The Cabinet Secretary has established the Future Civil Service programme to reform the Civil Service so it is recognised for excellence in delivery, innovation and improved productivity.

The Future Civil Service Group, led by Jerome Glass, Director General, was set up to deliver on this Cabinet Secretary priority. The programme brings together officials and senior leadership across government to build a coherent, Civil Service-wide plan, and a Civil Service fit for the future.

The Future Civil Service Group is the strategic and functional centre for the Government People Function and human resources (HR) in the Civil Service.

The FCS Communications team is responsible for:

Functional communications across government to 12,000 members of the People Function and HR Profession, including through events, and digitally via the People Hub - the online collaboration platform for HR professionals.
Internal and change communications activity across FCS, to 800+ colleagues.
Cross-government communications to 500,000+ civil servants and the general public, on behalf of FCS (where relevant).
Press handling (reactive) for media enquiries related to the work of government HR.
The team also handles all Parliamentary business for FCS, including PQs, FOIs, SARs, ministerial correspondence, and briefings.

Job description

Reporting to the Communications Lead, you will support the development and delivery of a wide-range of communications and engagement initiatives.

This position is a varied role with responsibilities across functional, internal/change, and external communications, as well as parliamentary business support to the wider team.

The role works across a range of communications disciplines including strategic planning and delivery of cross-government campaigns, internal communications, press and PR, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, and event management.

Key responsibilities include:

Implementing the tactical delivery of communications plans, including the production of creative content and associated materials.
Use digital skills to manage email marketing campaigns, analysing data to improve campaign performance.
Drafting articles and supporting the management of the cross-government ‘People Hub’ platform, the primary source of engagement to the People Function.
Leading the People Function presence at Civil Service Live, coordinating sessions and stands to deliver a cross-government agenda.
Planning and delivering in-person and online events.
Producing and editing digital content, including designing graphics, filming content and using editing software to produce videos, photography.
Using excellent drafting skills to produce compelling written content such as newsletters, articles, stories, and blogs, and detailed briefing materials and Q&As to support events, announcements, publications.
Insight-gathering and evaluating campaign performance, reflecting on lessons learned and seeking out opportunities to improve future communications and activities.
Establishing effective networks across our organisation, as well as government, providing coordination, oversight and sharing of best practice.

Person specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic team player to take on this important role in a small but high performing team. We are seeking someone with creative flair and a passion for communications, with excellent writing and digital skills.

Essential criteria

Plenty of drive, energy, and a real enthusiasm for government communications.
Proven experience in using creative ideas to develop campaigns resulting in successful outcomes, with little-to-no budget.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an ability to simplify complex issues accurately while writing inclusively for different audiences and channels.
Understanding and experience of using the Government Communications planning frameworks, including OASIS, to develop engaging communications plans.
Event management experience, with experience of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver in-person and online events to diverse audiences.
Creative skills, including graphical design, photography, video recording and editing, with a preferable background in working with Canva, Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
Digital skills, with experience working with content management systems (CMS), intranet sites, email marketing software and digital tracking tools.
Strong organisational and event management skills to see projects through from inception to completion.
Experience of using insights and data to analyse campaign performance, spot trends and make improvements to communications.
Strong relationship management skills and the ability to build networks of varied stakeholders.
News sense and an interest in the wider political climate.

Desirable criteria

Experience of working with Google web analysis tools, including Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Tag Manager (GTM).
External agency and supplier management experience.
Knowledge of the Government People Function and HR Profession.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,922, Cabinet Office contributes £10,986 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 employer contributions of 28.97%.
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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.
A Personal Statement against the skills and experience (maximum 750 words).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your CV and Personal Statement are your opportunities to show us how your experience means that you meet the essential criteria for this role. Your CV should cover your skills, job history, and achievements to date and your Personal Statement is the chance to further expand on this and give specific examples of where you have demonstrated the required skills. Giving examples rather than just saying you're experienced with a certain requirement will strengthen your statement and enable the sift panel to understand more about your suitability for the role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV element of the application process.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

If successful at the application stage, candidates will be invited for an interview. During the interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours required for the role as stated above, and on your Strengths. Interviews will be conducted virtually and further information about the interview process will be provided if you are selected for an interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – W/C 24th August.

Expected interview date/s – W/C 31st August

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

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 Service 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 wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re 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 SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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.

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.

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 Scotland 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

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

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 :Samantha Collins
Email :samantha.collins@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s 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/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window(pdf, 302kB)

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window(docx, 83kB)

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