude, channel adoption;
* To upload campaign content material to key internal channels including the intranet;
* Build strong working relationships with policy writers, private offices, and TLB communication teams to elicit quality background content and maximise output and coverage;
* Working with the DDC Evaluation and Insight cell, ensure all campaign communication activity is thoroughly evaluated to help inform all future campaign activities including through the moderation and assessment of internal feedback channels including Defence Bulletin Board, PUS Blog, Ask The Board Forum, SCS and Band B Zones, face-to-face townhalls and teleconferences;
Internal Communications Counsel
* Provide professional and comprehensive internal communications advice / direction sensitive and potentially complex change impacts.
* Build strong relationships with key stakeholders pan-Defence and to ensure DDC Public Relations remain aware of their priorities and can maximise all campaign communications;
* Build strong relationships with all relevant policy officials, internal and external stakeholders to develop long-term effective partnerships.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
* A proven track record of delivering effective communications to diverse stakeholder audiences.
* Experience of working in Ministry of Defence, including applicants with single Service experience.
* A driven and organised individual, who has ample experience of progressing multiple workstreams in parallel.
Desirable Experience
* Previous experience in change programmes within the UK Defence sector, including roles in the armed forces, Civil Service, or employment with Defence Enabling Organisation, particularly involving military personnel.
Qualifications:
* 3-5 years of experience in internal communications, preferably in a large organisation.
* Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly.
* Experience with digital communication tools and platforms.
* Excellent organisational and project management skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities.
Desirable Qualifications
* Bachelor's degree in internal communications, public relations, or related marketing/communications field.
* Equivalent evidenced experience and training. This could be presented through membership of organisations such as GCS, CIPR, PRCA, CIM.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Insights and Ideas
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD 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/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
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.
Selection process details
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience and a personal statement providing (max 500 words) evidence against the essential criteria.
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and/or Statement of suitability and the following Behaviours:
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
We will assess you against these behaviours during the interview stage:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Changing and Improving
We will also assess you against GCS behaviours during the interview stage:
* Insight and Ideas.
Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
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.
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. 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 : Sacha Brooks Email : Alexandra.Brooks566@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.