Communications Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills, who can play a key role in proactive projects and the communications response to reactive incidents.

You will need to be able to deal with a wide range of people at all levels, have a flexible approach to your work and be an effective team player.

This is a fast-paced role within a small regional communications team which requires balancing a number of competing priorities so the ability to multi-task, work well under pressure and to tight deadlines is essential.

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, you 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.

Public health in the news is important in this role, so you will also have a good news sense for emerging issues and risks as well as for developing proactive communications, including for digital channels.

Strong influencing and negotiating skills are essential, enabling you to deal effectively and persuasively with stakeholders, as well as the media.

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

Essential criteria - You will be assessed on the below 9essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document. Please note Experience as defined by type/level (not length).

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
• 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 in a busy communications office, demonstrating a sound knowledge of how media works and developing good relationships with journalists.
• 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.
• 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 handle crisis communications
• Demonstrating a commitment to equality and diversity in day-to-day working practices, as well as output

Selection Process Details

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed Nine 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.

TheApplication form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets someessential criteria
3. Meets no essentialcriteria

Please note Pile 1 will be taken though to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary communications role, particularly across digital, developing quality content for a range of channels and audiences.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining complex and challenging information clearly and concisely for a diverse 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 building good relationships with stakeholders a range of organisations including local authorities, government departments, voluntary organisations, charities and health providers.

Desirable criteria maybe used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

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

Success Profiles

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours and experience, will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be :

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Location

This role is based at:

UKHSA,2 Rivergate,Temple Quay,Bristol,BS1 6EH.

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Bristol Office. 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 working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month).

Eligibility Criteria

External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (includingby definition internal applicants).

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

Person Specification

Application Form and Statement of Suitablity

Essential

• Application Form and Statement of Suitablity

Behaviours

Essential

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA

Rivergate, Temple Quay

Bristol,

BS1 6EH

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)