Digital Communications Officer - (maternity cover)

Department for Culture, Media & Sport; London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits an experienced Digital Communications Officer to join a dynamic team within a prominent government department. This role focuses on crafting engaging social media content and managing the department's online communications. You'll leverage your creativity and technical skills to influence a wide audience, including ministers and senior officials. If you're passionate about digital media and eager to make an impact, this is your chance to shine in a fast-paced environment that values innovation and collaboration.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

26.5 days annual leave

Civil Service pension

Paid volunteering leave

Maternity and paternity leave

Staff bonuses

Occupational sick pay

Learning and development opportunities

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in social media and digital communications.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite for content creation.

Responsibilities

• Manage and create engaging social media content.
• Collaborate with teams to shape the department's online presence.

Skills

Social Media Management

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Premiere Pro

Content Creation

Photography

Video Editing

Copywriting

Project Management

Tools

Adobe Suite

Professional Cameras

Job description

Length of employment: 12 months - maternity cover

Job Summary:
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport has an exciting opportunity for a talented communicator to join our small, friendly Digital Communications team.

DCMS is one of Whitehall's most interesting, varied and fast-paced departments and the Digital Communications team plays an important role in supporting departmental objectives.

The Digital Communications team is responsible for all public-facing communications via DCMS's online and social media channels, managing all of the Department's corporate social media channels including on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

We are highly proactive on these channels in leading our ALBs and partners with our campaigns and messages to reach new audiences.

Job Description:
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled digital creative to join our team in one of the most interesting, varied and fast paced Whitehall departments. We are looking for an experienced and talented professional who's passionate about social media to take on a key role as a Digital Communications Officer for channels and communities within our award winning digital team.

The successful candidate will be an experienced and resilient team-player who is passionate about their work and specialist skills, demonstrates a creative flair and has a track record in delivering their own high profile and truly engaging social media content. They'll be used to working at real pace, whether out in the field or from the office and able to influence at the highest level, including working with ministers, special advisers and senior officials.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the department's voice and presence on social media, through campaigns and content that inspires people about the work we do. As someone who's experienced in and driven by how to reach and engage a wide range of communities through social media, you'll be delivering high profile and exciting creative content on subjects ranging from civil society, sport, tourism, heritage and creative industries to celebrating national moments like Remembrance Sunday.

The successful candidate will take an audience-led, insight-based and integrated approach to help deliver the Department's digital and social media content and strategy.DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We're committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home.
• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years' service.
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
• 3 days of paid volunteering leave.
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave.
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
• Occupational sick pay.
• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks.
• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work.
• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential requirements:

• A passionate user of social media with a clear understanding of the digital media landscapes, including how target audiences through different channels and how to best tailor creative content for maximum impact.
• Proven ability to use the Adobe suite of creative programmes, particularly Photoshop and Premier Pro, as well as ability to film on professional cameras with an eye for creating short form social content
• A solid technical understanding of photography, lighting and sound recording both in the studio and in the field.
• A proven interest in utilising new and emerging applications/technologies.
• Experience in writing engaging copy for the web and social media, from news and announcements to first person storytelling content.

Desirable skills:

• Creative flair and a deep understanding of social media platforms including proven experience in writing engaging copy for the web and social media to accompany compelling visual content.
• Used to working under pressure in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple creative projects, allocating time effectively for you to meet challenging deadlines.
• Experience in developing and posting motion graphics for social media as well as capturing and editing video content to high standard, using Adobe suite.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by a member of the digital communications team, and will take place on: Wednesday 7 May 11 - 11:30am

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form by Tuesday 6th May at 5pm and you will be sent an invitation.

Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to [e-mail] apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the experience success profile :

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the 'Application and Interview Guidance' document attached to the job advert.

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

The interview process will assess behaviours and technical skills through a task which you'll have time to complete prior to the interview panel.

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

• Delivering at pace
• Seeing the bigger picture

Prior to the interview you will be sent the behaviour questions in advance.

The Government Communications Service technical skills to be tested at interview are:

• Core: Insight
• Core: Ideas
• Implementation

Your interview will take place remotely via Google Meets

Further Information

If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only. Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the 'Candidate Information Pack' attached.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.

In order to request an adjustment, please:

Complete the 'Assistance required' section on the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or a verbal test rather than a written one.

Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via [e-mail] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.

Feedback

To help VERCIDA find roles that are best suited to you at DCMS, we ask you to confidentially share information about yourself with us. Any data VERCIDA receive is securely stored and never shared with third parties.

'Did you know that users who have filled in their profile fully are 42 times more likely to get matched with the right employer?'

'At DCMS we are committed to having diverse interview panels at every grade we recruit.'

Applying for a job in Manchester? Find out more about the culture here