Descriptions & requirements Job description ABOUT THE ROLE: This is a fast-paced role, offering the opportunity to work within a small team to lead on the planning and coordination of communications logistics for the Secretary of State for Northern Irelands engagements in London and further afield. The role requires close collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across the Northern Ireland Office, including Special Advisers and Ministers, as well as communications teams across Whitehall. The successful candidate will be responsible for the strategic planning and on-the-ground management of media and digital operations at events and visits around Westminster, sometimes nationally and internationally. They will act as the liaison for all types of news outlets co-ordinating media interviews and managing logistics as well as producing content for social media. Because of its unique geographical position, the role also involves deputising for senior managers when in-person briefings are required with the senior leadership team and with Ministers ahead of engagements, including providing real-time guidance on media handling. The postholder will lead on cross-Whitehall planning for the Northern Ireland Office which includes liaising with No10 on gridding and attending its weekly meeting in Downing Street. This involves influencing senior figures to ensure communications activity aligns with wider government missions and priorities. The role requires close collaboration with other government departments on their grid items, seeking opportunities to reflect their communications activities in the Northern Ireland context and identifying any risks and advising on mitigation. One important aspect of the role is line management responsibilities and you will likely have an apprentice communications officer report directly to you. As a result, you will need to be able to be able to manage both your own and others workloads, juggling competing priorities to tight deadlines. If you dont have line management experience, senior colleagues will support this area of your development. The successful candidate will be calm under pressure, adaptable to rapidly changing circumstances, and capable of showing creativity and initiative. They will have excellent communication, organisational, and time management skills, along with experience working in high-profile, high-pressure environments. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to: Lead on the planning and coordination of London-based communications moments for the Northern Ireland Office, ensuring activity aligns with government missions and priorities. Act as the liaison for media outlets when setting up interviews in London, building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with national and Northern Ireland based media and ensuring fair and effective coverage for all NIOs media list. Work in close collaboration with the Communications team to identify and deliver compelling digital content to amplify the NIOs messaging across social media platforms at London-based visits and events. Engage with stakeholders across NIO and OGDs - including Special Advisers, policy and Communications - to translate complex policy areas into clear, impactful communications opportunities. Lead on gridding NIO communications activity with No10 and represent NIO at weekly meeting in Downing Street. Closely collaborate with other government departments on their grid items, seeking opportunities to amplify their communications activities in Northern Ireland, identifying any risks and advising on mitigation. Manage and develop junior team members, providing leadership and supporting their growth. Working as part of an out-of-hours duty rota, handling media enquiries, coordinating the departmental response and circulating media coverage. Essential Criteria: Experience in leading on identifying and shaping communications moments to support strategic messaging and secure media coverage. High level of political and media awareness, with the ability to adapt plans in response to changing circumstances and sensitivities. Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence, persuade, and coordinate with senior officials and external partners. Confident communicator with ability to provide briefings to senior figures on media interviews and logistics. Strong attention to detail and experience making autonomous decisions under pressure, particularly in live or fast-moving environments. Willingness to work flexibly, including unsociable hours, weekends, and short-notice travel. Desirable Skills & Experience Knowledge of the Northern Ireland political landscape Prior experience briefing officials and senior figures such as non executive directors and chief executives is welcome Working knowledge of the gridding process at No10 Experience of supporting or coordinating visual content creation for digital platforms, including social media. BEHAVIOURS: We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours during the application sift and interview process : a. Seeing the Big Picture b. Making Effective Decisions c. Communicating and Influencing d. Delivering at Pace Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received, we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Seeing the Big Picture. More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here. EXPERIENCE: Please provide a CV and statement of suitability no longer than 750 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You dont have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. If you dont have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in. You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement. More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here. Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Seeing the Bigger Picture. INTERVIEW: You will be assessed against the same behaviours at the interview stage and will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated the behaviours. It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain: WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions? Strengths It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. OFFER Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first. The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks. Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview. SECURITY CLEARANCE: This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK ( The vetting charter - GOV.UK ( In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role. This role requires CTC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years. Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Further Information: Further information about the post may be obtained from ?? via email to ??. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment. Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview. COMPLAINTS: The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. Please contact SSCL () in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: RESERVE LISTS: In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact to be removed from the reserve list. Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information The NIO offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different NIO sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyones circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. Flexible working hours The NIO offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. NIO welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the NIOs Flexible Working policy. Benefits: Access to learning and development A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service. Public Holidays Season Ticket Advance