The successful candidate will be an experienced, professional communicator, able to build strong relationships at senior levels and draw on their experience and expertise to provide timely communications advice. Key Responsibilities Oversee the running of the DIO internal communications function (1xSEO, 3xHEOs) Develop and lead the delivery of internal communications strategies and plans to support organisational goals Lead the team in seeking and implementing new and innovative internal communications approaches Identify internal communications opportunities and ensure emerging channels and trends are capitalised on Build relationships within and outside of DIO and draw on expertise to influence senior stakeholders Act as a strategic advisor to the DIO CE and Executive Committee, providing internal communications advice on proactive and reactive issues Provide communications advice on corporate priority projects, including change programmes and behaviour change / cultural initiatives Champion staff engagement, maximising dialogue between DIOs leaders and staff and improving DIOs organisational listening Ensure DIOs internal communications adhere to best practice and draw on insight to drive continual improvement Support the Head of Communications in the running and development of the broader DIO corporate communications team Person specification We are looking for someone who will bring a strong vision for taking our internal communications function forward, ensuring new and emerging channels become part of the communications mix. They will have a proven ability in embedding change within teams and bring an innovative approach to the development of both channels and content. The successful candidate will have excellent stakeholder management skills and will work collaboratively with other communications functions across Defence and a range of business areas and project teams. This role requires a strong leader, who is committed to the development of their team, empowers colleagues to deliver and champions creativity. Essential Criteria The ability to lead internal communication planning and clarify strategies and plans, giving a clear sense of direction and purpose for self and team. Experience of using organisational insight to advise senior leaders on relevant and targeted employee communication strategies and provide timely advice to leaders in response to crisis scenarios. Can confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals. Ensure consistency of voice and message across all internal channels. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Changing and Improving Leadership We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Government Communications Service Competency: IDEAS Government Communications Service Competency: IMPLEMENTATION We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form: Government Communications Service Competency: IDEAS Benefits Alongside your salary of 59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes 17,292 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% 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 office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD 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/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words. At Sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Success Profiles: Behaviours Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. Technical Skills Government Communications Service Competency: IMPLEMENTATION In the event of a high volume of applications, the sift will assess against the Statement of Suitability and Communicating and Influencing. At Interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles: Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Changing and Improving Leadership Technical Skills Government Communications Service Competency: IMPLEMENTATION Presentation Candidates invited to interview will be asked to give a short presentation on a relevant topic. 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. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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. 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). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Charlene Stevens, Head of Corporate Communications Email : charlene.stevens102@mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk. Attachments Candidate Information updated Opens in new window (docx, 31kB) EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB) DIO Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1963kB)