Essential: Degree in relevant subject (media and communications, public relations and marketing) or equivalent experience experience of working in a multi-disciplinary communications role, particularly across digital, developing quality content for a range of channels and audiences experience of working across sensitive and challenging situations/issues, showing diplomacy, tact and a proven track record of using negotiating and influencing skills to achieve outcomes experience of using initiative and creativity to find innovative solutions to communications challenges experience of building good relationships with stakeholders a range of organisations including local authorities, government departments, voluntary organisations, charities and health providers experience of working in a busy communications office, demonstrating a sound knowledge of how media works and developing good relationships with journalists. excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex and challenging information clearly and concisely for a diverse range of channels and audiences ability to manage and motivate communications colleagues to maximize their ability, while also being receptive to feedback for own personal development. ensuring their personal development ability to handle crisis communications Desirable: good understanding of the health and social care environment and the roles and responsibilities within it good knowledge of the workings of government including local government, current government priorities and agenda experience of working with scientists and/or scientific material Selection Process Details: This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills. Stage 1: Application & Sift You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1000 word Statement of Suitability. This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview. Shortlisting: If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment. Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a single remote interview. Behaviours and technical strengths will be tested at interview. There will be a short assessment at interview stage (full details will be provided at interview stage). The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be Communicating and Influencing Changing and Improving Working Together Delivering at Pace Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Location This role is being offered as hybrid working. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual workinghours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton). Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard check.