Recruitment process
The recruitment process consists of an online application, interview and assessment. These are expected to take place on w/c 10th July 2026 on Microsoft Teams.
A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with guidance. If you have any queries about this, contact [email protected]
You should keep this week free or notify us if you're not available. We'll make every effort to accommodate your date preferences but we can't guarantee it.
Assessment
We ask you to complete an assessment as part of the recruitment process. This assessment will take place on the day of interviews.
Behaviours
You are asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words for each of the following behaviours, setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience match the specified behaviours and requirements:
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Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
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Seeing the Bigger Picture
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Delivering at pace
You also need to demonstrate the following experience required for this role:
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Experience working in a fast-paced media or communications environment
In addition, you need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.
The panel has the right to assess the lead behaviour Communicating and Influencing first. If the standard on this behaviour isnt met, the other behaviours wont be considered and your application wont progress. The panel also has the right to raise the minimum standard pass mark. The panel may also refer to the lead behaviour at the interview stage to determine merit order.
Interview/ Assessment
We use behaviours to help us understand your experience, to see if you're a good fit for the role. You are assessed against (HEO) in the Civil Service success profiles behaviours framework. We are assessing two behaviours at interview stage:
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Communicating & Influencing interview
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Delivering at Pace interview
The following essential experience, will also be assessed at the interview stage -
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Experience working in a fast-paced media or communications environment
Please note the following will be tested at the assessment stage of the interview:
Government Communications Service professional competency framework.
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Insight Promote and encourage the early integration of strategic communication and policy development - (interview stage)
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Ideas Demonstrate robust knowledge of the industry, media and wider communication and marketing landscape. Draw on this expertise to deliver innovative campaign strategies and provide recommendations to senior leaders and policy colleagues - (interview stage)
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Implementation Develop strong relationships with senior leaders, policy colleagues and key stakeholders. Build influential networks to enable communication teams to deliver quality solutions - (interview and assessment stage)
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Impact Evaluate the effectiveness of communication against objectives. Review lessons learnt and compare the industry best practice to identify areas for improvement for future communication strategies - (interview stage)
CV
Youre not required to upload your CV. However, when submitting your application there is a CV section. You are required to provide information about your employment and/or academic history for the past three years. The CV section will be used as supporting evidence, it wont be assessed.
Its your responsibility to provide the specified information in the requested format to ensure that you're considered for the post.
If you're unable to cover three years through employment or academic history, you must provide a character reference for clearance purposes.
Strengths
Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
Other
This is a full-time post. We do consider requests for flexible, part-time working and job share, always considering the operational needs of the department.
Please note that the CPS is unable to offer visa sponsorship. Therefore, if you require visa sponsorship to work in the UK, you will not meet the eligibility criteria for this role. (If internal this is not required)
Clearance
If successful, you are required to secure a Security Check clearance, for which you must have a current valid UK address.
If successfully appointed, we ask you to complete a character enquiry form, nationality and immigration questionnaire, and national security vetting form.
If you're a Crown Prosecution Service member of staff, you wont need to do a Disclosure and Barring Service check as you already hold this clearance.
The job youre applying for is covered by Article 3(a) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, consequently Section 4(2) of that Act doesnt apply. Youre required to disclose all previous convictions and cautions including spent convictions. Failing to make a full declaration will result in withdrawing your offer of employment if our checks reveal convictions that havent been disclosed.
To be cleared to Security Check clearance level, you have to be able to meet the residency requirement in the Cabinet Office guidance. For the Crown Prosecution Service, this is three years within the last five years.
Civil Service Commission
If youre dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact [email protected] with your concerns.
If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commission complaints page Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission
Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles can be found at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/
Details of the Civil Service Nationality Rules are located at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Candidates are subject to UK immigration requirements. For the most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Visas and Immigration website at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
