Communications Officer
Job Description
Job summary
As a member of the regional communications network, the post holder will be an effective communicator who will contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA's key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and enhancing the organisation's reputation, all through the lens of the region in which they are embedded.
The post holder will possess excellent media handling and writing skills and have experience of liaising with journalists and drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels and platforms including social media, the web and print media.
The post-holder will be adept at working with key external stakeholders and senior colleagues internally to collaborate on proactive projects, emerging issues, and work together on mutually beneficial outcomes for our communications aims and objectives.
Main duties of the job
Some of the Key Responsibilities
- To handle proactive and reactive media communications, including:
- To act as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from local and regional journalists and to develop timely responses in line with UKHSA's corporate view;
- Proactively sell-in stories to regional media - press and broadcast;
- Monitor the range of media channels, including press and digital, and respond to any inaccurate or misleading content particularly where there is a reputational risk;
- Build and maintain good relations with key regional journalists;
- Co-ordinate any broadcast bids and provide support to UKHSA spokespeople undertaking interviews, including accompanying them to interviews.
- Support provision a full communications service to regional health protection colleagues.
- Draft clear, high-quality content for a wide range of channels and audiences.
- Ensure content is underpinned by sound use of UKHSA's data and intelligence wherever appropriate.
- Contribute to developing quality proactive communications as well as horizon scanning for any potential reputational risks.
- Support and deliver communications around UKHSA's marketing campaigns.
- Where requested by the regional communications manager, to represent UKHSA communications at various regional and local meetings
This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties.
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
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:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets someessential criteria
- 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.
...
