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UK Health Security Agency

Communications Officer

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking for an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with first-rate written and verbal communication skills to join the Media team.

You will be adept at drafting high quality content, which will make an impact across a range of communications channels for diverse audiences. In addition, the post holder will be competent in dealing with complex scientific issues and statistical data and have the ability to explain this information clearly to non-scientific audiences.

The post holder will also have a strong news sense - identifying and developing proactive communications, particularly digital. Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, enabling the post holder to deal effectively and persuasively with stakeholders, as well as the media.

This role requires you to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines, you should have a flexible approach to work and a good team player.

Main duties of the job

  • provide strategic communications handling advice to colleagues both nationally and regionally
  • draft clear, high-quality content for a wide range of channels and audiences
  • ensure content is underpinned by sound use of UKHSA's data and intelligence wherever appropriate
  • identify opportunities for developing quality proactive communications output
  • manage and support communications around UKHSA's high-profile marketing campaigns
  • manage proactive and reactive media communications
  • act as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from journalists
  • proactively sell in stories to the media - press and broadcast
  • monitor the range of media channels
  • build and maintain good relations with key journalists
  • co-ordinate any broadcast bids and provide support to UKHSA spokespeople undertaking interviews
  • undertake evaluation of media projects in line with Government Communication Service standards
  • participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota that covers media issues
  • build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders
  • work in accordance with Government Communications Service principles with regard to communications planning and evaluation
  • act as an ambassador for the communications directorate in all engagement with all parties
  • brief and advise senior officials within UKHSA
  • manage a diverse range of different requests for press office support from within UKHSA

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

Date posted

11 November 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,997 to £39,076 a year per annum (plus 9.5% allowance)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-GB-305916-EXT

Job locations

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

Person Specification

CV

Essential

  • CV

Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • communicating and influencing
  • changing and improving
  • working together
  • delivering at pace
Person Specification

CV

Essential

  • CV

Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • communicating and influencing
  • changing and improving
  • working together
  • delivering at pace

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

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

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

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

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:

Resourcing support

Gurkamal Bhambra

Recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

11 November 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,997 to £39,076 a year per annum (plus 9.5% allowance)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-GB-305916-EXT

Job locations

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham

E14 4PU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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