UK Health Security Agency

Senior Strategic Communication and Planning Officer SEO

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

UKHSA responds to around 10,000 incidents and emergencies every year, ranging from small local outbreaks with a handful of cases to major international emergencies involving new and emerging threats. Communications with the public and stakeholders are an important tool in the operational response and the post holder will work with the communications team, officials and scientists, to plan for, prepare and execute communication activity that helps UKHSA to deliver its remit to protect the public's health, in particular during incidents and emergencies.

The Communications directorate supports and protects UKHSA's reputation as a trusted, reliable and independent source of expert health information and advice for the public, the media, health professionals and the government.

This role is being offered on a full-time basis. This is a Fixed Term Contract with an end date on 30/09/2024.

Location

South Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 4PU - Office based with opportunity to discuss hybrid.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Main duties of the job

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Create & support the creation of multi-channel comms plans using the GCS OASIS framework.
  • To work at pace, delivering to a high quality and adapting as required.
  • To manage the agency's communications grid and activity planner
  • To ensure that stakeholders and partners feel fully sighted on all planned major activity (such as bigger news items and launches) and that, where appropriate, briefing is prepared for them in a timely fashion.
  • To work with colleagues and partners to horizon scan for news, events and agendas that may influence the communication activity of UKHSA.
  • Create or commission content for use via UKHSA channels or events, such as briefings, key messages, speeches, blogs, social media content.
  • To provide regular or bespoke reports of future communication activity in order to brief leaders in your directorate or across the UKHSA.
  • Contribute to cross-directorate planning activity to ensure all comms activities are scheduled strategically and well resourced.
  • To work with colleagues across the communications team to ensure they understand the planning process and make proactive improvements to this process if and when they are needed.
  • To represent the UKHSA comms team at meetings of external stakeholders, particularly where these relate to forthcoming communication activity.

For full list of responsibilities, read the attached Job Description.

About us

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • 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 average employer contribution of 27%.
  • Range of health and wellbeing support.
  • 26 days annual leave allowance increasing to 32 days after a 10-year service.

Any move to UKHSA 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 Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

11 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,876 to £45,998 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

NE-UKHSA00037

Job locations

Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.**

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This stage will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The following behaviours will be used during the interview:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing & Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and influencing

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 28th August 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: W/C 11th September2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

A basic check is required.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.**

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This stage will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The following behaviours will be used during the interview:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing & Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and influencing

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 28th August 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: W/C 11th September2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

A basic check is required.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience in communications, preferably within the public sector.
  • Highly organised, professional and able to work to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and high level of speed and accuracy in all written materials.
  • Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information.
  • Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
  • Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
  • To have the necessary diplomatic skills to deal appropriately and with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.

Desirable

  • Familiar with public health and scientific issues.
  • Experience of coordinating or planning communications activity.
  • Excellent news sense and knowledge of the media landscape.
  • Appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and other organisations in the health system.
  • Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience in communications, preferably within the public sector.
  • Highly organised, professional and able to work to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and high level of speed and accuracy in all written materials.
  • Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information.
  • Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
  • Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
  • To have the necessary diplomatic skills to deal appropriately and with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
  • Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.

Desirable

  • Familiar with public health and scientific issues.
  • Experience of coordinating or planning communications activity.
  • Excellent news sense and knowledge of the media landscape.
  • Appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and other organisations in the health system.
  • Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

RPO Talent Specialist

Nicoleta Enciu

UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com

Details

Date posted

11 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,876 to £45,998 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

NE-UKHSA00037

Job locations

Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)