Senior Ministerial Speechwriter

The Senior Ministerial Speechwriter is a key member of the speechwriting team, supporting the delivery of high-quality speeches, parliamentary statements, articles and other written products for Ministers.

Working closely with the Ministerial Speechwriter, you will help develop compelling communications that explain Defence policy and showcase the work of the Armed Forces to audiences in the UK and overseas.

You will contribute research, drafting and editorial support across a varied portfolio. Content will cover a wide range of subject matter, including national security priorities, global operations, the UK’s nuclear deterrent, assistance to Ukraine, commemorations and our defence industry.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of government communications, helping to shape content for some of Defence's most high-profile engagements.

The role requires excellent writing skills, sound judgement and the ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

The role is part of a 3 strong speechwriting team and is managed by a Chief Ministerial Speechwriter. The team is led by the Speechwriter to the Secretary of State for Defence.

Organisation background

This key post is in the Directorate of Defence Communications. DDC is responsible for communicating the activities of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces both internally and to the outside world. Its aim is to help people understand what Defence is about.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week but you may be required to work out of hours given the parliamentary cycle.

Supporting the Ministerial Speechwriter to deliver outstanding speeches, articles and editorial products for Ministers.

Explaining policy positions accurately while building strong, creative and lively arguments which engage audiences.

Building strong relationships with Ministers, Special Advisers and Ministerial Offices.

Contributing to maintaining a first-class editorial team which provides consistency of service across the Ministerial team.

An ear for how all Ministers expresses themselves and an ability to translate that into speeches and other products.

Open to UK nationals only.

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

The 2 stage recruitment process will test and reward speechwriting skills and judgment in addition to effective behaviours as defined in the Civil Service Success Profile Framework.

Stage 1 – Application

In place of a traditional Personal Statement, please provide a 500 word draft speech setting out why you should be offered this job. You should use this to cover the information you would include in a traditional personal statement, but you should write it in the third person, to be delivered by an unspecified MOD Minister. You should aim to demonstrate an understanding of speechwriting principles and techniques.

In the normal way you will also need to demonstrate examples of effective behaviour against the following essential Success Profile criteria.

At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their Statement of suitability and the following:

• Communicating and influencing

Stage 2 - Interview

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Technical Skills:

• GCS Impact - https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Government-Communication-Service-Career-Framework.pdf

At interview, there will also be a short speechwriting task, during which applicants will be asked to work on a speech during a set time period.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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