Job title

Senior Information Officer – PR Manager

Grade

E/SEO London Inner

Job reference

IRC64165

Business area

DWP

Location

London

Hours

36 per week Mon-Fri (Flexible)

Salary

 £39,290–£49,000 a year

Closing date

18/11/2009

Term of contract

Permanent

Description

Directgov is the government website for public services in the UK. Launched in 2004, the site now receives millions of visits a month from members of the public wanting access to information from low cost home ownership schemes and finding their local school, to renewing their car tax online. In January 2008, the number of visits rose to over 7million.

By 2011, all public facing services on central government websites should be available on the Directgov website; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A 'web convergence' programme is currently under way to migrate information and services from the large number of existing government websites onto Directgov, so that people will be able to find what they need easily, all in one place. Directgov is also available through digital TV's interactive services on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky, as well as web-enabled mobile phone networks.

The Public Relations Manager will manage the reputation of Directgov in the online and offline media and manage Directgov's Public Relations activity. The aim of the Public Relations activity is to make Directgov famous and increase the popularity of the website among citizens.

The Public Relations Manager must manage relationships with media to positively raise Directgov's profile and liaise with senior executives at Directgov as well as Public Relations teams across government to effectively communicate with external stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

Defining and implementing the Public Relations plan

• Analysing and identifying Public Relations opportunities for Directgov and ensuring the correct sign-offs and appropriate procedures are agreed
• Commissioning, directing and evaluating the performance of appointed external agencies delivering campaign activity in partnership with the COI client account team
• Managing the development and day to day running of the Public Relations activity and campaigns
• Working with franchises to get input to and sign off on messaging to enable a public facing Public Relations campaign across Directgov
• Identifying and engaging with stakeholders
• Working with the Head of Marketing and Director of Communications and Engagement to ensure Directgov is known among:
  • The UK population.
  • Government departments.
  • Politicians.
  • Civic activists.
• Managing communication across stakeholders
  • Press and Public Relations management
• Developing a forward looking Public Relations plan that outlines PR activities
• Managing the COI News team and agencies as appropriate
• Engaging with other Directgov functional teams to ensure a forward look for Public Relations activities and spot opportunities for good news stories
• Ensuring Public Relations Managers in other departments provide input to feed into the forward look for the PR plan
• Overseeing the responsibilities for press cuttings and their distribution to the central team and franchises
• Ensuring reporting is delivered on a monthly and per campaign basis as required by the business
• Ensuring sign off is followed by the central team and Franchises for all press releases to encourage a cross government Public Relations strategy is followed
• Identifying and managing key messages and lines to take as necessary

The role holder may be given other ad hoc work to perform, as agreed by Directgov management, which is beyond but consistent with the normal activities as described above.

Essential Skills:

• An excellent communicator with demonstrable ability to apply the communications standards and techniques required of a first class Public Relations professional
• A very good working knowledge of UK media with excellent media contacts
• Has proven ability to secure press and broadcast media coverage and to successfully run campaigns with impact
• Is prepared to take out of hours calls as necessary
• The ability to work to tight deadlines, anticipate and react to the media agenda
• GCN Core Skills for Government Communicators at management level:
• Communications  drafting, layout and design
• Business knowledge and communication environment
• Relationship/account management
• Strategic marketing and communication

Desirable Skills:

• Experience and understanding of working in communications within the public sector
• An ideas person with a can-do approach
• A good understanding of and an interest in digital media

How to Apply

To apply for this position please send:

• A full CV with your education and professional qualifications, full employment history,nationality and for external vacancies - 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 (IRC64165)
• an address, email address and telephone number for communications
• whether you are applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme
• nationality

Flexible starting pay within the published bandwidth may be considered.

Please follow this link to the GCN Core Skills

• Core skills for Government communicators (75KB)

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 18 November 2009

Please send your application by email to comms.vacancies@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

Please include reference IRC64165 and your name in the subject box. We cannot accept applications without the job reference number in the subject line of the email.

Before you apply, please save your fully completed application form under your full name, (Surname first, followed by your forename) before you attach it to the e-mail.

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