Details
Reference number
414380
Salary
£37,635 London minimum - £41,751 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP
Job grade
Higher Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DFE - Strategy Group
Type of role
Communications / Marketing
Planning
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location
London (SW1P 3BT)
Central London Offices in Westminster, near to No10 where this post will be required to support a weekly meeting in person when covering the SIO or Grade 7.
About the job
Job summary
The Department for Education (DfE) is looking for a confident and motivated Strategic Communications Planner (IO).
This is a demanding and challenging role, but a hugely rewarding one at a time when education is one of the top domestic priorities for the country – leading the Opportunity Mission – one of five key missions for the new government and its Plan for Change priorities. You will have a unique opportunity to operate at the very heart of Government in a major policy and delivery department - the Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for a big brief on social policy covering everything from early years, primary through to post 16 education and skills and apprenticeships – all high on the agenda for the new mission-led approach emerging from government. Whether we are changing attitudes, supporting the recruitment of frontline professionals or encouraging the next generation of apprentices, our communications can change lives.
Job description
You will be part of the planning team within our strategic communications function. You will work with the senior planner and team leader, as well as senior managers and private offices of ministers (and advisers) to help set, shape and deliver communications plans aligned to developing and new strategies of Mission-led activity that reach our audiences in the most impactful way. Cutting through the often fragmented media landscape and busy political commentary to land key messages.
Job Responsibilities:
- Plan the timing of media and campaign output of the Department, ensuring announcements and events are timed to maximise cut-through, minimise risks, as well as support the delivery of our priorities.
- Advise and work with a wide range of colleagues across the Department including Ministers’ offices, communications colleagues, Special Advisors and policy leads (and Arms Length Bodies) to ensure a strategic approach is aligned to deliver the DfE’s priorities and Number 10 and Opportunity Mission narratives and communicate our messages in a timely way to our key audiences.
- Take the lead on the department’s main grid which tracks longer term and cross government communications activity, and links it to key audiences and themes set out in the DfE communications strategy and complementing delivery plans.
- Manage, develop and administer communications planning products, including weekly media grids, long term grids and strategic grids.
- Represent DfE at the No10 weekly grid meeting and provide briefing on the department’s upcoming announcements. Negotiate grid slots with the Grid Planners at No10 to ensure the department’s business fits with wider government priorities.
- Work with Other Government Departments and those driving the four other Missions to ensure a joined up approach on joint announcements and cross government working.
So - are you a great communicator? Can you oversee a complex range of fast-moving projects? Can you negotiate with tenacity and keep many plates spinning at once? Do you like building on the latest insight and seeing how large multi-million pound campaigns will work alongside media, stakeholder and parliamentary engagement to drive forward our purpose?
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Ability to spot opportunities and risks.
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver at pace.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent news/ media judgement.
- Political awareness.
- Management of reputational risks.
- Attention to detail and both digest and set out reasoned arguments for views on timing.
- IT skills including PowerPoint and excel.
- Negotiating skills.
Desirable Criteria:
- Strategic media planning experience.
- Strong influencing and interpersonal skills.
- Project management skills.
- A commitment to and passion for, public service.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,635, Department for Education contributes £10,902 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application
To apply for this role, you will be required to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability (statement max word count 1000 words).
We will use your CV and statement to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.
You will also be required to provide 250 word examples demonstrating how you meet the behaviours the Civil Service looks to strive for. Do make use of the resources on the Civil Service website - Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Interview
At interview you will be asked questions to assess your experience in line with the essential criteria listed and about the behaviours listed in the advert.
We will also ask you some strength based questions.
Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face, the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.
Other Information
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment .
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
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 need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
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 : Russell Neilson
- Email : Russell.Neilson@education.gov.uk
- Telephone : 07342058904
Recruitment team
- Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information
The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. 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
