Senior Communication Manager - Various Roles (Band 3/SEO)

Health and Safety Executive; North Tyneside; Hybrid; GBP 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a Senior Communications Manager, where you'll play a pivotal role in shaping communication strategies that impact public health and safety. This dynamic position involves developing and executing innovative marketing campaigns, producing compelling content, and engaging with various stakeholders to promote key messages. You'll thrive in a collaborative environment that values initiative and creativity, making a real difference in the lives of citizens. If you're passionate about strategic communications and ready to take on a high-profile role, this is the opportunity for you.

Benefits

Flexible Working Options

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Learning and Development Opportunities

25 Days Annual Leave

Parental Leave Benefits

Carer Friendly Policies

Cycle to Work Scheme

E-Gift Cards and Vouchers

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and implementing marketing campaigns.
• Ability to produce high-quality written content from complex information.

Responsibilities

• Plan and develop campaigns for health and safety promotions.
• Produce high-quality content for diverse audiences.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations.

Skills

Influencing Skills

Effective Communication

Campaign Management

Relationship Building

Media Handling

Strategic Planning

Job description

Aberdeen, Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, York

Job Summary

We are looking for two experienced Senior Communications Managers who can make a positive impact in citizens lives and can work across HSE and BSD campaigns and media in a fast paced and collaborative environment.

Post 1 sits within HSE campaigns team, delivering campaign and marketing activity.

Post 2 sits within HSE’s Building Safety Division (BSD) external communications team and, will focus on campaign and media activity.

The communications team is made up of specialists who work on all aspects of media, PR, campaigns, digital, design, content design and internal communications for the Health and Safety Executive.

This role can be based in any of the advertised locations however, there will be a requirement to travel to Bootle at least 2 days a month (or when required). Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office or home to Bootle is a feasible distance to travel.

Job Description

As a Senior Communications Manager, we want you to join our team and play a pivotal role in setting and delivering the communication Strategy for HSE and BSD.

This high-profile position requires you to be comfortable working independently and using your own initiative across a variety of communications disciplines, selecting the most effective methods based on audience needs. You will have experience developing and implementing marketing campaigns, managing both paid and low/no-cost initiatives that deliver impactful messages to diverse audiences across different platforms.

We’re seeking someone who is not only well-organised and proactive, but also passionate about shaping the narrative and communicating with clarity and purpose.

Your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and influence key conversations will be critical to success in this role.

Key tasks

• Plan and develop campaigns creating suites of on and offline content to promote health and safety and building safety campaigns.
• Produce high quality written content from complex, technical information for a range of different channels, stakeholders and audiences.
• Convert complex information including insight and data into ambitious and effective communication outcomes to meet audience needs.
• Work across multiple disciplined teams agreeing campaign objectives and facilitating delivery to agreed timescales, supporting the external communications team where needed.
• Embed the principles of strong strategic communications and good practice, including evaluation and the use of communication grids across HSE.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations when required.
• Reach target audiences through translating complex policy into clear and concise messages, facilitating delivery across multi-disciplined teams to an agreed timescale.
• Develop proactive media, social media and PR plans across all channels, including digital content.
• Conduct media monitoring, logging and evaluation and provide high level briefing for the senior leadership team.
  
  

You may also be required to cover media out of hours duties on a rota basis for weekday evenings and weekend service for which full training will be given.

As a Senior Communications Manager, we want you to join our team and play a pivotal role in setting and delivering the communication Strategy for HSE and BSD.

This high-profile position requires you to be comfortable working independently and using your own initiative across a variety of communications disciplines, selecting the most effective methods based on audience needs. You will have experience developing and implementing marketing campaigns, managing both paid and low/no-cost initiatives that deliver impactful messages to diverse audiences across different platforms.

We’re seeking someone who is not only well-organised and proactive, but also passionate about shaping the narrative and communicating with clarity and purpose.

Your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and influence key conversations will be critical to success in this role.

Key tasks

• Plan and develop campaigns creating suites of on and offline content to promote health and safety and building safety campaigns.
• Produce high quality written content from complex, technical information for a range of different channels, stakeholders and audiences.
• Convert complex information including insight and data into ambitious and effective communication outcomes to meet audience needs.
• Work across multiple disciplined teams agreeing campaign objectives and facilitating delivery to agreed timescales, supporting the external communications team where needed.
• Embed the principles of strong strategic communications and good practice, including evaluation and the use of communication grids across HSE.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations when required.
• Reach target audiences through translating complex policy into clear and concise messages, facilitating delivery across multi-disciplined teams to an agreed timescale.
• Develop proactive media, social media and PR plans across all channels, including digital content.
• Conduct media monitoring, logging and evaluation and provide high level briefing for the senior leadership team.
  
  

You may also be required to cover media out of hours duties on a rota basis for weekday evenings and weekend service for which full training will be given.

Person specification

Essential Skills

• Good influencing and forward planning skills with the ability to navigate and prioritise competing demands, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Effective communication skills - producing high quality written content from complex technical information.
• Experience of coordinating and managing the creation of campaign content aligned with current communication trends
• Experienced in building strong working relationships at all levels, demonstrating leadership qualities and fostering a proactive, collaborative, and inspiring team environment that encourages mutual respect, values diversity, different skills, experience and specialism.
• Politically aware with an understanding of the broader government agenda and propriety issues.
• Excellent understanding of the national news agenda, social media landscape, and strong news judgement.
• Experience of providing media handling advice to officials and colleagues.
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Alongside your salary of £45,954, Health and Safety Executive contributes £13,312 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
• Competitive rates of pay
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.
  
  

Selection process details

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

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria and that any gaps in employment history over the last two years are explained.

Please note that your CV will not be assessed and will be used for information purposes only.

You will also be asked to submit a Personal Statement, of no more than 750 words, which demonstrates how you meet the essential skills and criteria of the job advert.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a personal statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Sift Information

The sift will commence from 21st May when you will be assessed on your Personal Statement against the essential skills and criteria of the job advert.

Interview Information

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during week commencing 2nd June when you will be assessed against the core essential skills and criteria and, the advertised behaviours.

AI Tools & Platforms

During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis 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.

Furthermore, existing Civil Servants must gain written approval from their Line Manager prior to applying for this campaign. At the point of offer, you will be asked to provide this evidence. Offers will be revoked if the appropriate approvals cannot be produced when requested.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: [e-mail]

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE 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 here

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

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 and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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 : Rachel Atherton
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met you can raise a complaint by emailing: [e-mail] or by writing to HSE at the following address: HSE Resourcing Team 2.3 Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle Merseyside L20 7HS If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/