The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Deputy Director, Head of News

SCS Payband 1
Reference: 1618299
Closing date: Monday, February 18th 23:59

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The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

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The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Welcome
Suzanne Edmond, Director, Group Communications

Transport is at the heart of the Government’s delivering first class communications in a

This is one of the most plan to make this a country that works busy government department.
interesting and exciting for everyone.

communications roles in Your job will be to help build support for

major projects such as HS2, Heathrow
the country. and the Northern Powerhouse, making the
strategic case for infrastructure investment
and working with industry as we prepare to
exit the EU.
This is your chance to help deliver projects
that will still be making a difference to
people’s lives a century from now and help
place Britain on the forefront of the transport
technological revolution.
You will be joining a great team who are
passionate about working together to deliver
communications that have a big impact. We
are looking for someone who is ambitious
for themselves and the team, who has a
great news sense, and who is committed to
For a senior communications professional,
this role offers a rare chance to see how
Government works from the inside. It is
an opportunity to advise Ministers and
work alongside policy officials and special
advisers, leading a highly capable and
motivated team delivering across a range
of issues.
This job will never be easy, but it will always
be rewarding. If you want to work in a role
where you can make a real difference, then
please apply.
Best wishes,
Suzanne Edmond, Director, Group
of Communications

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The Department The Role Person Specification
Background to the Department
Whether you are embarking
on the daily commute,
seeing friends at the
weekend, jetting off for
holidays or receiving
deliveries to your door —
every minute of every day
people are on the move.
At the Department for Transport we plan and
invest to make journeys better.
We are a high-profile department at the
heart of government. We pride ourselves on
firstclass, creative communication that tells
compelling stories about transport through
the people that use it.
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If you share our vision of being the best
in class and have the expertise and
enthusiasm to deliver in this exciting role,
then we look forward to receiving your
application.
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harum, non reruptatis doloris volupie
ndandandae. Cuptamus.
We offer you:
• a chance to work in a high performing
team at the leading edge of government
communications
• experience working on the some of the
biggest projects in government, including
new high speed rail, airport expansion and
driverless vehicles
• an excellent learning and development
programme, acknowledged as one of the
FAQs Diversity & Inclusion
best across government
• opportunities for flexible working and a
commitment to a healthy work life balance
• a competitive remuneration package.
The team combines expertise in digital;
external affairs; strategic communication;
media relations; and marketing.
We are proud to announce that the
Department for Transport has been
recognised for its leadership on workplace
gender equality by being included in The
Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017.
DfT’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy is
recognition of our commitment to make the
department a great place to work through
our culture of equality and inclusivity and the
great strides we’ve made through our range
of Gender, BAME, Disability, Social Mobility
and LGBTQ initiatives.
 The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Background to the Communications Function

DfT has one of Whitehall’s be honest, brave, collaborative and creative,

leading communications
teams. Its role is to:
• Explain Ministers’ policies and programmes
(for example, how HS2 will deliver jobs
and economic growth) • Deliver a range
of the Government’s most successful and
innovative behaviour change campaigns,
including the award-winning THINK!
• Inform and reassure the public during a
crisis (for example, by responding to the
collapse of Monarch Airlines)
• Build advocacy and support (for example,
by encouraging third party comment on
key projects).
• Promote the UK transport sector
internationally (for example, by preparing
for EU Exit)
The Communications Team has committed
to behave in a way that allows everyone to
embracing differences and supporting each
other, celebrating success along the way.
The Group Communications Director has
three direct reports who have responsibility
for media and reputation management; digital,
marketing and campaigns; and strategic
communications, crisis and external affairs. The communications profession within DfT
• The strategic communications and
external affairs team is responsible for
the DfT Groups stakeholder engagement,
including corporate events and ministerial Directors, and their most senior direct
visits. It also manages our crisis planning reports. The SLT is responsible for creating
and strategic communications across our
embedded business partner teams.
• The media team is responsible for
relationships with journalists, explaining
ministerial priorities, and managing
reputational risks, as well as speech
writing. It plans and delivers proactive
communications aimed at the media,
while providing a 24/7 reactive media
handling service.
• The digital and marketing team is responsible
for campaigns, marketing and digital, creating
and distributing content that changes
behaviour or builds support. It develops
and delivers campaigns such as THINK!
and Go Ultra Low, as well as planning,
horizon scanning, insight and evaluation.
is run through a Senior Leadership Team
(SLT) consisting of the Group
Communications Director, the three Deputy
and delivering the communications strategy
for the Department; keeping campaigns
on track; and continuously improving
professional skills and managing talent.
The communications function has a
group operating model, with the heads of
communications at agencies and other
bodies reporting into the Group Director
of Communications, often in a dotted line
rather than formal line-management.

