Senior Communications Officer, SEO, Judicial Office (Ref: 91474)

Senior Communications OfficerOverviewThe Judicial Communications team for judges and magistrates is looking for an experienced Senior Communications Officer (SIO) to add to a reliable and trusted communications team based at the Royal Courts of Justice. The Judicial Office is completely independent of the Ministry of Justice and provides a trusted service to the judiciary across England and Wales. The candidate will be joining a multi-disciplinary comms team and be able to access professional support and expertise.For candidates within the Civil Service this post is available on level transfer or on promotion.The Judicial OfficeThe Judicial Office is an arms length body of the Ministry of Justice. We are a unique branch of the civil service, dedicated to supporting the judiciary and promoting judicial independence, to maintain confidence in the rule of law. We help the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals fulfil their responsibilities to the judiciary, in an ever-evolving justice system. We provide operational support, policy, legal and handling advice through a number of specialist teams.The judicial Office was established following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, to support the Lord Chief Justice as Head of the Judiciary in his statutory and other leadership and administrative functions. It delivers a wide range of functions for the senior judiciary and to more than 20,000 judicial office holders including legal and policy advice, communications, international, training (through the Judicial College), human resources, welfare, library and information services. Through the independent Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, we deal with complaints about the conduct of judicial officeholders. The Judicial Office also provides support to the Chief Coroner and to the Judge Advocate General and supports the Lord Chancellor on certain of his judiciary-related functions.The roleReporting to the Head of Judicial Communications, you will be responsible for implementing strategies that help shape the broader culture within the judiciary. This role entails using innovative solutions to help encourage Judicial Office Holders to engage with content that leads to the desired behavioural change. The role will involve thinking strategically, working with partners and creating content for the judicial website, social media channels and internal communications. You will work collaboratively and flexibly with the wider communications team and other colleagues across the Judicial Office to meet broader objectives.Key duties Build strong and effective relationships with colleagues across the Judicial Office (and HMCTS and MoJ as appropriate) to gain early involvement with the judicial communications aspects of their work, providing expert advice on audience segmentation and channels. Work with this network to develop engaging content that support judicial and JO objectives.Support the Head of Judicial Communications to plan, implement and assess communication strategies.Identify, design and develop content for the judicial website, social media channels and internal communications.Advise on the design, production and distribution of communications from the judiciary, for the judiciary, ensuring internal content is consistent across channels and tailored for different jurisdictions and judicial audiences.Evaluate the effectiveness of existing communications methods and channels, using insight to support future communications across the entire Communications Team.Support and represent the team internally and externally as necessary.Participate in the social media out of hours rota, for which an additional allowance is paid.Essential qualitiesCommunications experience in creating content for a range of audiences.Understanding audience needs and producing tailored content.Experience of working with multiple teams in a fast-moving environment.Ability to build strong relationships.Strong attention to detail.Desirable qualitiesKnowledge of website/intranet content management systemsAn understanding of the judiciary, and/or the business of courts and tribunals.Videography/filming and editing experience.BehavioursThis vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Seeing the Big PictureMaking Effective DecisionsCommunicating and InfluencingManaging a Quality ServiceIn addition, at interview you will be tested on technical competencies from the Government Communications Framework.You are encouraged to become familiar with the Government Communications Framework (Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies), and will be tested on the ideas and implementation technical criteria recorded within at SIO level, particularly under the Campaigns/Marketing and Digital disciplines.ApplicationTo apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application form no later than (2 weeks after the advert goes live). The application will include:1.A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant to the person specification for this role, including details where applicable of numbers of people managed, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.2.Answers to the standard behaviour questions (max 250 words)Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. Written feedback will be made available (on request) to those candidates who attend interview.We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.InterviewCandidates invited to interview will be assessed on the Behaviours laid out above, and Civil Service Strengths. Technical Skills (Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies) at SIO level, will be tested on the ideas and implementation competencies.You will also be asked to give a 5 min presentation, without visual aids, on the following:Can you give an example of an innovative communications piece of work/campaign you have delivered which helped lead to a successful outcome in your target audiences?