Job Description

Details

Reference number

329224

Salary

\xc2\xa353,400 - \xc2\xa364,000

National: \xc2\xa353,400 - \xc2\xa359,700, London: \xc2\xa358,800 - \xc2\xa364,000

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Fixed Term
Loan
Secondment

Length of employment

1 year

Business area

CO - Covid Inquiry - UK Covid-19 Inquiry Team

Type of role

Communications / Marketing

Working pattern

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

Number of jobs available

1


Contents

• Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
About the job

Job summary

We are looking for exceptional staff to join the UK public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, to learn lessons and better protect the people of the UK. From being announced in 2021 to full public hearings, which are underway, the Inquiry continues to move at pace and make national news. The pandemic affected everyone in different ways. In order to hear from those who suffered hardship and loss, and scrutinise both the decision making and impact, there is a significant amount of work to be undertaken. Whilst the Inquiry team is well established, we are looking for a Deputy Head of Public Information Campaigns. This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will be supported to challenge yourself in often ambiguous circumstances. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we look to undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history. Working at pace and often with competing deadlines, resilience is key, both in managing competing deadlines and working with emotionally challenging content, but for the right candidate(s) this is a once-in-a-career role where you will be supported to reach your potential while delivering for the public good through this historic inquiry. We are sponsored by the Cabinet Office, however the Inquiry sits independently from the Government. Conflicts of interest Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Job description

We are looking for an ambitious campaigns or marketing specialist with a proven track-record of developing, implementing and evaluating creative, impactful communications campaigns to lead our Public Information Campaign team. The Public Information Campaign team plays a leading role in raising awareness and driving submissions to Every Story Matters. Every Story Matters is a unique opportunity for adults across the UK to share their experience of the pandemic directly with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, to shape our live investigations and inform recommendations for the future. The successful candidate will have experience of leading a marketing or campaign team, demonstrating strong strategic insight and the ability to deliver paid media campaigns and no cost/low cost campaigns with demonstrable results and tangible outcomes. An experienced and resilient leader, you will enjoy mentoring your team and forming strong collaborative relationships across media, engagement, creative, research, events and digital, to ensure an integrated approach to communications for Every Story Matters. You will lead the work with our media planning, buying and creative agencies, using insight to inform live campaigns and future campaigns, as well as ensuring compliance with the relevant spending controls and professional assurance processes.

Person specification

Responsibilities will include:

• Oversee a team to deliver best-in-class paid marketing and no/low-cost campaigns to the public to drive submissions to Every Story Matters.
• Proactively set direction, focusing on tangible results and ensuring all work delivers against clear objectives, based on data and insight.
• Lead the team\xe2\x80\x99s work programme - managing resources, taking ownership to prioritise, delivering at pace and managing expectations.
• Provide leadership by inspiring and motivating colleagues and championing campaign expertise and L&D.
• Provide expert campaign consultancy, identifying risks, solutions and demonstrating both pragmatism and commercial awareness to ensure best use of time and public money.
• Build effective relationships with the wider communications team and across the Inquiry to ensure integration of activity, best use of expertise and secure buy-in.
• Manage campaign budgets, including leading and driving the performance of external suppliers (media planners, buyers, creative) ensuring suppliers deliver value for money and deliver to time/quality.

Essential Skills:

• Extensive experience of leading a campaigns/marketing team for a high-profile or national organisation, government department or ALB.
• Exceptional analytical and evaluation expertise, with experience of using data and insight to shape and drive activity.
• Adaptability and resilience in prioritisation with strong organisational and workflow management skills.
• Strong collaboration skills with experience of working with external agencies to manage budgets, provide quality control and manage internal sign-off processes.
• Extensive line management experience, with a track record of developing colleagues, setting direction and providing support and guidance as required.

Behaviours

We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We\'ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Communication Service - Ideas - Campaigns and Marketing
• Government Communication Service - Implementation - Campaigns and Marketing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of \xc2\xa353,400, Cabinet Office contributes \xc2\xa314,418 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 which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Please upload your CV and employment history. You should also provide a Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words providing evidence of how you meet the skills and experience criteria listed on the job advert. Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your Statement of Suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the behaviours and on the technical skills listed within the advert. https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-2:-Ideas https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/#Competency-3:-Implementation Expected timeline (subject to change) Expected sift date \xe2\x80\x93 20/12/23-02/01/24
Expected interview date/s \xe2\x80\x93 17/01/24-18/01/24
Interview location - Remote - Video - Google Meets

Reasonable adjustments 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 Government Recruitment Services via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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 a wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional.

Further information If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the \'contact point for applicants\' section.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible. Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made. New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 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\xe2\x80\x99s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\'s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• 
  Name :
  Heather Jones
  Email :
  heather.jones1@covid19.public-inquiry.uk

Recruitment team

• 
  Email :
  cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission\xe2\x80\x99s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.