We offer great flexible working opportunities, and have offices in Belfast, Cardiff and York.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.
Travel within the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.
Job Summary
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is looking for a Communications Manager who can help to protect public health, working with their colleagues to ensure the delivery of informative, helpful and accessible messaging to consumers and businesses across Northern Ireland.
As the public-facing representatives of the FSA’s work in Northern Ireland, the Communications Team shapes the public understanding of our work, and fuels important conversations around food safety and nutrition.
Job Description
Delivering both proactive and reactive media relations in Northern Ireland, your work will help to maintain consistent messaging, building strong working relationships with a network of journalists, partners and other influencers to enable us to reach as wide an audience as possible.
To this end, you will work to create content across the Northern Ireland focused areas of the FSA’s website and social media channels, and work alongside our Digital Team to ensure that all published content meets our content style guide as well as our accessibility standards.
As the FSA works across three nations, you will also work collaboratively to ensure that national priorities and activities are aligned and delivered effectively in Northern Ireland. You will have a demonstrable knowledge of the local media and political landscape to be able to support these areas.
You should be capable of delivering high quality work and making effective decisions in a fast-paced environment. If you are excited by the opportunity to make a tangible impact in the health and food safety of consumers in Northern Ireland and beyond, be sure to apply for this exciting role.
Working pattern guidance
If applying as a job share partnership you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers?, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Applicants who wish to work part time / compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Due to the nature of the role, we are unable to consider requests for part time working of less than 30 hours per week.
Please read before applying
This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment until 28 08 2026 with the possibility, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency.
Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy.
Note for FSA employees
You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy - please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).
Delivering both proactive and reactive media relations in Northern Ireland, your work will help to maintain consistent messaging, building strong working relationships with a network of journalists, partners and other influencers to enable us to reach as wide an audience as possible.
To this end, you will work to create content across the Northern Ireland focused areas of the FSA’s website and social media channels, and work alongside our Digital Team to ensure that all published content meets our content style guide as well as our accessibility standards.
As the FSA works across three nations, you will also work collaboratively to ensure that national priorities and activities are aligned and delivered effectively in Northern Ireland. You will have a demonstrable knowledge of the local media and political landscape to be able to support these areas.
You should be capable of delivering high quality work and making effective decisions in a fast-paced environment. If you are excited by the opportunity to make a tangible impact in the health and food safety of consumers in Northern Ireland and beyond, be sure to apply for this exciting role.
Working pattern guidance
If applying as a job share partnership you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers?, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Applicants who wish to work part time / compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Due to the nature of the role, we are unable to consider requests for part time working of less than 30 hours per week.
Please read before applying
This post is a temporary Fixed Term/Loan appointment until 28 08 2026 with the possibility, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency.
Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy.
Note for FSA employees
You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy - please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).
Person specification
Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.
We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Working Together
Alongside your salary of £33,481, Food Standards Agency contributes £9,699 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.
Application and shortlisting
You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.
You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Lead criteria: Demonstrable experience of working with Northern Ireland media and external Northern Ireland stakeholders in managing effective communications.
* Demonstrable experience of using OASIS thinking to deliver integrated communications plans, comprised of media relations, stakeholder engagement and digital content.
* Experience of organising events and coordinating attendance at external events, to promote a scheme or initiative from concept to delivery and evaluation.
* Experience of creating accessible content and schedules for digital platforms, including social media channels, and reporting on performance.
Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.
Interview
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.
Behaviours
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Working Together
Full details of the positive indicators being assessed for each Behaviour can be found in the Candidate Pack.
Experience
* Demonstrable experience of using OASIS thinking to deliver integrated communications plans, comprised of media relations, stakeholder engagement and digital content to a tight deadline.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 27th July
Sift: Expected to take place w/c 28th July
Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 11th August
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).
Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.
Making a complaint
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 fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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 : Laura McGlinn
* Email : Laura.McGlinn@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
If you wish to raise a complaint then please email hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk in the first instance. #J-18808-Ljbffr