Department for Education
Deputy Director for Media and Content
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Summary
The Department for Education is at the centre of the government's aim to improve life chances for children and young people in England. We want everyone to have a clear pathway to success, regardless of their background.
We are looking for an exceptional communications leader to become our Deputy Director for Media and Content to lead this work. This is an important and truly high-profile role, reflecting our shift towards audience-led, content-driven storytelling at scale.
This is one of the most influential communications roles in government. Working as a trusted professional briefing and presenting to ministers, special advisers and the department's senior leadership team, you will shape the way parents, children, teachers and our valued partners as well as the public hear about – and act upon – the government’s vision for education.
Job Description
As Deputy Director, you will be directly accountable for:
- Press Office and Media Relations, leading the department's 24/7 media operation, overseeing strategic media engagement, proactive communications and issues management. You will maintain strong relationships with journalists and broadcasters nationally and regionally and – on occasions – internationally.
- Leading the department's content and channel strategy, ensuring our work is based on evidence and puts our audiences first. This includes making the most of every opportunity to develop our own channels, to work with partners to use their channels and to make sure our stories are seen and shared because they're relevant and compelling.
- Leading creative content production across video, photography, graphic design and emerging formats, ensuring our content is suitable for partner and targeted public audiences and channels.
- Working with our strategic and marketing leads to develop integrated communications campaigns that combine all appropriate channels to demonstrate the impact of our ongoing education reforms through authentic stories, trusted voices and real-life experience.
- Providing advice and delivery plans to ministers, colleagues and advisers which demonstrate exceptional grip, understanding and navigation of complex issues, sustaining trust in the work of the department and mobilising our partners and audiences to improve future prospects of children and young people.
- Transforming and innovating the way the communications profession works, contributing as a senior leader to the work of Government Communications and the Future Civil Service programme and to the work of the Department for Education.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The Outcomes You Will Deliver
- High levels of confidence in all our audiences in the work of the department.
- A movement for change driven by your communication abilities that brings pupils, students, parents, teachers, lecturers and everyone involved in education together to deliver the brightest future prospects for our communities and our country.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
In your application you should demonstrate the following:
- Excellent leadership, with a proven track record transforming multidisciplinary communications functions in a complex and high-profile environment.
- Media expertise, with significant experience leading media engagement and managing high-profile and challenging issues as well as communications risks.
- A deep understanding of digital and content-driven storytelling, which not only reaches and engages target audiences, but also helps to deliver organisational objectives.
- The ability to convene and influence senior leaders and partners, demonstrating outstanding judgement and the ability to provide effective advice and constructive challenge to those in positions of authority.
- Sound leadership and people management skills, with a strong track record of building high-performing and inclusive teams in which communications professionals can broaden their skills across many disciplines.
- The ability to identify narrative trends and to think ahead, giving our teams the best chance to create joined-up communications at precisely the right moment.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £92,000, Department for Education contributes £26,652 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Application
To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Wednesday 28 October.
To Apply For This Role You Should Provide:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. A maximum of two pages, please.
- A Statement of Suitability which incorporates the essential criteria on the previous slide and which addresses two points:
- why you want to tell the DfE story
- why you would be the best person to join our team. (Up to 250 words on each point and no more than 500 words in total).
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel has limited information on which to assess your application.
Selection Process
Shortlisted Candidates Will Be Required To:
- Complete online numerical and verbal reasoning assessments.
- Complete a staff engagement exercise which will take place on week commencing 16 November.
- Take part in a formal in-person interview in Sanctuary Buildings, London, SW1P 3BT on week commencing 30 November, which will include:
- A short presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).
- Interview questions based on the essential criteria to further assess your experience.
- This process may also include a subsequent date for a conversation with ministerial and/or senior colleagues.
- As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.
Please note that, at the interview stage, we may ask whether you have any conflicts of interest to declare.
The successful candidate will be subject to a social media check and Due Diligence prior to appointment.
The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview or assessment unless otherwise stated.
Contact Point for Applicants
Job Contact :
Name : SCS Recruitment Team
Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk
Further information
The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location