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External Communications Manager


Scottish Government


Location

Dundee | United Kingdom


Job description

 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the busy, friendly and creative Strategic Communications and Marketing team at Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government.

Social Security Scotland is a new public service that has been created by the Scottish Government to deliver a number of benefits. The Scottish Government Social Security Programme is developing the way in which these benefits will be delivered, including the creation of the processes and systems – with input from Social Security Scotland who will administer the delivery once each benefit goes live.

The Social Security Scotland Communications and Marketing team is responsible for strategic communications advice, planning and delivery of communications activity to raise awareness of Social Security Scotland benefits administered by Social Security Scotland to drive benefit take-up.

The successful applicant will play a creative and entrepreneurial role acting as an account manager and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to make sure that outputs and partnership activity are effective, clear and reach people in creative and engaging ways. This person will be responsible for implementing strategic communications, marketing and engagement plans for a range of accounts working across a number of benefit workstreams. This will include supporting the delivery of creative outputs across a range online and offline channels, including digital, media, marketing and partnership activity as well as collaborating with Creative and Media Buying Agencies to develop multimedia marketing campaigns.

The Scottish Government is committed to building a social security system with people – not for them. And as such, the External Communications team will be expected to consult with relevant stakeholders to get input and feedback on communication and marketing approach and all materials. This will include building relationships and partnerships with stakeholders to help us reach people with our messaging in creative and engaging ways.

This team plays an active role in media management on benefit specific issues. This will include proactive PR and also responding to any reactive media enquiries. They will be part of an on call media rota.

The External Communications Manager will contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the teams outputs and will use this analysis to influence work plans.

What do we offer you?

• Access to our flexible working system with potential to accrue up to four additional days’ leave in a four-week period.
• Minimum five weeks’ annual leave (pro rata) in addition to 11.5 public and privilege holidays.
• Full and comprehensive training, and access to learning and development opportunities to support your personal and professional growth.
• Career progression – join a developing organisation with excellent opportunities for career advancement.
• Attractive Civil Service pension (employer contributions between 26.6% - 27.9%).
• Workplace adjustments for everyone who needs them to ensure your comfort and safety in your new role.
• Health and wellbeing support including 24-hour access to our Employee Assistance Programme, plus counselling support available for all.

Hybrid Working

We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location however role specific attendance will be discussed and agreed with successful candidates. Your base location will be Dundee or Glasgow.

Pay Supplement
This post attracts a £2,000 post-specific recruitment and retention Pay Supplement, rising to £3,750 after 12 months satisfactory service. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review.

About Us   

Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government .  Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve .  

• Source, write, edit and manage high quality content for a range of Social Security Scotland channels – including media releases, website articles, social media content, client literature (e.g. factsheets, leaflets, posters) and marketing materials (25%)

• Supporting creation and implementation of coordinated strategic communication, marketing and engagement plans using insight and analysis to develop and deliver creative communications plans, advising on the best messages, methods and channels to reach and influence audiences both internally and externally (25%)

• Supporting proactive media and PR activity, such as writing press releases, securing feature articles and editorial partnerships, and supporting Ministerial visits including media interview bids and managing reactive enquiries (including on call responsibility) (15%)

• Supporting briefing and delivery of creative development and paid-for media buying schedules to support campaign activity (15%)
• Managing the regular review of communication and marketing materials to make sure that these are up to date, accurate and that we are continually improving. (10%)
• Provide credible and authoritative communications advice and support to colleagues, including senior leaders. (5%)
• Work flexibly with colleagues across the communication team to deliver an integrated external and internal communications model across multiple platforms and channels (5%)

No specific qualifications are required for this post .

How to apply 

To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process .

 

In your application form, we will ask you to provide specific examples of how you meet the Essential Criteria below. You will have 300 words for each to showcase your knowledge, skills, and personal qualities. Your experience and answers here don’t need to be work related. They could be from any part of your life including education, sport, and hobbies or even from your personal or family life. Further information on what makes a good application can be found here . 

1. Experience of working in communications, with good creative skills in using a range of communications channels, including media, marketing, digital and partnerships, to tailor content for target audiences.
2. First-class writing and editing skills, a good news sense, the ability to prioritise under pressure, and to turn around clean, crisp copy in plain English to tight deadlines.
3. Ability to deliver across marketing campaigns and digital channels, using a programme of continuous improvement and learning.
4. Excellent organisation skills and ability to coordinate communications activity being delivered across multiple teams.

If we receive a large number of applications, we may complete an initial sift on the first essential criteria .  

 

 

Interview/Assessment Information 

Here are details of the Competencies required for this role which you will be tested against if you are invited to attend the interview/assessment:   

Skills for Success Competencies
• People Management
• Communications and Engagement
• Improving Performance
• Analysis and Use of Evidence

Specialist Communications Competencies
• Insight
• Ideas
• Implementation
• Impact

 

The Specialist Communications Competencies will be assessed using the Scottish Government Communications Competency Framework -  Reserve List 

In the event that further posts are required , a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.

Recruitment Contact

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Gail Wilson, by email at [email protected].

Further Information 

The post is a full-time role, however staff with different working patterns are invited to apply . We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.  

The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion.

 

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]

Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition -

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at [email protected] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.   

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via r [email protected]

If you are interested in us contacting you about further available vacancies, please sign up to our mailing list to receive job alerts.  


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