Communication Officer (Public Relations and Information)

Serious Fraud Office (UK); London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established public body is seeking a proactive Communication Officer to join their dynamic team. This role involves managing public relations and ensuring timely communication of information regarding economic crime. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills and the ability to build relationships across various teams. With a focus on transparency, you'll contribute to the SFO's mission while enjoying a supportive work environment that values flexibility and professional development. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in a vital sector.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Discretionary performance-related bonus

Interest-free season travel ticket

Cycle to work scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Eye care vouchers

Discounts through CSSC Sports and Leisure

Qualifications

• Experience in public relations and managing stakeholder correspondence.
• Skilled in applying legislation to decision-making processes.

Responsibilities

• Write and edit responses for Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Manage the SFO's publication scheme and ensure information is accurate.

Skills

Public Relations

Written Communication

Organizational Skills

Decision Making

Relationship Building

Education

Degree in Communications or related field

Tools

Freedom of Information Act

General Data Protection Regulation

Job description

The role will be based at our offices at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BS, in central London. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Informal hybrid working arrangements apply and there is an expectation that staff will attend the office regularly. Work pattern and office attendance will be agreed with successful candidates.

Job Summary

We are looking for a public information professional to join our growing, multidisciplinary communication team. You will be a proactive self-starter with outstanding organisational skills, strong judgement and written skills.

Reporting to the Communication Manager (Public Relations & Information), you will help ensure the SFO publishes and issues accurate, timely information about the organisation, in line with relevant legislation and guidance.

We are looking for a team player who can deliver high-quality work across a range of tasks, and who can also manage and support the development of an Assistant Communication Officer. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will build strong relationships in order to gather the information needed to inform our audiences about our work to fight economic crime and build the SFO’s reputation as a transparent and responsible public body.

A relatively small team by Whitehall standards, we all work together, meaning we are looking for a fast learner who is keen to become proficient in all areas of communication. Our team is responsible for media relations, digital and internal communications and information management.

Job Description

As a Communication Officer (Public Relations and Information) you will be responsible for:

• Writing and editing accurate and timely responses for Freedom of Information Act requests and other public-facing key stakeholder correspondence within statutory timeframes, applying relevant exemptions where appropriate.
• Processing individuals’ rights requests (especially Subject Access Requests) in line with ICO best practice, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Building excellent professional relationships across the office including internally with Senior Management, lawyers, case teams; and externally with correspondence and FOIA teams across the Civil Service.
• Line managing and supporting the development of one Assistant Communication Officer.
• Management of the SFO’s publication scheme and relevant web page, ensuring information is up-to-date, complete and understood by the organisation.
• Maintain an excellent understanding of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.
  
  

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack.

As a Communication Officer (Public Relations and Information) you will be responsible for:

• Writing and editing accurate and timely responses for Freedom of Information Act requests and other public-facing key stakeholder correspondence within statutory timeframes, applying relevant exemptions where appropriate.
• Processing individuals’ rights requests (especially Subject Access Requests) in line with ICO best practice, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Building excellent professional relationships across the office including internally with Senior Management, lawyers, case teams; and externally with correspondence and FOIA teams across the Civil Service.
• Line managing and supporting the development of one Assistant Communication Officer.
• Management of the SFO’s publication scheme and relevant web page, ensuring information is up-to-date, complete and understood by the organisation.
• Maintain an excellent understanding of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.
  
  

For more information about the role and for a full list of key responsibilities, please see attached Job Pack.

Person specification

See above and attached Job Pack.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

Technical skills

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

• Skilled at applying relevant guidance or legislation to decision-making.
• Able to recognise risk and escalate appropriately.
• Working knowledge of FOIA 2000 and data protection legislation.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £34,437, Serious Fraud Office contributes £9,976 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme. For further details, click here http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions

Generous annual leave provision of 25 days which increases to 30 days after five years’ service plus an additional day in recognition of the King’s Birthday and the option to buy or sell up to five days’ leave per year. Different terms may apply if you are already a Civil Servant.

Discretionary performance-related bonus scheme.

Interest-free season travel ticket, bicycle loan and cycle to work scheme.

Access to the Rental Deposit Salary Advance Scheme which assists employees in meeting the costs of deposits for privately rented homes.

Opportunities for learning and development.

Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.

Voucher for eye care and discounted spectacles.

Access to a range of discounts through membership of the Civil Service Sports and Social Club, CSSC Sports and Leisure. http://www.cssc.co.uk/

Maternity and paternity leave provision over and above the statutory entitlements.

Access to My CPS Rewards Gateway. My CPS Rewards offers staff a range of rewards and savings including:

• Discounts with high street retailers
• Savings on grocery shopping at a range of supermarkets
• Special salary sacrifice and recognition schemes
• Reloadable gift cards and e-cards
• Instant vouchers
  
  

Any move to the Serious Fraud Office 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/

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application stage

As part of the application process you will be required to provide:

• A personal statement of no more than 750 words that explains how your skills and experience meet each of the essential and desirable experience criteria as listed in the job pack.
  
  

Please note, desirable experience will only be taken into account if there is a large volume of applications and there is a need for further shortlisting for interview.

• A supporting CV outlining your job history and qualifications.
  
  

It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.

Interview stage

Behaviours, experience and technical criteria as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview.

Candidates invited to interview will also be required to complete an assessment.

Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.

Sift to take place from 27 May 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 9 June 2025.

All dates are indicative and subject to change.

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.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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 security check (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 requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

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.

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 Inclusion

The 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 applicants

Job Contact

• Name : People and Culture
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

For external competitions there is no appeal against the selection decision. However, individuals have a right to appeal if they feel that the principle of appointment on merit through fair and open competition and the Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles have not been met. Individuals who want to appeal should do this by setting out their grounds for appeal in an email for the attention of Head of People to [e-mail]. If, after an internal appeal, you still believe that the Civil Service Commissioners’ Principles have not been met, then you can contact the Commission directly: Complaints should be sent in writing to: Civil Service Commission, Room G08 ,1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ. Email [e-mail]