External Communications Manager

Social Security Scotland; Dundee; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Strategic Communications, Marketing and Engagement team at Social Security Scotland as an External Communications Manager. In this role, you will manage communication outputs, engage with stakeholders, and implement strategic marketing plans to enhance public awareness of benefits. You will also contribute to media relations and create compelling content across various platforms. This position offers a supportive environment and a competitive salary, including a post-specific pay supplement.

Benefits

Post-specific pay supplement after 12 months

Flexible working options

Supportive and inclusive working environment

Qualifications

• Substantial communications experience across various channels.
• First-class writing and editing skills.
• Ability to deliver on marketing campaigns and digital channels.

Responsibilities

• Act as an account manager for communications outputs and partnerships.
• Source, write, and manage content across multiple channels.
• Support media and PR activity, including managing reactive enquiries.

Skills

Communications

Media Relations

Creative Skills

Editing

Organizational Skills

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the busy, friendly and creative Strategic Communications, Marketing and Engagement team at Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government.

Social Security Scotland was created by the Scottish Government to deliver a number of benefits. These includes payments that support families, young people, carers, disabled people and young people starting work.

The Strategic Communications, Marketing and Engagement team is responsible for communications advice, planning and delivery of communications and engagement activity to raise awareness of benefits administered by Social Security Scotland, helping eligible people get the financial support they are entitled to.

The successful applicant will act as an account manager who collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that communications outputs and partnership activity are effective, clear and reach people in engaging ways. This person will be responsible for implementing strategic communications, marketing and engagement plans based on robust audience insight and data. This will include supporting the delivery of creative outputs across a range online and offline channels.

This team plays an active role in media management with a focus on specific audiences and payments, alongside a broader understanding of corporate issues and the wider context of devolved benefits. This includes proactive PR and also responding to any reactive media enquiries. The successful candidate will be part of an out-of-hours, on-call media rota.

The External Communications Manager will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the teams outputs and will use this analysis to influence work plans.

• Source, write, edit and manage high quality content for a range of Social Security Scotland channels – including media releases, website articles, social media content, client literature (e.g. factsheets, leaflets, posters) and marketing materials.
• Supporting creation and implementation of coordinated strategic communication, marketing and engagement plans using insight and analysis to develop and deliver creative communications plans, advising on the best messages, methods and channels to reach and influence audiences both internally and externally.
• Supporting proactive media and PR activity, such as writing press releases, securing feature articles and editorial partnerships, and supporting Ministerial visits including media interview bids and managing reactive enquiries (including on call responsibility).
• Managing the regular review of communication and marketing materials to make sure that these are up to date, accurate and that we are continually improving.
• Provide credible and authoritative communications advice and support to colleagues, including senior leaders.
• Work flexibly with colleagues across the communication team to deliver integrated external and internal communications across multiple platforms and channels.
  
  

Success Profiles

We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements

Experience

• Substantial communications experience including using creative skills across a range of communications channels and building media relations.
• First-class writing and editing skills, a good news sense, the ability to prioritise under pressure, and to turn around clean, crisp copy in plain English to tight deadlines.
• Ability to deliver across marketing campaigns and digital channels, using a programme of continuous improvement and learning.
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to coordinate communications activity being delivered across multiple teams.
  
  

Behaviours

• Making effective decisions (Level 3)
• Leadership (Level 3)
• Communicating and influencing (Level 3)
• Changing and improving (Level 3)
  
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

How To Apply

Apply online, you must provide a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profiles above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you’ve done that showcase your relevant experience.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and supporting statement based on the first Experience criteria.

Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed. These will further assess the Experience and Behaviours listed in the job advert.

Candidates who pass the sift and are invited to the Interview and Assessment stage will receive full details of the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods to be used.

We aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment.

Expected Timeline (subject to change)

Sift – 18th July 2025

Interview – w/c 28th July 2025

Location – In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

Reserve List

In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months.

About Us

Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Pay Supplement

This post attracts a £2,000 post-specific recruitment and retention Pay Supplement, rising to £3,750 after 12 months satisfactory service. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Equality Statement

Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail]

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer support and recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.

Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at [e-mail] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via [e-mail]

Apply before 16th July 2025 at 23:55

Contact Name- Angela Bathgate

Contact Email - [e-mail]