Senior Digital Communications Manager: HMG Daesh Taskforce Candidate Pack

Transcription

1 Senior Digital Communications Manager: HMG Daesh Taskforce Candidate Pack January 2016

2 About the Foreign & Commonwealth Office The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the government department responsible for promoting British interests overseas and supporting British citizens and business around the globe. The FCO works to promote Britain's enlightened national interest in a changing world. The FCO employs around 14,000 staff around the world. Roughly one third are UK-based British Civil Servants whose career typically includes work in the UK and postings overseas; and around two thirds are Locally Engaged (LE) staff, employed by a British Diplomatic Post overseas. We celebrate diversity and recruit our staff from a broad range of backgrounds so that we benefit from fresh experiences and perspectives. The FCO s purpose is to pursue an active and activist foreign policy, working with other countries and strengthening the rules-based system in support of our values to: Keep Britain safe We tackle new threats effectively and at source. By acting beyond our borders, we are better able to defeat the terrorism that threatens our homeland, prevent nuclear proliferation, and prevent the harm to the British people and our economy caused by conflict. Make Britain prosperous We promote growth and jobs at home by pursuing export and investment opportunities abroad, especially with the powers that will shape the world economy in the 21st century. Support British nationals overseas Our trained, expert staff has the local knowledge that British nationals can call upon in times of distress. The work that often grabs the headlines is our crisis response. But much of the work of the FCO is assisting with individual tragedies out of the glare of media attention. We help British nationals keep themselves safe and focus our assistance on the most vulnerable in the greatest distress. Further information about the FCO may be found on our website: 2

3 Job Description Job Title: Senior Digital Communications Manager - HMG Daesh Taskforce Grade: C5 Location: London This job is suitable as a full time post. The role is business critical and has been exempted from the civil service recruitment freeze. Main purpose of job At United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, the Prime Minister committed 10m of UK funding to winning the communications war against Daesh. The fund is being invested into establishing a new London-based Strategic Communications Cell for the 65 member Global Coalition against Daesh. Working within HMG Daesh Taskforce team you will manage and deliver priority digital campaigns to challenge Daesh online; developing strategies, creating and commissioning content and evaluating impact. As the digital expert you will provide consultancy and guidance to government ministers and colleagues at all levels and setting standards for online activity. You will deliver both branded and non-branded digital projects. As digital lead for the UK Daesh Taskforce, you will work closely with the Cell and the wider Global Coalition on projects, campaigns and capacity building, to deliver real impact in this area to counter Daesh s online narrative. Roles and Responsibilities Along with strong digital communications experience and technical knowledge, you will need excellent collaboration skills. You will work closely with the FCO s Digital Transformation and Cyber Policy Units, partners across the Global Coalition, Number 10, Cabinet Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development, as well as major social media companies. You will build relationships with digital contacts both in and outside government to advance the FCO s digital activity and support its objectives. You will lead several high-profile, multi-language campaigns and projects for a range of different countries, developing digital strategies and planning, shaping and implementing campaigns. You will manage internal staff and external contractors to ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget. Some of the non-branded projects will require sensitive and discrete handling and management. You will advise colleagues on how to plan digital activity, providing guidance on appropriate and up to date tools and techniques. Supporting new members of the team and non-subject experts to help improve their knowledge and skills. You will work with Her Majesty s Government staff to ensure the team has a clear picture of Daesh s online activity and incorporate this insight into effective online response. As part of this, you will feed into wider campaign and project plans and make sure that proposals for digital activity are appropriate and robust, providing guidance on digital monitoring and evaluation. 3

4 You will work with a wide range of internal and external partners to further the UK s communications objectives in countering Daesh. You will coordinate different groups of stakeholders from the UK and overseas on international initiatives, working closely with the FCO s Digital Transformation Unit (DTU) to ensure the team s work is in line with UK principles and complementary to ongoing activity. You will work as a virtual member of the FCO s DTU, sitting in the Unit one day per week. This will allow you to maintain crucial links with the Unit, the industry and government developments in relation to the digital landscape and ensure you are connected to colleagues with shared expertise. The UK is one of three co-chairs of the Global Coalition Strategic Communications Working Group, along with the US and UAE. You will liaise with co-chairs regularly on communications planning and delivery, and work closely with the Cell and the wider Coalition on projects, campaigns and capacity building. You will lead on the team s drive to develop constructive relationships with social media companies as part of the focus on working with industry to challenge Daesh s online propaganda. Initially you will manage temporary staff recruited to support the communications team. There may be scope for further management opportunities. 4