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The Department The Role Person Specification
Vacancy Description
The Head of News is
responsible for managing
the reputation of the
Department for Transport,
advising Ministers
and senior officials on
high profile and often
controversial issues,
ensuring the Department’s
policies are understood by
the public.
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You will also regularly deputise for the
Director of Communications.
This is a demanding and challenging role,
but a hugely rewarding and interesting
one. It presents an opportunity to make a
real difference by delivering world-class
communications that support Ministers’
priorities, improve people’s lives and enable
the effective operation of our public service.
Key responsibilities of the role will
include:
• Providing advice to the Ministers and our
Executive committee on media handling,
communications, and reputational risks /
opportunities for some of the most high-
• Providing strong professional leadership,
profile or controversial issues in Government;
• Leading the Department’s high-performing
press office, which provides a 24/7 service
that provides the media with information,
news stories and guidance, and monitors
the news across all print, broadcast and
FAQs Diversity & Inclusion
digital platforms for the Department,
responding quickly and effectively to
breaking news;
• Managing reputation of the department,
producing well-crafted and well-received
external communications across a range
of channels that effectively explain the
policies of the Department and priorities of
Ministers and how they affect the public.
• Leading the speechwriting team, which
is responsible for drafting speeches,
parliamentary statements and other
materials such as OpEds on behalf of the
Secretary of State and Ministerial team,
helping prioritise the very talent but limited
resource in this area.
support and challenge across the
communication team, ensuring tailor-made
media and digital handling plans that
maximise positive outcomes and minimise
risk in order to maintain and enhance the
reputation the Department.
The Department The Role Person Specification
Person Specification
This role requires an
exceptional senior
level communications
professional with first rate
news sense and experience
leading teams managing
high profile issues. It would
suit an ambitious, flexible
and creative individual
looking to make a difference
to the way we communicate
with our audiences.
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Essential Skills and Experience:
• First-rate news sense and sound judgment
based with extensive experience in media
and/or communications roles at a senior
level, with a track record of developing
strategic, and delivering tactical media,
stakeholders and digital handling
• Demonstrable success in managing
high-profile, fast-moving and sometimes
sensitive issues and experience of
incorporating digital techniques and
platforms (e.g. social media) into news
delivery
• Experience of successfully leading and
developing high-performing teams, with
FAQs Diversity & Inclusion
a track record of creating a culture of
innovation and continuous
• improvement in the quality of
communications;
• Evidence of highly developed
interpersonal, influencing and stakeholder
engagement skills with a demonstrable
ability to establish and
• maintain effective relationships with a wide
range of internal and external stakeholders
up to Board and Ministerial level;
• Evidence of strong political awareness and
professional judgement, with a proven track
record of providing clear, balanced advice
at Board and senior management level.
 The Department The Role
Salary and Benefits
Salary
Circa. £80,000
Standard pay rules apply for existing
civil servants
Benefits
Whatever your role, we take your career
and development seriously, and want to
enable you to build a really successful
career with the Department and wider
Civil Service. It is crucial that our
employees have the right skills to develop
their careers and meet the challenges
ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular
performance and development reviews to
ensure this development is ongoing. As a
Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled
to a large range of benefits.
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This includes:
• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a
sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
This will be complimented by one further
day paid privilege entitlement to mark the
Queen’s Birthday;
• a competitive contributory pension scheme
that you can enter as soon as you join where
we will make a significant contribution to the
cost of your pension; where your contributions
come out of your salary before any tax is
taken; and where your pension will continue
to provide valuable benefits for you and your
family if you are too ill to continue to work or
die before you retire;
• flexible working patterns including part- time
or time-term working and access to Flexible
Working Schemes allowing you to vary your
working day as long as you work your total hours;
• generous paid maternity and paternity leave
FAQs Diversity & Inclusion
which is notably more than the statutory
minimum offered by many other employers; and
• childcare benefits (policy for new employees
as of 5 April 2018): The government has
introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC)
scheme. Working parents can open an online
childcare account and for every £8 they pay
in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum
of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for
a disabled child. Parents then use the funds
to pay for registered childcare. Existing
employees may be able to continue to claim
childcare vouchers, so please check how the
policy would work for you here;
• interest-free loans allowing you to spread
the cost of an annual travel season ticket
or a new bicycle;
• the opportunity to use onsite facilities
including fitness centres and staff canteens
(where applicable);
• occupational sick pay.
The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Application Process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process which includes completing the
two forms online outlined below.
Application This should be completed no later than Monday, February 18th 23:59:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have
provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2. A Statement of Suitability explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience
provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person
Shortlist specification.

