Leeds, London, Sheffield
Job Summary
DWP’s Marketing Team use evidence, insight and expertise to deliver effective and innovative marketing strategies and campaigns. Our marketing campaigns address complex challenges to maintain trust and influence audience behaviour either directly or by increasing engagement with DWP’s policies and services. Our key role is to deliver joined-up strategic communications activity both across government and within DWP to support the Department to achieve its core goals that ladder up to the Government’s Growth and Opportunity Missions outlined in the Plan for Change.
You’ll play a key role at the centre of an ambitious and creative team. You will report to a Marketing Campaign team leader and line managing your own team to develop and deliver high-profile, multi-channel marketing campaigns encompassing a mix traditional marketing channels, partnership marketing and social and digital channels.
As an experienced marketing professional, you will continuously strive to develop and improve your professional capability and embody a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement with the aim of ensuring the DWP Communications directorate is recognised as the best across government. How you work will be as important as what you deliver. You will role model the Civil Service and DWP values and contribute to a positive and inclusive team culture.
If this sounds like the right fit for you, we would love to hear from you!
Key responsibilities will include:
* Managing the development of bold, innovative paid and low/no cost communications strategies, based on data, evidence and an audience-first approach, making use of GCS frameworks such as OASIS and EAST.
* Using strategic thinking to translate business objectives into actionable marketing plans, seeking and creating clarity from ambiguity.
* Serving as a subject matter expert by becoming familiar with campaign policy areas and representing DWP’s key audience needs to ensure that they are factored into decision-making.
* Collaborating with colleagues across the Comms Directorate to deliver integrated campaigns that use all available channels.
* Commissioning and developing a strong understanding of customer/audience insights and how these can drive behaviour change. Be an audience champion and act as the voice of the customer.
* Managing external agencies and suppliers, collaborating with colleagues to manage the development and implementation of multi-channel, paid and no cost marketing campaigns. Ensure that services are cost effective, high quality and represent good value for the taxpayer.
* Managing the development of creative and content across campaigns, including proposition work and message development for a full range of channels.
* Prioritising campaign evaluation, including consistent optimisation and improvements to delivery.
* Building positive relationships with external and internal stakeholders, including policy, programmes, other teams within the Communications Directorate (strategic communications, internal communications, press office), other government departments and external communications agencies to maximise support for campaign activity.
* Proactively seeking out opportunities for innovation, continuous challenge and improvement, and making comprehensive recommendations to senior leaders.
* Delivering effective team leadership, line management and coaching; helping shape culture by championing our team vision, driving positive ways of working and inclusivity, whilst pushing forward continuous development of colleagues.
Person specification
Candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate they can meet the following essential criteria:
* Proven track record of developing marketing strategies for complex briefs, based on evidence and audience insight.
* Track record of delivering successful and integrated multi-channel traditional and digital, paid and no cost marketing campaigns.
* Experience of media planning and buying, with a focus on value for money, quality and innovation to reach and engage complex and hard-to-reach audiences.
* Must be an inspiring and motivating leader who can manage a successful team as well as role modelling collaboration across the team.
* Strong experience in monitoring and evaluating campaign activity and developing recommendations to drive outcomes and maximise effectiveness.
* Experience of applying behaviour change theories e.g. COM-B, Theory of Change to inform comms objectives, messages, channel plans and the overall strategic approach.
* Experience of influencing senior colleagues and proactively providing recommendations to complex challenges, and engagement of colleagues to ensure continuous development.
* Demonstrative experience of project management and techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions.
* Strong relationship management skills with external agencies and stakeholders, as well as colleagues internally secure buy-in and to support the delivery of effective campaigns.
Please Note
* If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the first 4 essential criteria listed above. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.
DCS Criteria Additional Information
* If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may also be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Insight
* Ideas
* Implementation
* Impact
Alongside your salary of £48,405, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £14,022 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
* Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
* Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
* Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
* Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
* Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
* Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
* An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
* Written Application
The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your CV and Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted on the first 4 essential criteria listed on slide 5. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
* Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a video interview. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.
* Selection and Feedback
We will notify all candidates as soon as possible. Feedback will only be provided following an interview.
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.
At SEO Level
* Leadership
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
B. For this professional communications role, you’ll also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at SIO level
* Insight
* Ideas
* Implementation
* Impact
C. You’ll also be assessed against three Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK relevant to the role. These aren’t defined by grade.
D. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to carry out a short assessment at the start of the interview, this will be assessed against the GCS technical skills Ideas and Implementation. You will not need to prepare in advance for this.
Sift And Interview Dates
Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:
* Shortlisting will take place commencing W/C 28/04/2025.
* Interviews will commence W/C 12/05/2025.
* 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 28/04/2025
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.
Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.
If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact Julia.johnson@dwp.gov.uk or Katie.Woodward@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 insert Department name 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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.
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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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. #J-18808-Ljbffr