5 Person Specification Satisfactory Security Check (SC) vetting is a condition of appointment. For more information about this process, see this link. You must have been resident in the UK for two out of the last ten years immediately prior to your application. (Please note at least one year of which must have been a consecutive twelve-month period, unless you have served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty s Government, or have lived overseas as a result of your parents or partner s Government employment.) It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following minimum criteria as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview. Minimum Criteria Significant experience of managing social media channels as part of an integrated communications strategy. A proven and effective track record in understanding audiences and user needs. A strong understanding of the digital landscape and able to scope future opportunities and trends. A knowledge of digital evaluation using monitoring tools to provide reports and dashboards, accompanied by clear recommendations and advice. A proficient knowledge of standard web tools including web analytics, social media monitoring and engagement tools, digital evaluation and Search Engine Optimisation. Able to write and deliver multichannel content strategies. A good track record of developing working relationships with online communities. Meets the minimum standard of the competencies listed below Competences The competences you will be assessed on at the application stage and during the interview are as follows: Leading and Communicating Collaborating and Partnering Seeing the Big Picture Delivering at Pace Please see the Civil Service Competency Framework for more information about these. 5

6 Recruitment Process The FCO has appointed Capita, a recruitment agency, to manage the process. Please see the timetable below for indicative dates: Closing date for completed applications Panel Interview Midnight on Monday 15 th February 2016 (Deadline extended to MIDNIGHT Thursday 18 th February 2016) Weeks commencing 7 th & 14 th March 2016 If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview (in person) at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. There may be the option to conduct the interview via Skype, if this is preferred, you must make this clear at the application stage. Candidates will be required to give a Presentation at the Interview and the topic will be sent to you in advance. Please note, the FCO will not reimburse any travel costs or expenses incurred as part of the selection process. How to Apply To apply for this position, please complete the application form which can be found at It is imperative that your application form provides evidence of the competencies contained in the Person Specification which can be found on page 5. You will be tested on two of the four competencies for this role on the application form. These are Leading and Communicating and Delivering at Pace. All four competencies will be tested at the interview stage. The Specialist Question will be awarded extra credit as part of the initial assessment of your application. If you have any questions or wish to discuss the role or the process further please ; candidateenquiries@capitaras.co.uk Current FCO staff members are advised this is an external campaign and, as such, you will be required to go through the same process as all other candidates. 6

7 Terms & Conditions Salary The salary band for this role at C5 is 33,428 to 41,258 per annum, depending on skills, and experience. This sum will be consolidated and pensionable. The successful candidate may be eligible for annual pay awards, based on performance in the previous year, subject to guidance issued annually by HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. In addition, if the successful candidate is based in London, they will qualify for a nonpensionable non consolidated allowance of 4,520 per annum. Terms of Appointment This is a temporary position, initially covering 1 year Maternity Leave, with the possibility of an extension after that period, by mutual agreement. It is graded at FCO Pay band C5. This role is in the Home Service of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). The successful candidate will be on probation for a period of 2 months. If they complete this period of probation successfully, their appointment will be confirmed. If they do not meet the standard required for confirmation of their appointment, the appointment may be terminated. Former members of the Home Service/Diplomatic Service who are re-instated or re-employed as substantive civil servants after a period of five years or more will be required to serve another period of probation. You will also be required to serve a period of probation if you are reemployed at a band higher than that at which you left the FCO. Hours You will normally work a 5-day week of 42 hours including meal breaks. Pension If you are transferring from another employer who offers the Civil Service pension arrangements, you will continue to be covered by those arrangements for the duration of this appointment. Appointees may choose to join the alpha or Partnership schemes offered by the Civil Service Pension Scheme: If you join alpha, an occupational pension scheme which provides a defined benefit worked out on a Career Average basis, details of the contributions you will pay are shown below. Employer pension contributions cover the rest of the cost of the scheme. 7

8 alpha contribution rates from 1 April 2015 Pay range Contribution rate Up to 21,000pa 4.6% 21,001 47, % 47, , % Over 150, % Partnership is a stakeholder pension. Members do not have to make contributions. We pay a contribution, as employers, related to a member s age. If a member does make a contribution, we make an additional contribution to match it (up to a ceiling of 3% of annual earnings). Further details of pension options will be provided on appointment. Appointees who are already members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme may have the option to remain within their existing scheme. For further information please see Leave The paid leave allowance for this post will be pro-rated against an annual allowance of 25 days (5 weeks) rising to a maximum of 30 days leave after 5 years of service. You will also receive 9 days public and privilege holidays per year. Existing Civil Servants For existing Civil Servants the usual FCO rules on starting pay on level transfer or progression/promotion will apply. On level transfer your current salary, excluding any allowances, will be transferred to FCO payroll. However, any salary above the maximum of the grade pay range will be capped at the maximum. Progression applies if you are being promoted from AA to AO, HEO to SEO or Grade7 to Grade 6. This attracts a 7.5% increase in current salary or the higher grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Promotion applies if you are being promoted from AA/AO to EO, from EO to HEO/SEO or from HEO/SEO to Grade7/6. This attracts a 10% increase in current salary or the higher grade minimum, whichever is the greater. If on progression or promotion the resulting salary is greater than the maximum of the grade pay range this will be capped at the maximum. Future pay awards will be performance related, linked to the annual appraisal process and may also include a non-consolidated Performance Related Payment (PRP) dependant on the level of performance. Nationality and Residency You will be eligible for appointment only if: 1. You are a British citizen; and 8