3. It is essential in your supporting statement that you provide evidence and proven examples against
each of the selection criteria below as far as you can.
Failure to submit both documents (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited
information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
Assessment
Please ensure that both documents contain your full name.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us on:
dft-scs1recruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you do not receive acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact us.
Offer

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The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Application Process

• A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best
fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the Person
Application Specification section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
• A decision is expected to be made by the week commencing February 25th and all shortlisted candidates
will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Shortlist

Assessment

Offer

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The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Application Process

• If you are shortlisted, you may be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include
psychometric tests and a staff engagement exercise as well as a ‘fireside chat’ with the Secretary of State.
Application These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s
decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
• You will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous
experience and professional competence.
• Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.
Shortlist The assessments and interview will take place between mid and end of March.

Assessment

Offer

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The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Application Process

• Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible

• We will send you a copy of any report for any assessment that you may have undergone as part of the
Application recruitment process (where applicable)

Shortlist

Assessment

Offer

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 The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Indicative Timeline
Please note that these dates are only
indicative at this stage and could be
subject to change. If you are unable Monday, February 18th 2019 23:59
to meet these timeframes, please let Advert Closing Date
us know in your application letter.
The anticipated timetable is as
w/c February 25th 2019
follows:
Expected shortlist announcement

February 2019 March 2019

w/c March 11th 2019

Assessments

Interviews will take place in XXXX.

Candidates are asked to note the above
w/c March 18th 2019
timetable, exercising flexibility through the
Interviews recruitment and selection process.

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 The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

FAQs

1. Can I apply if I am not currently
a civil servant?
Yes. This role is open to suitably qualified
people in the external market and to
existing civil servants and those in
accredited Non Departmental Bodies.
No. This role is only open to existing
civil servants and those in accredited
Non Departmental Bodies.
2. Is this role permanent?
This role is being offered on a
permanent basis.
3. Is this role suitable for part-time
working?
This role is available for full-time,
part-time or flexible working
arrangements (including job share
partnerships) but you should discuss
your needs with the hiring manager if
you are invited to interview.
4. Will the role involve travel?
Some travel may be required for this role.
5. Where will the role be based?
If successful you will be based in
London. Unfortunately relocation costs
will not be reimbursed.
6. Can I claim back any expenses incurred
during the recruitment process?
No. Unfortunately we will not be able
to reimburse you, except in exceptional
circumstances and only when agreed
in advance.
7. What nationality do I need to hold in
order to apply?
To be eligible for employment to this role
you must be a national from the following
countries:
• The United Kingdom
• The Republic of Ireland
• The Commonwealth*
• A European Economic Area (EEA)
Member State
• Switzerland
• Turkey
Certain family members of EEA,
Switzerland and Turkish nationals are
also eligible to apply regardless of
their nationality.
(*Commonwealth citizens not yet in the

