Senior Ministerial Speechwriter

Job summary

The Senior Ministerial Speechwriter is a key member of the speechwriting team, supporting the delivery of high-quality speeches, parliamentary statements, articles and other written products for Ministers.

Working closely with the Ministerial Speechwriter, you will help develop compelling communications that explain Defence policy and showcase the work of the Armed Forces to audiences in the UK and overseas.

You will contribute research, drafting and editorial support across a varied portfolio. Content will cover a wide range of subject matter, including national security priorities, global operations, the UK’s nuclear deterrent, assistance to Ukraine, commemorations and our defence industry.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of government communications, helping to shape content for some of Defence's most high-profile engagements.

The role requires excellent writing skills, sound judgement and the ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

The role is part of a 3 strong speechwriting team and is managed by a Chief Ministerial Speechwriter. The team is led by the Speechwriter to the Secretary of State for Defence.

Organisation background

This key post is in the Directorate of Defence Communications. DDC is responsible for communicating the activities of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces both internally and to the outside world. Its aim is to help people understand what Defence is about.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week but you may be required to work out of hours given the parliamentary cycle.

Job description

Supporting the Ministerial Speechwriter to deliver outstanding speeches, articles and editorial products for Ministers.

Explaining policy positions accurately while building strong, creative and lively arguments which engage audiences.

Building strong relationships with Ministers, Special Advisers and Ministerial Offices.

Contributing to maintaining a first-class editorial team which provides consistency of service across the Ministerial team.

An ear for how all Ministers expresses themselves and an ability to translate that into speeches and other products.

Person specification

Essential:

Confident, self-starting and imaginative.

Very strong communication skills – both written and spoken.

Comfortable dealing with Ministers and the most senior people in Defence – both military and civilian.

Ability to work under pressure to achieve tight deadlines.

Resilience – able to withstand criticism and assimilate salient facts from a mass of information.

Flexible – ability to capture the distinctive voices of our Ministers and translate it into compelling prose that we will be delivered before audiences worldwide.

Outstanding writing skills (to be assessed via a written assignment).

Excellent judgement, proven while working effectively in fast-paced environments.

An ability to see the connections between politics, policies and issues.

Desirable:

An interest in the work of the department and the Armed Forces.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• GCS - Impact

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97%

  · Free use of gym at Main Building

  Season ticket advance to assist with travel costs to/from home and your permanent work location

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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 tak