Details
Reference number
426299
Salary
£60,300 - £70,730
National pay locations: Manchester, Sheffield £60,300 - £66,330.
London pay location: London £64,300 - £70,730.
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
HO - Communications Directorate
Type of role
Communications / Marketing
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
2
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
London, Manchester, Sheffield
About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Communications Directorate is a multi-disciplinary team delivering the Home Office's communications strategy. We are insight-led and results-driven, and our marketing campaigns support strategic objectives using a wide range of channels. We seek to provide high quality media, rebuttal and social media services. Our Internal Communications team supports employee engagement and business transformation.
Being part of the Home Office communication team is one of the toughest but most rewarding roles in Government communications. The Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the UK through our work on safer streets, border security and national security.
This is a role for someone who loves news and can take on the challenge of using communications to deliver the public's Plan for Change. Whether utilising traditional media, engaging with broadcasters, or pushing the boundaries with new media, we want someone who can help us communicate with the public.
Job description
You will join a multi-disciplinary team of colleagues based across the UK to deliver communications on some of the government's most pressing and high-profile matters. You will be responsible for leading an insight-led and results driven team of media professionals on a priority area of Home Office business.
We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is crucial to help everyone deliver their best work. We value diversity and provide an inclusive and encouraging environment for our team members. We nurture our talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities to help you fulfil your potential.
If successful, you will play a pivotal role in delivering communications on some of the government's most high-profile policies, in a fast-paced environment.
We push the boundaries on communications, and we want people who are willing to go the extra mile to support the Government's needs.
Key responsibilities:
* Driving forward insight-led, creative and proactive communications plans, making the most of broadcast, print, consumer, regional social and online opportunities to effectively reach our audiences.
* Lead on the development and implementation of reactive handling plans for complex and often divisive subject matters.
* Relationship building within the wider communications department, with officials, other government department colleagues and beyond, including; with the No10 communications teams to ensure alignment with cross-government priorities and messaging.
* Developing and maintaining positive relationships with key journalists – including national home affairs and political correspondents – personally briefing them on high-profile or complex issues.
* Providing communications expertise to policy and operational officials.
* Regular interaction with Ministers and the Home Secretary's special advisers to anticipate their communications needs, proactively identifying opportunities and challenges, and providing strategic communications advice.
* Working closely with colleagues in insight, marketing, social media, external affairs, visits and Newsdesk teams to deliver, develop and evaluate your plans.
* Line management responsibilities for a media team, supporting and raising the capability of the team.
Although largely media-based, the role-holder will be expected to work across all communications discipline to support colleagues as and when necessary.
Working pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.
You will be required to join the senior management team out of hours evening and weekend press office rota, supporting more junior colleagues on duty. You will be required to contribute approximately two shifts a month. Overtime pay will be provided.
Training
In-depth learning and development tailored to your role will be provided.
Travel
Occasional travel to support media activity will be required.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
* Significant management and leadership experience of working in a fast-paced news team.
* An understanding of the media landscape and machinery of government, and an interest in politics.
Proven experience designing and delivering creative media plans across a comprehensive range of media channels.
Strong strategic planning skills.
- Ability to maintain high standards and make sound judgements when working to tight deadlines on complex issues in high-pressure situations.
Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
- Confidence and knowledge in managing relationships with journalists and briefing seniors.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Communications – Ideas
* Communications – Impact
* Communications – Implementation
* Communications - Insight
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
* In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
* 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
* Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
* Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
* See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
* Application – by 22nd September 2025
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
* C.V.
* Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
* Evidence of the Behaviour Leadership (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).
Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
1. Sift – week commencing 22nd September 2025
The sift will be held on the CV and personal statement, which will be scored first. Those who achieve the minimum pass score for the CV and personal statement, will progress to a full sift where the lead behaviour (Leadership) will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the CV and personal statement will not have their lead behaviour scored and will therefore only receive a sift score for the CV and personal statement.
1. Interview – week commencing 20th October 2025
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Technical Skills based questions and Behaviours (as listed above) based questions.
In addition, candidates will be asked to complete a written exercise at the beginning of your interview. You do not need to prepare in advance for this exercise.
The interview will take place in person at 2 Marsham Street (2MS), London. Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
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.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you've made a mistake on an initial application, please contact, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.
Location preferences
You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Standards
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is SC. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to our processes.
If you need an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process you should:
* Contact Government Recruitment Service via 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. Learn more about the types of adjustments we have provided previously.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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 Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .
See our vetting charter .
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)
* 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
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.
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.