9 2. You have been resident in the UK for at least two of the previous ten years, at least one year of which must have been a consecutive twelve-month period, unless you have served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty s Government, or have lived overseas as a result of your parent s or partner s Government employment. Furthermore, to enable the appropriate security checks to be carried out, you must have resided for at least three consecutive years in one country. You should be aware that a lack of sufficient background information may preclude you from being granted security clearance. Security Clearance and Other Checks This job requires security clearance (SC) and is a condition of employment. If you are successful at interview, you will be asked to complete a number of security questionnaires. Employment references will also be obtained. There will be checks on your nationality, health and other matters, before a formal offer of appointment can be made. Conflict of Interest If you or your spouse has any business interest or conflict of interest with the activities of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or UK Trade and Investment, you will be expected to declare this at a later stage. You will also be asked to inform us of any indirect conflict in interest you may have through any other family member or partnerships. Confidentiality You will be subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. Equal Opportunity The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to equal opportunities. Our officers are recruited on merit through fair and open competition. We seek our strength through diversity and appoint suitably qualified individuals regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, social backgrounds, age or disability. To help us ensure that our recruitment activity reflects the diversity of British society, we should be grateful if you could complete the equal opportunities section of the application form. However, you are under no obligation to provide these details. The Recruitment Section of the FCO, those administering testing processes and the interview panel will not have access to the information you provide at any point during the recruitment process, nor will it be used as a selection tool. Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Disabled Persons The FCO is an accredited user of the government's "two ticks" disability symbol, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria in the person specification at the short listing stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the Disability Symbol commitment, you should attach a statement to this effect to your application. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability. 9

10 Data Protection The FCO takes its obligations under the Data Protection Act seriously. Any data about you will be held in secure conditions with access restricted to those who need it in connection with dealing with your application and the selection process. Data may also be used for the purposes of monitoring the effectiveness of the recruitment process, but in these circumstances, all data will be kept anonymous. The ethnic monitoring form is used for monitoring the selection process only. If you do not wish to have these details recorded please return the form uncompleted. If you are unsuccessful, your personal data relating to your application will be destroyed after 12 months. If you are successful, data will be passed to the FCO personnel team. Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles The FCO s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles which can be found at If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance, contact HR Recruitment, Corporate Services Centre, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, PO Box 6108, Milton Keynes, MK10 1PX. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCO you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners. The Civil Service Code Information about Civil Service values can be found in the Civil Service Code. 10

11 General Benefits for all staff Benefits for staff Pay in the Delegated Grades Bands A to D pay is competitive within the Civil Service. Unlike many Whitehall Departments the FCO has one unified pay scale for its entire staff, whether you work in London, Hanslope Park or overseas. In-Year Performance Awards Scheme Staff in the Delegated Grades are eligible to receive a bonus as an individual or as a member of a team. Awards under the scheme vary from 100-2,000. Special Paid Leave This may be granted when getting married, for paternity, or for compassionate reasons and in some circumstances, for study and exams. Career Breaks and Special Unpaid Leave Subject to operational requirements, these may be granted for a variety of circumstances such as voluntary work, study, nursing a relative etc. Time off in Lieu (TOIL) and Official Travel Time These can be taken if you work in excess of your conditioned hours, with prior agreement of your line manger. Learning and Development The FCO is an organisation which recognises that workplace learning is vital to success and needs to be accessible to all. We strive to create the right environment to empower staff to take responsibility for their own learning and developing both personally and professionally. You will have access to formal and informal learning opportunities to help you develop the right skills, competences and knowledge at the right time. The Diplomatic Academy provides a first class learning facility, ensuring that all staff have the knowledge and expertise needed to represent the UK and pursue the national interest. Free Annual Eye Test These are available up to 25. There may also be a contribution of up to 100 for frames/prescriptions. Flexible Benefits Staff discounts and savings (including cash back options) are available at retailers such as Sainsbury s, Marks & Spencer etc. Give as You Earn You can make a donation to charities that are tax/ni free through Payroll. This is particularly attractive to higher tax earners as this cannot be done through direct donations. Employee Assistance Programme This provides a 24/7 confidential counselling service on such matters such as financial problems, childcare, social security benefits, elder residential care etc. 11

12 Pre-Retirement Help This is through PROSPER who offer free outplacement advice, training for job hunting and career counselling services, both in-house and with specialised agencies. Also on offer is free financial planning and pre-retirement courses. Benefits for staff in the UK Interest Free Loans These can be for a season travel ticket or bicycle purchase to travel to work. Childcare Support This is through onsite subsidised nurseries in London and Hanslope Park. Childcare vouchers are available but higher rate tax payers who join the scheme will be able to receive 124 a month tax and NI exempt and those paying the additional rate of tax will have the tax and NI exempt amount restricted to 97 a month. Cycle to Work A salary sacrifice scheme whereby employers provide cycles and safety equipment to employees as a tax and National Insurance free benefit Restaurant and Gym Gym facilities are available in London and Hanslope Park with a monthly subscription. 12