Vacancy -- Senior Digital Communications Officer

Based in the International Relations Division you will be a core part of the Welsh Government Communications Service.

We live in an era defined by the unprecedented integration of data and technology into all aspects of our lives. Every day we are presented with new opportunities to connect with new audiences in new ways. This role will build on those opportunities and you will develop innovative digital communications and marketing strategies to support the government’s international engagement agenda.

Working collaboratively with policy colleagues, our overseas offices, press officers and colleagues across our communications teams as well as colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Trade and Industry and other UK umbrella organisations, you will be part of a virtual team. You will engage our audiences via digital channels and through innovative communications that inform the Welsh Government’s wider agenda.

The ability to grow strong and constructive working relationships with key external influencers and experts is vital. You will develop intergovernmental relationships, maintaining links with other countries through Welsh Government offices, British Government posts (Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates), international organisations and Welsh societies overseas

You will provide digital advice and support to Ministers and senior officials and build excellent working relationships with stakeholders. Through monitoring and evaluating your work, you will ensure objectives are being met.

Effective planning across our communications channels is a key part of the job. The ability to deliver positive coverage, demonstrate creativity and create engaging digital content will be essential to the role.  

Responding swiftly and accurately to breaking news, you will have effective horizon scanning systems in place to spot problems before they arise. You will also be responsible for digital communications and planning proactive online activity around calendar events (such as St David’s Day).

Dealing with an array of issues, frequently working with movable timeframes which on occasion may require a quick turnaround and an ability to deal with differing expectations form stakeholders.

• Work closely with Ministers, senior policy officials and Ministerial Communications teams to design digital media and communications strategies to support current and future priorities;
• Develop and deliver proactive and imaginative digital campaigns using a range of channels, based on audience research and social media audits;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Welsh Government’s Digital Media Unit including on compliance, forward planning, co-ordinated approaches and reactive strategies;
• Maintain a focus on reaching audiences beyond Wales including developing communication plans to support the timetable of Ministerial overseas visits;
• Generate high quality, audience-focused content in line with content standards including maximising opportunities for video based material and online events;
• Build good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, establish close links with key digital platforms and identify and update a social stakeholder list
• Use a full range of insight and evaluation tools to target communications and assess their impact, using the information to continuously improve;
• Contribute to the development of media standards, adhering to high professional and ethical standards more generally, including good writing skills, proof reading and use and presentation of data;
• Commit to continual professional development and keep abreast of developments in the communications landscape, in particular how best to incorporate digital and social media into integrated communications plans and share learning with colleagues;
• Work with communications colleagues in other disciplines to deliver cross-cutting strategic communications activity and develop wider knowledge of all communications activity.

This is a demanding, rewarding role in a key communication area. The post offers the opportunity to develop skills in the areas of press and media and wider communication disciplines.

29/04/2019, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.