Summary

The Media and Creative Industries Directorate (MCI) covers a broad and exciting area of work. If you join our team you will work across government and industry to drive forward government policy in a range of dynamic sectors, including TV, radio, film, music, press, fashion, gaming and advertising.

It is a fascinating area of work at a time of great change in society, linking into cross-department themes such as digital transformation and ‘levelling up’ across the whole of the United Kingdom and beyond. Our work has included:

- Agreeing the BBC Charter, which sets the key purposes and ways the BBC will operate

- Consulting on decriminalising the TV licence fee

- Funding programmes to help small creative businesses grow

- Consulting on advertising rules for food high in fat, sugar and salt

- Leading a new committee to protect the safety of journalists

- Providing support to help film production during the COVID-19 pandemic

- Supporting the radio industry’s transition to digital

- Deciding how to support high-quality journalism in a digital age

- Working on media issues in trade negotiations

We pride ourselves on our inclusive and respectful team environment, with ample opportunities to get involved in corporate work such as our social committee or staff networks. Our recent staff survey scores show positive engagement in all areas, with a high level of interest in our work.

Job description

We are recruiting for highly interesting and stretching Band B (HEO/SEO) policy roles in the TV Policy Team. The team is responsible for a wide range of high profile policy areas that are priorities for DCMS Ministers and No.10, including supporting the UK broadcasting sector to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing media environment, and engaging with the public service broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4. The specific role will be subject to emerging ministerial priorities.

Senior Policy Advisor, Television Policy

The successful candidate will join the TV Policy team, with the specific role depending on the current priorities of the team. This may include:

- The Government’s relationship with the BBC, S4C and Channel 4;

- The future of public service broadcasting;

- Review of video-on-demand regulation;

- The Government’s ongoing policy in relation to the BBC including the Mid Term Charter Review.

The candidate will also contribute to wider work in the TV Policy team, including a range of topical and reactive issues in a fast-paced environment with significant political interest and exposure in DCMS and across Whitehall.

Depending on role availability, some of your key responsibilities may include:

- Setting out the Government’s vision for a thriving UK public service broadcasting sector.

- Developing and delivering the Government’s policy on the BBC, including on upcoming priorities such as the mid-term Charter review.

- Supporting DCMS’s ongoing relationship with broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4 minority language broadcasters, Netflix, Sky, and Disney.

- Leading on specific TV policy priorities, including responding to Ministerial and Parliamentary requests.

- Supporting potential legislative changes to ensure that the Government delivers on its policy priorities.

Responsibilities

Person Specification

Essential Requirements:

- ‘Making effective decisions’: Media policy involves the consideration of complex regulatory, political and legal factors, as well as working with expert and often challenging stakeholders. You will need to be able to draw together evidence sources and filter through information quickly to come to effective decisions.

- ‘Seeing the big picture’: You will need to have the ability to understand the broader context, including how future trends translate into policy development, and an ability to understand how your work fits in with broader Departmental and Government objectives.

- ‘Working Together’: You will need to be able to form effective relationships and partnerships with teams across the Media and Creative Industries Directorate and the wider Civil Service. This role will also involve engaging with external stakeholders, including broadcasters.

- ‘Communicating and influencing’: You will need to be able to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders across government and in the sector. The role requires an ability to robustly defend positions, to persuade others, and to explain complex issues in a concise and impactful manner.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

5 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

We encourage all candidates to apply for this role. To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation to us. This should be completed no later than 10.00am on Tuesday 25th January 2022 via the CS Jobs portal.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete 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 10:00 on 25/01/2022. If you fail to complete the online test 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. Please be advised that the closing date/time is the same for the test as it is for the full application. Please ensure you leave enough time to complete both the tests and your full application before the deadline.

The final stage of the application process will consist of:

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 Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

The Lead Behaviour for this role is ‘Making Effective Decisions’ and you will therefore be required to separately explain (max 250 words) your ability in this area.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Part of the application process will require you to complete diversity questionnaire, you will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’ but this information is very important to the Civil Service.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: dcms.recruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you do not receive acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact the above email address.

Sift/Interview

Please note; the below timeline is indicative only at this stage and therefore subject to change.

Sift: We aim to conduct sifts w/c 3rd January 2022.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview: Interview dates will be conducted w/c 17th February 2022.

Interviews will take place online via video interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

As part of your interview, you may be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview. We recommend candidates take some time to research and prepare beforehand.

For more information, please consult the candidate pack.

Further Information

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 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.

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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DCMS 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 here

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 dcmsrecruitment.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.

Insert in to ‘selection process details’ for ALL vacancies

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack.

Insert in to ‘selection process details’ for ALL vacancies (unless advised of an exception by DCMS)

Interviews

Interviews will take place remotely via Google Hangout video call. Successful applicants will join the department through our remote onboarding process.

Location

This role will be based in any one of DCMS's regional hubs. Hubs are currently in London and Manchester, with further regional hubs set to be established in the near future. More information is available in the candidate information pack.

Insert into ‘Your department’s complaints process (optional)’ in the ‘Vacancy management’ section

For all External Vacancies

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's 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 contact (recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk) in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/

For Internal and Across government Vacancies

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact (recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk) in the first instance.

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

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.

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.

Apply and further information

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

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Head of Resourcing (at recruitment.team@culture.gov.uk), in the first instance.

Attachments