Id Job: 316e7a4
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity - Department for Education
The DfE is looking for an exceptional leader in strategic communication and marketing to help achieve its ambition to make sure every child and learner reaches their potential, whatever their background.
This is a challenging, fast-paced but hugely exciting role in which you will need to continually prioritise and lead your team to deliver results and make a demonstrable impact.
The DfE looks after a busy policy and broad delivery agenda from early years, fostering and adoption right through to adult education. It is a rewarding and unique role in that you are responsible for initial comms strategy and audience insight through to final delivery across owned, earned and paid-for channels. A proven leader, the successful candidate will need to inspire their teams to find creative and innovative solutions in-house as well as using paid for communications, working with senior policy owners, special advisers, ministers and the Secretary of State.
A senior member of the Government Communication Service (GCS) - the professional body for government communicators - you will need the confidence and capability to tackle some very knotty and complex government policy problems and translate them into deliverable communication objectives and activities.
You will be responsible for leading teams to deliver a range of flagship government multi-million pound marketing campaigns including ‘Childcare choices’ to increase take up of government’s childcare offers and our ‘Skills for Life campaigns to support young people, adults and employers to make informed choices about education and training including T levels, Apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and higher technical qualifications.
You will direct our mass audience communications to teachers, parents and young people including communications to support teacher retention and parental engagement with their child’s education.
You will also need to respond to unexpected communication challenges for the education sector which have recently included covid, cost of living and families arriving from the Ukraine needing education and training. You will need to manage your team to be agile to support delivery of new emerging policy such as encouraging more pupils to study maths to 18. You will also need to juggle resources and time to ensure your team supports communications for cross-government priorities such as the Jubilee and the forthcoming Coronation.
Reporting directly to the Director of Communication, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team alongside fellow deputy directors for Media and Social; Internal Communication and GCS Change; and Ministerial & Public Correspondence.
You will lead a team of specialists in strategy, planning, insight, evaluation, external affairs, marketing and low cost/no cost communications. You will directly line manage 4 Grade 6 civil servants and have overall responsibility for leadership of a team of around 40 staff based in London, Sheffield, Manchester and Nottingham. You will also work closely with the Deputy Director for Teacher Recruitment Marketing and Service Delivery. The teacher recruitment marketing team is embedded in the Teaching Workforce Candidates and Trainees Directorate but works closely with the Communications Directorate on the schools brief.
You will build excellent working relationships with senior policy leads across the department to ensure that communication is central to the policy, services and product development process. You will be comfortable working directly with ministers, including the Secretary of State and Special Advisers, and advising and briefing senior boards and other governance forums. You will build relationships across Whitehall and the GCS including with external stakeholders and advertising agencies and other contractors.
Essential Criteria
It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.
We also expect candidates to be able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.
Benefits
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Sunday 2nd April 2022.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
Shortlisted candidates will:
As part of the recruitment process we may request references.
If you are unable to apply online please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.
If you wish to apply as a job-share, please each complete an online application with your own CV and own statement of suitability noting who you are applying with.
Please note the following:
For more information on how to apply, please visit How to Apply , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
For this role the department would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” 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.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
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