East Kilbride, London

Job Summary

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office pursues our national interests and projects the UK’s role in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. We employ more than 17,000 staff in 179 countries and territories, across our diplomatic and development offices worldwide, which consists of 282 officially designated Posts. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street, London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.

The UK is at the heart of an unrivalled global network of economic, diplomatic and security partnerships and the FCDO’s Communication Directorate tells the stories that demonstrate the positive impact these relationships have for British businesses and British people.

Communication is at the heart of the FCDO’s work. Through communication, we explain and help deliver our foreign policy and corporate objectives, by changing the attitudes and behaviours of

international and domestic target audiences.

The Communication Directorate provides end-to-end, integrated and multi-platform communication across the FCDO network.

Job Description

We are recruiting to fill a number of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) vacancies across our Communication Team.

The team provides strategic communication, campaigns, media and digital activity in support of regional priorities.

Each role will either work to a specific geographic region (such as Europe, China, Indo-Pacific and the Americas) or be focused on media engagement for the department. All roles are based within the wider Communication Directorate.

You will work effectively with policy officials, overseas FCDO network, Ministers’ private offices and special advisers to deliver high quality and timely communications.

Activity across the roles will include developing and delivering strategic communication plans for the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers, as well as media relations activity with both UK and international media.

You may also be crafting the UK’s response to some of the highest-profile global news events, including responding to breaking news stories.

You will report to a Senior Communication Officer and will be required to deputise where needed in their absence.

These roles are part of the Government Communications Service profession, and you can become a member on appointment.

Roles And Responsibilities

The list below is not exhaustive and gives an indication of what roles typically include:

Developing and delivering strategic communication plans or media handling for the Foreign Secretary and other ministers, as well as media relations activity with both UK and international media.
Crafting the UK’s response to some of the highest-profile global news events, including responding to breaking news stories on your region.
Delivering longer term strategic communications in support of HMG’s international priorities.
You will be expected to participate during a crisis to support the government’s response to an international emergency or major event. This is hugely rewarding work, dealing at the heart of global events which impact on us all. This will involve out of hours and weekend work.
There is an opportunity to join the directorate’s out of hours duty rota to manage media handling during evenings and weekends.
Occasional travel to UK offices will be required. There may also be the opportunity to travel overseas, however, this would be dependent on the role that you are placed in.

We are recruiting to fill a number of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) vacancies across our Communication Team.

The team provides strategic communication, campaigns, media and digital activity in support of regional priorities.

Each role will either work to a specific geographic region (such as Europe, China, Indo-Pacific and the Americas) or be focused on media engagement for the department. All roles are based within the wider Communication Directorate.

You will work effectively with policy officials, overseas FCDO network, Ministers’ private offices and special advisers to deliver high quality and timely communications.

Activity across the roles will include developing and delivering strategic communication plans for the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers, as well as media relations activity with both UK and international media.

You may also be crafting the UK’s response to some of the highest-profile global news events, including responding to breaking news stories.

You will report to a Senior Communication Officer and will be required to deputise where needed in their absence.

These roles are part of the Government Communications Service profession, and you can become a member on appointment.

Roles And Responsibilities

The list below is not exhaustive and gives an indication of what roles typically include:

Developing and delivering strategic communication plans or media handling for the Foreign Secretary and other ministers, as well as media relations activity with both UK and international media.
Crafting the UK’s response to some of the highest-profile global news events, including responding to breaking news stories on your region.
Delivering longer term strategic communications in support of HMG’s international priorities.
You will be expected to participate during a crisis to support the government’s response to an international emergency or major event. This is hugely rewarding work, dealing at the heart of global events which impact on us all. This will involve out of hours and weekend work.
There is an opportunity to join the directorate’s out of hours duty rota to manage media handling during evenings and weekends.
Occasional travel to UK offices will be required. There may also be the opportunity to travel overseas, however, this would be dependent on the role that you are placed in.

Person specification

You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and if invited to interview, you will need to bring proof of identity (British Passport/Driving Licence etc.) with you.

This role requires you to attain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.

For more information about this process, click here. Attaining DV will require you to have been resident in the UK for five of the last ten years. At least one year of this must have been a consecutive twelve-month period.

Serving overseas with HM Forces, in some other official capacity as a representative of His Majesty’s Government, or having lived overseas as a result of your parents’ or partner’s Government employment, counts as UK residency for the purposes of security clearances.

It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria and Behaviours 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

Communication experience, for example reactive media work or proactive communications strategies.
Ability to communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
Experience of providing clear and sound communications handling advice.
Experience of working on communication plans.
A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement of self and service, with an appetite to work with others to simplify processes and improve efficiency.

Behaviours

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

Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Working Together

Technical skills

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

40-minute Written Exercise at the interview.
Motivation question at the interview.

Alongside your salary of £37,200, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £10,776 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

A Civil Service Pension.
25 days Annual Leave per annum.
9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached candidate pack.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Please see the attached candidate pack for the selection process details.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test and a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 20/01/2025. If you fail to complete the online test and full appplication before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 fcdorecruitment.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.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to FCDO 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

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.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. If there is any evidence of plagiarism, including presenting the ideas and experience of others as your own, your application will be withdrawn.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

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 developed vetting (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.

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

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).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

Name : FCDO Recruitment Team
Email : fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : fcdorecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The FCDO’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.

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 External.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office jobs

Communication Officers – Various Roles