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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £35,335 - £37,847, London salary range is £40,014 - £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
15-Sep-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9304

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Press and Communications Officer 

Grade -  IO  

Location: National  

Number of roles: 1 

Job description  

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to work on issues that really matter and have a big social impact?  

We are looking for a highly skilled and passionate press professional to work in our central award-winning Ministry of Justice team. You will be responsible for generating creative, high impact media coverage to help recruit prison officers, probation officers and magistrates.  

This role sits in the Retention Communications (RRC) team – part of the Ministry of Justice’s award-winning communications team. We are responsible for delivering high impact recruitment communications that ensure the Ministry of Justice has the people it needs to deliver its priorities of swift access to justice, protecting the public and reducing reoffending. This includes attracting several thousand new prison and probation staff each year and 2,000 magistrates.  

You will join an ambitious, exciting team working to raise public understanding of the vital roles prison and probation officers, magistrates, and others play across the justice system. Your objectives will include placing myth busting creative national and regional press and wider communications to increase awareness and consideration of justice roles through positive media coverage.  

Working as part of an established team of central and regional communications experts, you will achieve these objectives by building close relationships with key frontline partners as well as local, national and online media outlets so you can place compelling stories that inform the public about the roles available. This will also include feature articles and broadcast packages in consumer and national media outlets. Previously the team has placed pieces with national media outlets such as the Sun, BBC Newsbeat and the One Show. 

Your press coverage will not only be used externally to raise awareness of justice roles but will also be vital to help raise staff pride, showing them their excellent work reflected in the media. This role would be ideal for someone with a background in Press/PR/journalism and media.  

You would also work closely with the central Ministry of Justice Press Office and the central recruitment marketing team, who lead on encouraging greater consideration of our roles as well as the identification and targeting of potential candidates.  

You will ensure all of your work is executed to brilliant standards, within an existing culture of continuous improvement and innovation, and evaluating performance on an ongoing basis. You will also be expected to develop strong networks.   

Person specification  

The role has several key requirements including:  

Expertise and experience in delivering innovative creative external press/PR and communications.  

You will think creatively to challenge the often-negative narrative about work in the justice sector. We want to do this by telling stories at a regional and local level about the great work staff do. You will be able to think innovatively and are not afraid to try out new approaches.  

Good judgement, able to spot and mitigate risks. 

You will have good judgement, which will enable you to identify potential reputational risks in the work you propose and seek appropriate sign-off and ensure mitigations are in place.  

Using insight and evaluating the impact of your work. 

You will use relevant information and audience insight to develop your plans and will use evaluation methods to measure the effectiveness and impact of your work.    

Effective teamwork and collaboration.  

You are expected to build effective working and collaborative relationships internally and externally. You will be able to use these relationships to unblock issues, manage risks, and deliver more effective communications. You will be working closely alongside internal communications colleagues and other external PR colleagues and are expected to work closely with them to ensure you join up seamlessly and share knowledge. 

Proactive, self-motivated and solution focussed.  

You will be expected to be proactive and drive forward your own work at pace. You will also find positive and creative solutions to overcome issues that arise when working with real people on the frontline, for example when access to case studies can be limited. 

Resilient and flexible 

You will be resilient and flexible and able to overcome challenges that crop up in your work and to help to find solutions to unblock and resolve issues.  

Public sector prisons are located across England and Wales and the role is likely to involve some travel to key sites to meet regionally located leaders and visit priority prisons, such as Berwyn (Europe's largest prison) and prisons in the Midlands and East of England for example.  

Application process 

We will be using success profiles to assess your communication and delivery abilities.  

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and provide examples of Civil Service behaviours (PDF) and technical behaviours based on the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework (PDF). 

Civil Service Behaviours 

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: 

 

Communicating and Influencing  

Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others. 

Delivering at Pace  

Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.  

Changing and improving  

Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback. 

Candidates that pass the application sift stage will be invited to have an interview. They will be expected to undertake a short-written task during the interview and will have an opportunity to present on the task. Candidates will be given more information about this ahead of time.  

At the interview, we will be assessing you again on the Civil Service behaviours outlined above, and also against the four GCS core technical behaviours outlined in the Government Communication Professional Competency Framework.  

These include:  

  • Insight - Consider any relevant audience research/insight when developing communications plans and campaigns. 
  • Ideas – Initiate and lead the development of proactive communications. Work constructively with other communications, policy colleagues and partners to gain expert advice and opinions. 
  • Implementation – Deliver communications plans in an efficient and timely manner to deadlines 
  • Impact – Analyse and evaluate communications to assess the effectiveness and inform future activity. 

If you have any queries about the role, or wish to discuss, please contact Simon.Mundell@justice.gov.uk  

Candidates that pass the application sift stage will be invited to have an interview. They will be expected to give a short presentation at the interview and will be given more information about this ahead of time.  

Selection process details 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and 1,000-word personal statement.  
 
Your personal statement should demonstrate your suitability and will highlight the reason you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate for the role requirements. In your statement you should also make particular reference to the Civil Service behaviours set out above. 

 

Please note that feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. 

Security clearance and residency  

If you are successful at interview, we will work with you to acquire SC security clearance. This is a straightforward process for most people but does, generally, require you to have been resident in the UK for at least the last five years. 


Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 9304

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 9304

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Your personal statement should demonstrate your suitability and will highlight the reason you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate for the role requirements. In your statement you should also make particular reference to the Civil Service behaviours set out in the job description.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Changing and Improving
Technical
Insight - Consider any relevant audience research/insight when developing communications plans and campaigns.
Ideas – Initiate and lead the development of proactive communications. Work constructively with other communications, policy colleagues and partners to gain expert advice and opinions.
Implementation – Deliver communications plans in an efficient and timely manner to deadlines
Impact – Analyse and evaluate communications to assess the effectiveness and inform future activity.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Written Exercise
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)