About the job Summary

We welcome applications from all communities and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment?

Are you someone that has journalistic experience or experience of working in a lively press office?

If so then we have an exciting opportunity for a driven individual to join us, and we can’t wait to hear from you!

Job description

If successful, you will part of a lively team that manages our media activity across the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). Advising business area on media handling and responding to enquires from the media. You will maintain and develop external relations, promoting our key priorities and messages protecting our reputation through both conventional and social media channels.

You will handle incoming media enquires effectively and with a professional manner. Developing your skills whilst using our internal systems, understanding what can and cannot be given to journalists. Being sensitive to circumstances, whilst maintaining openness and transparency.

There is an out of hours duty press rota which you may be required to join and for which an allowance would be paid. This causes the minimum salary to increase to £36,631.

This role can involve short notice deployments and also sometimes very long hours during incidents. The role may involve being on the on call out of hours service, for which an allowance is paid.
 

Responsibilities

Roles and Responsibilities

- Identifying the need for proactive media handling plans and creating these plans, liaising with key MCA colleagues and UK Ship Register stakeholders as well as press and marketing colleagues

- Advising MCA colleagues on media handling, briefing for interviews, providing 1-1 practice where necessary, shadowing at media events to advise

- Maintaining and developing good media relations with journalist across the UK from a broad range of publications, broadcasters and trade press, local, regional and national

- Creating press releases and social media and website content in accordance with our style guidance. Covering proactive, reactive and incidents and policy as well as corporate announcements

For a full list of roles and responsibilities please see the attached role profile

Additional Information

We are following current Government guidelines and working remotely, if successful at interview you will be provided with IT equipment to carry out your duties.

Once usual service resumes there will be travel involved with this role, this could be at short notice, but we will provide you with as much notice as possible. This role can involve short notice deployments and also sometimes very long hours during incidents. The role may involve being on the on call out of hours service, for which an allowance is paid. This will usually occur between 2-4 times a month.

Due to the nature of this role, a full valid driving licence is required for this role.

About you

To become successful in the role you will need to be someone who has excellent organisational skills, being able to manage various conflicting priorities at any given time. Using these skills to manage your time effectively, to complete your tasks to a high standard.

Excellent interpersonal skills are pivotal to this role, you are someone that can use these skills to communicate effectively with others. Having the ability to express your views in a clear and professional manner.

About us



The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government's maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.

Safer lives, Safer ships, Cleaner seas.


Our vision is to be the best maritime safety organisation in the world.

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

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.

Licences

Full valid driving licence

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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 Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

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

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

How to apply

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 submit a CV and tailor it to the role, outlining how your skills and experience match up to the role profile.

Please submit a 500-word personal statement outlining the following key points:

- Your experience of working in a journalistic background or press office, you should include any challenges you faced

- Your experience of managing your time effectively to meet a target, you should include any conflicting priorities that you had to manage.

Selection Process Details

The sift is due to take place on the 9th of October

Interview/assessment will be held week commencing 26th of October

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

We may hold a reserve list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the reserve list you may be considered for the post. Within the reserve 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 may be 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 Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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.

We welcome applications from every part of the community and we don’t discriminate against any gender identity. We’re especially interested to hear from underrepresented groups in the DfT such as gender diverse, BAME, LGBT+ and disabled candidates.

Any move to the Department for transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

You will however have access to the governments Tax Free Childcare scheme.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.