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 The Department The Role Person Specification
FAQs
UK, who have no right of abode in the
UK and who do not have leave to enter
the UK are ineligible to apply.)
For further information on whether you
are eligible to apply, please visit Gov.UK.
8. Is security clearance required?
Yes. If successful you must hold, or be
willing to obtain, security clearance to SC
level. More information about the vetting
process can be found at the following link
9. What reasonable adjustments can be
made if I have a disability?
We are committed to making reasonable
adjustments in order to support disabled
job applicants and ensure that you are
not disadvantaged in the recruitment
and assessment process. Reasonable
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adjustments could include; allowing extra Government Recruitment Service,
time during selection tests; ensuring that LG73, 1
information is provided in an accessible 00 Parliament Street,
format or; by providing training. London, SW1A 2BQ.
If you feel that you may need a Please quote the vacancy reference
reasonable adjustment to be made, number on the envelope.
or you would like to discuss your
10. What is the role of the Civil Service
requirements in more detail, please
Commission in relation to recruitment
contact us in the first instance.
into the Civil Service?
If you wish to receive a hard copy of the
The Civil Service has two primary
information, or in an alternative format
functions:
e.g. Audio, Braille or large font then
• to provide assurance that selection
please contact:
for appointment to the Civil Service is
dft-scs1recruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.
on merit on the basis of fair and open
gov.uk
competition as outlined in the Civil
If you cannot apply online, please post Service Commission’s Recruitment
your application to: Principles. For the most senior posts
 The Department The Role Person Specification
FAQs
in the Civil Service, the Commission
discharges its responsibilities directly
by overseeing the recruitment process
and by a Commissioner chairing the
selection panel
• to hear and determine appeals made
by civil servants under the Civil Service
Code which sets out the Civil Service
values – Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality
and Objectivity – and forms part of the
relationship between civil servants and
their employer.
11. Will this role be overseen by the Civil
Service Commission?
For non-CSC led
No. However, the recruitment process
will still be governed by the Civil Service
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Commission’s Recruitment Principles. cause questions to be raised about
their approach to the business of the
More detailed information can be found
Department.
on the Civil Service Commission website.
If you believe that you may have a
12. What do I do if I want to make conflict of interest please contact Lauren.
a complaint? Okoro@dft.gov.uk before submitting your
For non-CSC led application.
If you feel that your application has not
been treated in accordance with the
recruitment principles and wish to make
a complaint then you should contact
Lauren.Okoro@dft.gov.uk in the first
instance.
13. What should I do if I think that I have a
conflict of interest?
Candidates must note the requirement
to declare any interests that might
 The Department The Role Person Specification Salary & Benefits Application Process FAQs Diversity & Inclusion

Our differences enrich us, our

diversity makes us strong.

The Civil Service is committed What’s in it for me?
We want to maximise the potential
to becoming the most inclusive of everyone who chooses to work
employer in the UK. for us - regardless of background.
If you’re interested in becoming
We are committed to understanding, respecting and a world class leader, developing
representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds your career with us – starting with
as we have in UK society. We know that diverse this interesting and challenging
perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, role – or doing things differently
modern Civil Service.
and inspiring colleagues, then the
Civil Service is the place for you.
Our vision is to ensure the Civil Service represents modern
Britain and is a truly inclusive employer - an example to Our passion for diversity and
other employers. We will create an organisation where equality means creating a work
diversity is not only respected and valued - but celebrated. environment for all employees
that is welcoming, respectful,
engaging, and enriched with
opportunities for personal and
professional development.
What’s next?
You’ve taken the first step and
looked through this job pack
to understand the skills and
experience needed to perform
this role. Now join us in achieving
our ambitions and let us help you
achieve yours. Apply now.

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Contact us

We encourage all candidates to discuss the role further before submitting an application. If you
would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact james.wood@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

This campaign is being run on behalf of the department by Government Recruitment Service. Government Recruitment Service is part of Civil Service
HR, and is a central government expert service specialising in the attraction, search, selection and recruitment of senior civil servants.

The team is regularly commissioned by departments and other government organisations to deliver end-to-end recruitment for some of society’s most
important leadership and specialist positions, including Deputy Director, Director, Director General and Permanent Secretary posts.

Our work is regulated by the Civil Service Commission where necessary and supported by the equality campaign group Stonewall.

Cabinet Office is a Disability Confident employer.