Digital Communications Officer (Plus reserves) - Newport
About the job
Job summary
Please note: Applicants should review all aspects of this advert to ensure a thorough understanding. If reviewing via a screen reader, please note that the Job Description, Benefits and How to Apply sections have been emphasised
Reporting to the Digital Communications Manager, the post holder will join our Social Media team which sits within External Communications.
This role contributes to the delivery of a substantial digital engagement programme guided by Intellectual Property Office (IPO) strategic communication priorities and those of our sponsor organisation, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The IPO is the agency accountable for intellectual property (IP) policy. It grants UK patents, trade marks, design rights, and educates businesses and consumers about IP rights and their benefits to business. IPO is also the government agency responsible for copyright policy.
This is an exciting time for intellectual property rights, which play a foundation role in enabling successful innovation and economic growth. Your input and creativity will help raise awareness and respect for IP. Our audiences include the intellectual property community, small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), business advisors, academic organisations, industry stakeholders and consumers as well as protecting and enhancing the IPO's reputation worldwide.
Working location
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office.
The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.
Job description
The post holder will play an important role in delivering communications that are guided by the IPO's strategic communication priorities, promoting knowledge of, and respect for, IP.
You will:
• undertake a valued role as a member of our Social Media team, in accordance with the IPO's values as a diverse, inclusive, brilliant place to work
• oversee the daily management of all our digital channel activities, working closely in alignment with our Strategic Communications, Web, Campaigns, Creative & Print, Press & Media, Public Affairs and Enforcement teams, acting as a digital ambassador; identify key opportunities for promoting IPO messages by choosing and engaging with appropriate partners
• work together with IPO's talented Creative team to develop engaging, persuasive, shareable digital content for IPO's digital media channels, subscriber email bulletin and two blog platforms hosted on Gov.uk, including our blog partnership with BBC Dragons' Den
• write, commission and edit written content that is engaging, timely and accessible and in line with the Government Digital Service (GDS) style guide; provide editorial content where needed within the wider team
• work closely with colleagues across the business and external partners to contribute to campaign planning using the Government Communication Service (GCS) OASIS framework and SMART objectives; evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications activity to assess effectiveness
• monitor and reply to comments across IPO social media channels, engaging with teams across the business to answer customer enquiries promptly and factually, horizon scanning for reputational risk
• co-ordinate and maintain our case study database and asset database
• grow the IPO 'digital ambassador' network by encouraging colleagues throughout the business to engage with social media channels.
Person specification
Please refer to job description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Government Communication Service Professional Competency Framework
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £30,269, Intellectual Property Office contributes £8,768 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
When working at the IPO you can also expect:
* A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
* 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
* Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
* A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
* Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
* The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
* A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
* Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
* On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office
For more information about what's on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
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.
How to apply
Candidates to note:
* In order to capture your employment history please complete the employment history box under the 'Your CV' section of the online application form.
* All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder
Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist.
This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:
Experience
When completing your 500 word Personal Statement, please ensure that you cover the following essential criteria:
* Experience of working in an information and communications role with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
* Experience of taking time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best use of digital resources and considering value for money.
* Use of insight to identify target audiences and partners, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach.
* Working knowledge of online content creation and social media management platforms and experience of keeping up to date with emerging digital trends.
* Experience of writing for different media, including blogs.
Technical
During the selection process, we'll assess you against the Government Communication Service Professional Competency Framework.
Please select this link (page 20) to access the framework. Alternatively you can copy and paste Government-Communications-Professional-Competency-Framework.pdf (civilservice.gov.uk) (page 20) into your browser.
When completing your application form, please ensure that your 250 word example covers the below competency:
Impact:
* Advise on, monitor, summarise and provide analysis of effectiveness indicators for digital communication.
Interviews
If invited to interview Behaviour, Technical, Experience and Strengthsbased questioning will be used.
Behaviours
The below behaviours will be assessed at interview
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
ExperienceCandidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete a short written test against the Experience success profile. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information.
Technical
The above Technical criteria will be assessed at interview
Strengths
Strengths are the things that we do regularly, do well and that motivate us. We have selected the Strengths that are relevant for this role from the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary. You will be assessed against these during your interview using strength-based interview questions.
Please note: Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation
Interviews for this role will be carried out virtually via Microsoft Teams (video).
IMPORTANT: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
The successful candidate would be expected to remain in the role for a minimum of 12 months before applying for another role.
If you require job-specific information, please contact:
Name: Jenny Manders
E-mail: Jenny.manders@ipo.gov.uk
Telephone : 01633 814167
For further information around the Civil Service recruitment process, please visit our civil service careers page - IPO - Recruitment Support, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Applicants to note:This post is being advertised to Internal, across Government and external candidates at the same time.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Should you have any queries or require any assistance in please contact the IPO Recruitment team at Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk prior to the closing of the post.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via ; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
For more information on the IPO's terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.
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) .