Aldershot
Job Summary
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants, with the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) accounting for around 7,000 of them across more than 300 locations. Our workforce is diverse, encompassing roles such as trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. Each function and profession play a crucial role in delivering key outputs for the Army, making data-driven insights essential for understanding our workforce.
We are committed to delivering exceptional results for our customers while respecting your work-life balance. Our industry-leading flexible working practices provide you with the freedom to balance work and personal life effectively. At Army Headquarters, our people are our greatest asset. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their best. You will be part of a diverse and supportive community, whether working alongside project teams with a shared vision or participating in employee networks of like-minded individuals. By celebrating different backgrounds and perspectives, we achieve outstanding results together.
The British Army’s communications team has a passion for images and words that pack a punch, and we need a talented and versatile photographer to help keep our audience connected to the organisation they love.
This role will be split between Soldier – the official magazine of the British Army, based in Aldershot – and the Content Team, in Andover. Both organisations are part of the Army’s Communications and Engagement (C&E) directorate which strives to help the Service communicate effectively.
Working for Soldier, you will be part of a small team of journalists, designers and photographers who take an agenda-setting approach to Army news – following soldiers on exercises and operations around the world and sharing the stories that matter to them. The glossy title is an unmissable read for anyone in uniform. Soldier has been telling the story of what the Army does since it was set up during the Second World War.
In the Content Team, you will join a professional, creative team, create outstanding images, video and motion graphics content to support the C&E communications strategy. This will be achieved using specialist content capture kit, video and audio editing equipment, as well as carrying out post-production video editing from footage and other source material.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
In this role around 50% of working hours will be dedicated to producing images for Soldier magazine and the other half for the Army’s Content team.
Working on Soldier you will be one of two photographers, assigned various editorial jobs with no two days the same. This could range from in-depth features on large overseas training exercises, where you may be required to stay out in the field in austere conditions, to portrait shoots in our Aldershot-based studio. Responsibilities will include:
* Bringing your creativity, passion and razor-sharp camera skills to each brief, contributing ideas in editorial meetings and coming up with new and exciting imagery that turns the heads of our readers.
* Assisting in running all aspects of the picture desk – from Photoshop touch-ups and reader enquiries, to uploading and key-wording large volumes of imagery, archive tasks and travel admin/booking.
As part of the Content Team, you will create content suitable for multiple platforms including social media, the British Army’s website, press releases and internal channels. Tasks will include:
* Liaising with the Creative Lead to agree on creative briefs such as format, style, angle, lighting and arrangement of people and facilities. This may involve in situ arrangement of people, facilities and location.
* Collaborating with other teams to craft high quality digital content, planning and setting up shoots for media capture.
* Using creative storytelling to communicate and ensure the British Army brand is implemented in all products.
* Turning source material into engaging rich media content designed to capture audience attention, using front loading of story, hooks and engaging graphics, creating storyboards and motion sequences where required, and understanding audiences and how content should be created to cater for different needs.
Person Specification
Do you love the idea of using your photography skills to boost morale among soldiers and build a colourful record of the Army’s activities and work? If so, we want to hear from you!
Essential Criteria:
* Strong organisational and interpersonal skills are essential.
* Willingness to work independently and flexibly with a can-do attitude.
* Good working knowledge of professional camera equipment, and their various functions.
* HNC/HND equivalent, or above, in Photography or Illustrative Photography.
* Extensive working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and sound working knowledge of Premiere Pro.
* Experience working in an editorial/creative environment.
* Ability to multitask and work to deadlines.
Previous experience in photojournalism is not essential, but a sound understanding of how images can tell a story is. You must enjoy the challenge of using photography to explain and inform and be good at putting people at ease from behind the lens.
Qualifications
HNC/HND equivalent, or above, in Photography or Illustrative Photography.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Delivering at Pace
* Changing and Improving
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Delivering at Pace
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £29,580, the Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 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.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and experience.
At Application You Will Be Assessed Against The Following:
* CV, including full job history and qualifications.
* A personal statement of no more than 500 words providing evidence that you have the knowledge and recent practical experience for each of the essential criteria outlined in the advert.
* 1 behaviour: Delivering at Pace.
Applications will be sifted using the success profiles that have been chosen for this campaign, but in the event of a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour Delivering at Pace.
At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours:
* Changing and Improving
* Delivering at Pace
* Seeing the Bigger Picture
* Working Together
At interview you will also be assessed against your CV via an experience based question.
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.
Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date.
Interview dates are to be confirmed. These will be held in person. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
Contact Point for Applicants
Job Contact:
* Name: Sarah Goldthorpe
* Email: Sarah.Goldthorpe100@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment Team:
* Email: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
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