Communications

Communications Campaign Officer – Home Office | £41,750–£48,250 + £2,300 Allowance

Communications Campaign Officer Job – Home Office

The Home Office is recruiting Communications Campaign Officers to join its Communications Directorate.

This is a permanent, full-time Higher Executive Officer (HEO) position with 3 vacancies available across Manchester, Sheffield and Westminster.

Application deadline: Thursday 20 August 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Job Overview

Salary

• Sheffield: £41,750–£44,250 per year
• Manchester: £41,750–£44,250 per year
• Westminster/London: £45,750–£48,250 per year
• Recruitment and Retention Allowance: £2,300 per year

The maximum advertised package can therefore reach £50,550 per year in Westminster when the allowance is included.

About the Home Office

The Home Office works to help build a safe, fair and prosperous United Kingdom.

Its responsibilities include counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The successful candidate will join the Communications Directorate within the Corporate Services Group.

About the Role

The Communications Campaign Officer will support the planning, delivery and evaluation of communications campaigns connected to major government priorities.

Campaigns may cover areas such as:

• Securing the UK’s borders
• Reducing illegal migration
• