7670 – Community Engagement Officer
General Information
Salary
£34,140 – £37,105
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Belfast
Region
Northern Ireland
Closing Date
30-Jul-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
7670
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Political Affairs Group in the Northern Ireland Office works to ensure a thriving democracy at all levels in Northern Ireland. We do this through our strong relationships with Northern Ireland’s political parties, the Executive, the Assembly and with communities and civic, voluntary and academic stakeholders, as well as engaging with international partners. The team supports the stability and peace brought about by the Good Friday Agreement and its successors, and supports the institutions to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.
The Community Engagement Officer will be responsible for developing relationships with NI community stakeholders, including voluntary and community organisations, faith groups and local councils. As part of the Communities Team, they will help ensure that the NIO is taking account of the views of diverse community stakeholders in our policy development, communicating our work effectively and ensuring that ministers and senior officials have the opportunity to engage with communities across Northern Ireland.
Day to day, the jobholder will be contacting and meeting a range of community stakeholders to discuss policy issues, and arranging and supporting meetings and visits for ministers. They will use their knowledge of the community sector and political environment in Northern Ireland to prepare briefing for ministers, advise on community engagement and keep colleagues across the office and other government departments informed about the viewpoints of different communities across Northern Ireland. The post holder will also provide occasional support to our UK-Ireland Team on high profile intergovernmental events.
The role offers significant amounts of autonomy, and the post-holder should be comfortable with driving forward work and maintaining effective, responsive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:
- Establish and build effective relationships with civic sector groups, especially grassroots community groups across Northern Ireland.
Provide advice and briefings to Ministers and senior officials, and support senior official/ministerial visits and engagements with civic sector groups.
Represent the NIO at events and conferences in Northern Ireland.
Monitor media reporting and social media, highlighting any developments in community or civic society sentiment and reporting to relevant teams across the NIO.
Provide support for the UK-Ireland team particularly when delivering high profile intergovernmental events.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
- Experience working in a community and voluntary sector organisation, or in a role involving significant engagement with the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.
The ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues and a diverse range of external stakeholders, and to work collaboratively to achieve results.
Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly, concisely and persuasively to a range of audiences.
The ability to plan work and deliver results at pace, taking the initiative to solve problems.
DESIRABLE CRITERIA:
- A good understanding of the political environment in Northern Ireland.
Previous experience of working with Ministers (or equivalent senior decision-makers) and senior officials.
BEHAVIOURS:
We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at HEO level during the selection process:
- Communicating and influencing (lead behaviour)
EXPERIENCE:
Please provide a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history; and a statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.
Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
If you don’t have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.
More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here.
INTERVIEW:
You will be assessed against the below behaviours at interview stage:
- Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Delivering at pace
Making Effective Decisions
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
*WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve?or
- STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.
OFFER
Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.
The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks.
Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.
SECURITY CLEARANCE:
This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:
United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant – GOV.UK (
The vetting charter – GOV.UK (
In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.
This role requires CTC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 3 years. If you have any questions about residency, please contact the hiring manager.
Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.
Further Information:
Further information about the post may be obtained from from Rebecca Smyth at Rebecca.smyt
All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.
This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.
Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview.
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail );
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ();
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The “Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans” initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit:
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are ‘at risk of redundancy’.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail
Please quote the job reference 7670
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail
Please quote the job reference
Job Description Attachment
- JD Community Engagement Officer HEO (Job Description Attachment)
Download | Preview | Open in a new tab
Close preview
Select new file
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
To Be Confirmed
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)
