Job title

Information Officer – Internal Communications Manager

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (Band D)

Job reference

IRC64161

Business area

DWP

Location

North East – Newcastle

Hours

37 hours per week Mon – Fri (Flexible)

Salary

£28,740 - £33,860 a year

Closing date

27/11/2009

Term of contract

Permanent

Description

Applicants successful at sift stage will be invited to a Government Communications Network (GCN) Assessment Centre. For more information about GCN go to www.comms.gov.uk

We are looking to recruit an Intranet Manager to manage the delivery of a wide range of projects for the Department's Intranet. These projects can range from Multi-media projects, to bringing in new functionality using a variety of technologies.

You will work closely with DWP colleagues both within Internal Communications and throughout the network of Intranet publishers and users, to advise them on how the Intranet can work for them and their area of work, and to ensure that the Intranet Strategy aims and goals are met.

We're looking for Communication Managers with a relevant degree, or relevant experience of delivering a wide range of online products. You'll need to have strong web management skills to ensure that the Department succeeds in its drive for the World Class Intranet our customers deserve.

A solid working knowledge of current best practice issues, such as accessibility and usability is essential as you will be responsible for ensuring that our staff and customers are aware of the impacts of both the DWP Intranet and ILS Design Standards.

We work in a fast-paced, challenging and fun environment - with plenty of scope for your thoughts and ideas. In return for your talent and commitment, we'll invest extensively in your own career development. As one of the largest communications teams in government, we offer unrivalled opportunities to realise your ambitions - whether up the leadership ladder or across the full range of communications disciplines.

Main objectives:

• Policing the quality of the Intranet and advising customers when they have broken standards and providing consultancy on the best way to overcome these breaches.
• Enforcing the aesthetic quality of ILS Products and ensuring they adhere to the current standards.
• Work in partnership with Communications Directorate colleagues and stakeholders to produce creative and engaging Intranet Solutions that meet business needs and accessibility standards
• Customer requirements gathering to make sure we deliver the functionality our customers really need.
• Mentoring and guiding your Communication colleagues on the many changes experienced in a dynamic web environment.
• Ensuring the Departments goal of a consistent and user focused Intranet is considered in all your teams products.
• Updating and reviewing the Intranet Standards and make sure that Staff and customers are aware of changes.

Key tasks:

Activity - Work with other e-Comms areas to deliver Multi-Media solutions to the DWP business areas
Output - Tailored re-usable solutions that enable communications to be better delivered via the Intranet.

Activity- Provision of Creative solutions/consultancy to Intranet Communications discussions.
Output - Achieve a consistent look and feel and produce the optimal usability in all Intranet products.

Activity - Development of Intranet functionality in response to DWP needs and the needs of the Intranet Strategy
Output - High quality web experiences produced that facilitate our customers- e-communication needs.
Activity - Mentoring and education of contributors and your staff on the impacts of the DWP Standards.
Output - Self-reliant customers who can successfully maintain their own sites.

Activity - Continuous research into identifying emerging e-communications technologies and processes for the Department to achieve greater effectiveness and provide better e-communications
Output - A more efficient and forward-looking Intranet is achieved

Activity - Provision of consultancy based on specialist knowledge of web applications/design when required. This information will be targeted at the correct level required.
Output - Provision of specialist advice to ensure our customers and management are correctly informed.

Essential skills:

GCN Core Skills at Essential Level

• Core skills for Government communicators

• Solid Intranet/Internet management experience, ideally in a large organisation or government department
• Proven strong web design and usability skills.
• Possess a good understanding of the elements of effective online graphic design and publishing techniques, and of branding.
• A good understanding of how web developments can aid communications delivery.
• A strong understanding of how web standards inform and mould the delivery of websites and the benefits they deliver.
• Knowledge of wider industry and e-communications online standards, techniques and best practices.
• The ability to explain technical requirements and restrictions to non-technical staff and management.
• Very effective customer services skills and an ability to communicate to all levels.

Desired

• Experience with a variety of Multimedia packages such as Adobe Flash.
• A good understanding of DWP business and its logistics.
• Requirements Gathering experience.
• Knowledge of Information Architecture specific to online content.
• Knowledge of editorial processes and standards, and its importance to online content.
• Experience of Web Content Management Systems.
• Experience of working in internal communications in a large organisation or government department.

How to apply

Notes on how to apply:

To apply for this position please send:

• A full CV with your education and professional qualifications, full employment history, nationality and contact details for two referees.
• A covering letter, of no more than two sides of A4 in 12pt font, summarising your suitability for the role - including examples which illustrate your relevant experience and skills

Also include

• the job title or reference
• an address, email address and telephone number for communications and
• whether you are applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme
• Nationality

For more information contact Ian Urwin on 0191 216 8540.

Closing date 18 November 2009

Applications should be emailed to comms.vacancies@dwp.gsi.gov.uk including the vacancy reference number in the email title.

Flexible starting pay may be available within the published bandwidth depending on qualifications and previous experience.   

Please include reference IRC64161 and your name in the subject box. We cannot accept applications without the job reference number in the subject line of the email.

This email address is for application forms only, we will not reply to any other correspondence sent to this email address.