Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
Summary
About the job
This is a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic individual to be part of the Engagement and Public Information team that supports the government’s national full fibre rollout ambitions, with BDUK intervening in the least commercially viable areas of the country.
The Engagement and Public Information team works closely with the BDUK delivery teams as well as the wider DCMS Policy Teams and Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team to ensure that all briefings, questions and correspondence are responded to enabling the public, Ministers and Parliament to have he most up to date and appropriate responses to their queries.
The Briefings Officer will play a key part in informing and advising these stakeholders who are crucial to BDUK successfully delivering Project Gigabit – the government’s £5 billion investment in connecting hard to reach communities to gigabit speeds. The post holder will be given the opportunity to progress their career, gaining a unique range of career development skills whilst supporting the delivery of one of government’s most high profile programmes.
The role will report directly to a Briefings Manager within the BDUK Engagement and Public Information team and will need to work closely with the department’s Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team and Private Offices.
The Briefings Officer will support the Briefings Managers to ensure concise and informative briefings are drafted for ministers and writing ministerial speeches. Oversee briefing for parliamentary debates and select committees.
They will be responsible for ensuring an accurate record of all requests are appropriately recorded and stored for audit purposes. Monitoring all relevant KPIs associated with this area, creating a coordinated approach to information and data management within the team and wider BDUK.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
- Working with teams across BDUK to produce high-quality replies to Ministerial correspondence.
- Working with teams across BDUK to produce high-quality replies to correspondence from members of the public.
- Supporting with coordinating responses to Parliamentary Questions.
- Managing the team’s mailboxes and workflow, identifying and assigning work to colleagues, triaging and logging requests as appropriate.
- Logging and processing of correspondence on the DCMS correspondence and tracking system, as well as troubleshooting queries in the mailbox and, and identifying improvements to ways of working.
- Working with other Business Unit functions and Departmental teams to make sure correspondence and briefing requests are coordinated and replied to by the appropriate Department within agreed deadlines.
- Working with the Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team to ensure the BDUK is meeting its response targets.
- Any other reasonable duties and responsibilities considered appropriate by the management of the organisation.
Responsibilities
Person Specification
Essential
- Excellent written English, including meticulous grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- A good working knowledge of MS Office systems and Google Apps.
Desirable
- An understanding and experience of ministerial and Parliamentary requirements.
- Able to work at pace.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:
Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time
26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.
Exceptional contributory pension scheme
5 days of paid leave for L&D
5 days of paid volunteering
Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay
Occupational sick pay
Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.
Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms
Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy
Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!
SCS T&C’s will vary, please refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more.
Things you need to know
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.See our vetting charter.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Process
Please submit your CV and supporting statement (maximum 750 words) by 23:55 on 8 April 2022 via the CS Jobs portal.
Your CV should set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.
Your Supporting Statement (max. 750 words) should explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience make you a suitable candidate for the role.
You will also be required to provide a 250 word statement for the lead behaviour Delivering at Pace
Part of the application process will require you to complete a diversity questionnaire. You will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’ but this information is very important to the Civil Service.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: [email protected]
If you do not receive acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact the above email address.
Sift/Interview
Please be advised that the below dates are indicative only at this stage and therefore may be subject to change.
Sift: 12 April 2022
Interviews Start: w/c 25 April 2022
Interviews Conclude: w/c 25 April 2022
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Further Information
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Access NI 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
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.
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.
The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.
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.
Interviews will take place remotely via Google Hangout video call. Successful applicants will join the department through our remote onboarding process.
This role can be based in London, Manchester, Darlington or Belfast. The hub locations are displayed on the job advert. Not all hub locations yet have confirmed office space – successful applicants will be expected to work remotely until this becomes available.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DCMS 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 here
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in 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 if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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.
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.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : BDUK Recruitment Team
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment Team
- Email : [email protected]
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
To apply for this job please visit www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk.