Location

City of Westminster, London, SW1P 4DR

About the job 

Do you have a flair for strategic communications?

Do you have the confidence and ability to advise ministers and senior officials?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity as our Senior Communications Manager, and we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

People want safe, reliable and affordable journeys. But more people are travelling, and we’re going further than ever before. Our roads, airports and trains are becoming crowded. That’s why we are undertaking the biggest modernisation programme for a generation, bringing our transport system into the 21st Century. We are already delivering better transport that works for everyone in Britain, and there is more to come.

As a Senior Communications Manager in a key policy area such as roads, environment and technology, or rail, you will be at the centre of communications delivery for some of the most high-profile projects in Government.

You will be responsible for giving strategic communications advice to Ministers, colleagues and external partners, and for delivering communications and campaigns that support the Government’s priorities.

You will be part of the Government Communication Service profession, working closely with other communications colleagues in the Department and our external partners. This will include working daily with colleagues in press office, external affairs, digital and internal communications.
 

Responsibilities

Within your role, you will;
- Develop, deliver, coordinate and evaluate insight-based communications strategies and campaigns – including media, digital content and partner engagement;
- Liaise across the Department, Government and with relevant external partners, to build and maintain effective relationships, and to drive efficient and high-quality communications;
- Advise policy teams, Ministers and senior officials on all aspects of communications in line with the Department’s policy and business objectives, including advising on strategy, programme delivery, presentational risks and opportunities;
- Provide professional communications advice and leadership within your policy area, developing strategies and forward planning of communications activity;
- Hold transport delivery partners to account for their own commitments under promotion, engagement and communications;
- Have line management responsibility within the team.

More information on Government Communication Professional Competency Framework

About you
You have excellent communicational skills, both verbally and in writing with the ability to tailor your delivery to suit your audience. You are engaging and build rapport quickly with others to build strong and trusted working relationships with your colleagues and partners.

You are a confident leader with a proven ability to advise and influence partners. You are positive in an ever-changing environment, with excellent organisational skills and the capability to balance multiple and often conflicting priorities.

About us

We are part of the Department for Transport (DfT). DfT is a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department.

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Government Communication Professional Framework - Core Competency - Insight
• Government Communication Professional Framework - Core Competency - Ideas
• Government Communication Professional Framework - Core Competency - Implementation
• Government Communication Professional Framework - Core Competency - Impact

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know 

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply
When considering your experience, please tailor your CV/Personal Statement to provide evidence of when you have:

• Planned, managed, implemented and evaluated a communications campaign from start to finish;
• Provided high-quality strategic communications advice to senior colleagues and spokespeople;
• Influenced and engaged with a wide range of partners to deliver impactful communications;
• Motivated a team by giving enthusiastic and encouraging messages about priorities, objectives and expectations.

The sift is due to take place 05/02/2020.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held between 19/02/2020 and 25/02/2020.

Interview location to be confirmed.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:

• an interview with one or more exercises

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about:

• what energises and motivates you
• how you would manage situations relevant to the role
• your previous experience
• your professional skills and knowledge

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Further Information

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

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.

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 Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] 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 wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Any move to the Department For Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Rail Resourcing Team Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission