Internal Communications Officer

Job summary

IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.

We are looking for a skilled, confident and motivated Communications professional to join our Internal Communications team. This is a creative, delivery-focused role at the heart of a team that connects colleagues to DfE's purpose as the department for opportunity - building pride, fostering employee advocacy, and helping every member of staff tell the story of the difference we make for children, families and learners. Proactive individual with strong written, oral and digital skills, plus excellent organisational and people skills, will be central to our success alongside the rest of the team.

As part of the wider Communications Directorate, you will be a member of a dynamic, diverse and energetic team committed to delivering outstanding and engaging content. You will collaborate closely with colleagues from across the media, social, digital and strategic teams to deliver coherent, joined-up messages.

You will also work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider organisation to coordinate and deliver internal communications informed by analysis, insight and understanding to reach all our audiences including across government, and help DfE deliver its strategic objectives.

As a member of Government Communications, you will work closely with colleagues across government at all levels ensuring internal communications tells the story of our delivery. You will be part of a team that connects colleagues to DfE's purpose as the department for opportunity, breaking the link between background and success.

If you want a new challenge and want to be part of a creative, innovative, supportive and friendly team, we want to hear from you.

Job description

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Deliver creative and engaging multi-media content including video, podcast, design, animation and photography - in support of the department’s priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and experience writing in others’ voices, particularly senior leaders of an organisation.
• Informed by insights, provide advice to staff and stakeholder management of departmental leads on appropriate channels to reach and target internal audiences.
• Support the Internal Communications team to develop engaging internal communication plans and campaigns, that inform and engage staff with our corporate ambitions, tell our story and engage everyone with the Secretary of State’s and department’s key priorities. As part of this, you will support the Permanent Secretary with her fortnightly live all-staff broadcast.
• Lead on the production of the department’s bi-weekly Senior Civil Servant e-bulletin and all-staff weekly newsletter, sourcing and writing content and ensuring messages are aligned with our vision and values.
• Ensure that all internal communications activity is rigorously evaluated, and key data captured in monthly dashboards. Use these insights to drive improvements to content, key corporate channels and products. Lead focus group discussions and be an expert in using tools such as Google Analytics and other evaluation platforms.
• Support the Senior Internal Communications Manager to co-ordinate and deliver the department’s termly All Staff Meetings with the Ministerial team and Permanent Secretary, and the annual DfE staff awards.
• Create, produce and deliver brilliant content that carries our narrative to all colleagues and encourage them to be active advocates for the DfE’s work. From time to time your content may also reach a wider audience, so that partners in all sectors know about the work the DfE does to deliver opportunity.

Working Pattern

We welcome applications from candidates seeking part time or compressed working pattern. However, due to the nature of the work and the shift coverage required, the minimum number of contracted hours for this role is 30 hours per week over a 4 day period.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent video and design skills and proven experience of working with audio or visual software. For example, Adobe, Photoshop, video editing, design or desktop publishing.
• Excellent editorial skills and experience of writing engaging content consistent with an organisation's priorities and values.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, including delivering communication products to tight deadlines. You will have the ability to spot communication opportunities and risks, recommend solutions and deliver on them.
• Evidence of building good working relationships with people outside their team.
• Proven experience of using insight and evaluation to drive effective communications plans, including designing and maintaining performance dashboards and making data-led recommendations for improvement.
• Experience of designing and delivering two-way communication and engagement approaches, including focus groups, staff surveys or pulse polls, to gather employee insight and inform communications planning.

Desirable Criteria:

• A relevant qualification in communications, marketing or journalism.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• GCS Communications - Insight
• GCS Communications - Ideas
• GCS Communications - Implementation
• GCS Communications - Impact

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,979, Department for Education contributes £13,320 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).

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artific