Communications Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence

LondonJob SummaryThe Ministry of Defence and the single services (Royal Navy, RAF and British Army) are subject to intense public, Parliamentary and media scrutiny. The Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) communicates departmental and military activities externally to the media, stakeholders, and the public, and internally to our people. The DDC is a fast-paced environment, dealing with everything from front page and bulletin-leading stories on complex and sensitive issues to national events and commemorations involving the Armed Forces. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job DescriptionThe Secretary of State for Defence regularly undertakes high profile media activity, visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement as well as communicating with civil servants and service personnel across Defence. The Communications Secretary plays an important role, providing direct support and advice to the Secretary of State, and working closely with DDC and the Secretary of State’s Private Office to plan and implement activity.

Key responsibilitiesOverall responsibility for planning and implementing the Secretary of State for Defence’s communications activity, including media, digital and internal communicationsEnsure the Secretary of State’s priorities and steers are properly reflected in Defence communicationsProvide direct advice and counsel to the Secretary of State and support, prepare and accompany them on communications activity, including visits, interviews, press conferences and speechesPlay a full and proactive role in the Directorate’s leadership team, deputising for the Deputy Director of News, Digital and Speechwriting when and where appropriate, and line manage roles within DDCWork closely with the rest of the DDC, the Secretary of State’s Private Office and Special Advisors to co-ordinate and organise Secretary of State communications engagementsSupport the Secretary of State’s Private Office in relaying accurate and timely information to DDC that impact communications activity and ensure Private Secretaries are working with relevant DDC project leadsRepresent DDC at Secretary of State Private Office meetings, including weekly diary and daily wash-ups - presenting DDC advice and providing timely readoutsBe a senior leader within DDC, including working with the Deputy Director and Head of News to ensure high standards, good behaviours and efficient use of resources at all times.

Take responsibility for clearing products relating to the Secretary of State, including reactive lines, press notices, op-eds, internal communications, digital content and briefing packsConfidently articulate the work of UK Defence to media, working to clear objectives and deploying an acute awareness of riskBe involved in the strategic planning process for Secretary of State communications engagements from an early stage working with communications teams across the Directorate, policy teams, Private Office and Special Advisors to produce robust delivery plansProvide coaching/training and development by mentoring the Press Office and other communications teams, working with the Deputy Director and Head of News.

Oversee recruitment for Press Office rolesProvide senior communications support out of hours on weekdays and at weekends as part of the back-up rota. The Secretary of State for Defence regularly undertakes high profile media activity, visits, speeches and stakeholder engagement as well as communicating with civil servants and service personnel across Defence. The Communications Secretary plays an important role, providing direct support and advice to the Secretary of State, and working closely with DDC and the Secretary of State’s Private Office to plan and implement activity.

Key responsibilitiesOverall responsibility for planning and implementing the Secretary of State for Defence’s communications activity, including media, digital and internal communicationsEnsure the Secretary of State’s priorities and steers are properly reflected in Defence communicationsProvide direct advice and counsel to the Secretary of State and support, prepare and accompany them on communications activity, including visits, interviews, press conferences and speechesPlay a full and proactive role in the Directorate’s leadership team, deputising for the Deputy Director of News, Digital and Speechwriting when and where appropriate, and line manage roles within DDCWork closely with the rest of the DDC, the Secretary of State’s Private Office and Special Advisors to co-ordinate and organise Secretary of State communications engagementsSupport the Secretary of State’s Private Office in relaying accurate and timely information to DDC that impact communications activity and ensure Private Secretaries are working with relevant DDC project leadsRepresent DDC at Secretary of State Private Office meetings, including weekly diary and daily wash-ups - presenting DDC advice and providing timely readoutsBe a senior leader within DDC, including working with the Deputy Director and Head of News to ensure high standards, good behaviours and efficient use of resources at all times.

Take responsibility for clearing products relating to the Secretary of State, including reactive lines, press notices, op-eds, internal communications, digital content and briefing packsConfidently articulate the work of UK Defence to media, working to clear objectives and deploying an acute awareness of riskBe involved in the strategic planning process for Secretary of State communications engagements from an early stage working with communications teams across the Directorate, policy teams, Private Office and Special Advisors to produce robust delivery plansProvide coaching/training and development by mentoring the Press Office and other communications teams, working with the Deputy Director and Head of News.

Oversee recruitment for Press Office rolesProvide senior communications support out of hours on weekdays and at weekends as part of the back-up rota.

Person specificationExperience of providing professional communications support and advice to senior principals at the highest level of an organisationExtensive media relations experience in a busy Whitehall department or similar complex organisationExperience of managing communications during high-profile national or international events or crises, ideally including operational military contextsStrategic leadership experience and track record of leading communications activity in support of wider organisational objectivesExcellent news sense and judgment, with the ability to make effective decisions while working under pressureCapable of managing a large workload and competing priorities, while delivering work of high standard and meeting immoveable deadlines.

Professional knowledge of the modern media landscape, including the interaction between digital and traditional mediaExcellent understanding of defence policy, military operations, and national security issues, with the ability to quickly grasp complex information and translate it for different audiencesProven ability to manage sensitive and classified information with absolute discretionAdept at building strong working relationships across Whitehall with key partner departments, in particular No.

10, the Cabinet Office and Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and with external stakeholdersStrong persuasive skills and be able to negotiate to achieve the right outcome for Defence, often in the face of competing cross-Government agendas and priorities. Confidence and ability to influence or make your case to anyone from senior officials and military to Ministers and special advisers to deliver appropriate communications outcomes. Highest standards of honesty, integrity, objectivity and impartialityAbility to inspire and motivate team members, and commitment to supporting their professional development. BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Seeing the Big PictureLeadershipDelivering at PaceChanging and ImprovingTechnical skillsWe'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: GCS - IdeasAlongside your salary of £70,540, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,435 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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%. London weighting of £3,300 per annum. 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 home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance.

Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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. Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Words)At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability. At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The FollowingSeeing the bigger pictureLeadershipDelivering at PaceChanging and improvingTechnical SkillsGCS - Ideas - GCS FrameworkArtificial 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod. gov. uk.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles.

This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years.

This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. SecuritySuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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 requirementsOpen to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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. 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 InclusionThe 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).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. 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 applicantsJob ContactName : Alex GoreEmail : Alex. Gore108@mod. gov. ukRecruitment teamEmail : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod. gov. ukFurther informationPlease ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application.

If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:

Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc. gov. uk.