Content Strategist

This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the most creative and dynamic teams in government communications.
We’re looking for a confident, creative self-starter to work in our digital communications team. The Home Office is one of UK Government’s busiest departments, dealing with some of the most critical and sensitive policy areas. The team designs and delivers integrated digital communications to support high-profile Home Office announcements, campaigns and policies.
We are changing the way we communicate with our audiences and the successful candidate will have a key role to play in our forward-thinking approach.
Important information
Due to the nature of the role it is only available on a full-time basis. Compressed hours and job share are available.
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 employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details)., As a digital strategist, you will:
• Be responsible for making sure our social media channels are at the forefront of informing the public of government policy.
• Take a leading role in the planning and delivery of digital content in a policy area.
• Be responsible for briefing and liaising with colleagues throughout the Home Office to achieve this in a timely manner to the highest standards.
• Work closely with creative colleagues to produce first-rate, innovative, high-impact digital products.
• Take a leading role in identifying engaging content opportunities and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Use analytics and insight to inform decision-making and drive constant improvement, within the digital team and beyond.
• Assist the channels team in preparing content for posting, and posting to our digital channels.
This role may attract an annual Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,300 once the candidate is in post, which is subject to approval from the business. This allowance is subject to review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Communicating and Influencing, However, if a large number of applications are received, the sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability (personal statement). The statement of suitability will be scored first for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the statement of suitability, will progress to a further sift where the lead behaviour (Communicating and Influencing) will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be behaviour- based questions on all those listed.
Sift and interview dates
Sift is expected to take place from 13th September 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place from week commencing 23rd September 2024.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Further information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks.
The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements.
Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates document.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.
If you are successful in this position and choose to accept the provisional offer for this role, you will be removed from all other Home Office reserve lists at the same grade.
Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office 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
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
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 (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).

We are looking for a first-rate digital communicator. You will be able to distil complex issues into compelling digital content across various platforms. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment where you will be dealing with some of the most critical policy issues facing the UK. You will have experience delivering short- and long-term content plans, and be brimming with creative ideas. You will have a deep understanding of social media metrics and how they can be used to guide decision-making and improve performance.
Essential skills
• Deep awareness of current affairs and political issues, particularly those affecting the Home Office.
• Ability to process and distil complex information into key messages that resonate with audiences.
• Deep understanding of social media audiences and the digital landscape across different channels.
• Ability to analyse, report and act on critical social media performance metrics.
• First-class, error-free writing skills with attention to detail.
• Proactive approach to content planning and execution.
• Demonstrated ability to build upon existing relationships and seek out new opportunities.
• Passion for and knowledge of high-quality digital content, social media channel management and analytics.
• Awareness of, and experience in using, analytics tools to inform products and plans.
• Awareness of emerging trends in content and platform.
• Ability to work effectively and make decisions in a fast-paced organisation, managing multiple projects.
• Ability to quickly form relationships of trust with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Desirable skills
• Ability to capture and edit photography and videography.

+ 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 average employer contribution of 28.97%