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Press Relations
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Ofqual is the independent qualifications regulator for England. We currently regulate 200+ awarding organisations, and approx. 11,600 certified qualifications. These include GCSEs, AS and A levels, and a broad range of vocational and technical qualifications. Regulating on behalf of students of all ages and apprentices is central to how we fulfil our statutory objectives.
For more information about the work we do please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual
We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout the organisation. We are proud of the action we are taking to support EDI and Wellbeing and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to support our ethos of creating a diverse culture that is reflective of both our employees and the learners we support.
Due to our continued commitment and focus in relation to EDI, our inclusion and fair treatment score based on the Civil Service 2022 annual people survey ranks us 4th out of 104 participating departments.
Ofqual is a rewarding, dynamic place to work. We offer employees the opportunity to develop within their role and progress through the organisation via a number of Learning and Development opportunities and activities.
We are in the top ten Civil Service departments for staff engagement which focuses on motivation and commitment to organisational goals and values. Based on the 2022 annual people survey Ofqual are ranked 9th out of 104 participating departments.
Job description
About the team
The communications team are at the centre of Ofqual’s work. They have the challenge of taking the technical nature of qualifications and Ofqual’s work to maintain standards and fairness and making that accessible and relevant to a diverse audience.
The team works to ensure that qualifications are well understood and to make clear the role that good regulation plays in securing fairness and quality for students.
Media interest is guaranteed, particularly come August when results for over 6 million qualifications are issued.
What will the post holder be doing?
The Senior Manager – Press and Social Media will be Ofqual’s most senior media specialist and will lead a team of communications specialists to support Ofqual’s strategic communications work through media and Social Media.
As part of running the news desk, they will oversee the management of emerging issues and the management of Ofqual’s news desk, which involves balancing reactive day-to-day issues against proactive and strategic work.
They will provide accurate and timely media handling advice and confident briefings, lead on the development and implementation of media handling policies, and constantly horizon-scan related media, political, legislative and regulatory landscapes to ensure media issues are identified early, planned for and actively monitored.
The role will manage an efficient and strategic Social Media function, working with other disciplines to promote messages to key audiences in line with the Ofqual communications strategy.
The Press and Social Media team also create Ofqual’s content. So, the Senior Manager – Press and Social Media will oversee Ofqual’s brand, templates and visual assets. They will champion user-centred content that is diverse, representative and accessible.
They will lead the team to plan and deliver media and Social Media content to ensure the right messages reach the right audiences, through the right channels, at the right time as part of the delivery of our strategic communications campaigns.
As a member of the Government Communications Service (GCS), they will champion best practice and adherence to the highest professional standards. They will ensure their team’s work is fully evaluated and will test new ideas. They will adapt future strategy and approach based on the learnings.
Responsibilities
Lead Ofqual’s Press and Social Media team
Line management of the Media Manager, Senior Content Officer, and Senior Social Media Officer
Working as part of the Ofqual Communications Senior Leadership Team
Provide support for the out-of-hours on call media rota
Lead the team to produce innovative and effective content – video, animation, audio, and graphic design – to convey Ofqual’s key messages and strategic goals
Lead on building strong relationships between the team and others in Ofqual to ensure consistent quality of content and adoption of best practice
Person specification
Qualifications
- Graduate-level education (Level 6 qualification) or equivalent industry experience
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
As a Civil Servant, you will benefit from a leading, modern employment offer which includes flexible working arrangements that support people at different stages in their lives, and pensions among the best available in the UK, as well as generous annual leave entitlements.
Other benefits you can enjoy include:
- Organisational performance related bonus
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Regular professional development
- Health and wellbeing initiatives such as mini-medicals, flu vaccinations
- Employee assistance programme and occupational health
- Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for VDU users, if appropriate
- Family friendly policies
- Interest free season ticket loan
- Access to exclusive discounts
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Please note that we regret that we do not offer sponsorship opportunities at this time.
When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the shortlisting panel), your career history and qualifications.
You will then be asked to provide a personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential criteria shown on the job description.
Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet these requirements as this will form a key part of your evidence when the panel is scoring your application, against the requirements of the role.
Ofqual has adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. You’ll be asked to remove all personal details from your CV when you apply.
During the interview process, this vacancy may include a short presentation and/or assessment. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invitation to interview.
Please submit your application by 24th March 2024 at 23:55pm.
Interview dates – 10th April 2024 (subject to change).
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or at a lower grade than they applied for, we may extend an offer without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has comparable behaviours and essential criteria.
Ofqual works flexibly, with a hybrid office/home based working model. Employees will spend at least two to three days a week working from our office in Coventry. As Coventry will be your base location expenses for travel to the office will not be paid.
Final panel interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided at invite to interview stage.
One of our resourcing colleagues will be on hand to answer any queries you may have throughout the process.
A reserve list may be held for up to 6 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.
Please be aware that expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed.
Reasonable adjustments
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 require assistance or need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should tell us what changes or help you might need further in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. You should contact us at recruitment@ofqual.gov.uk to discuss your needs.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
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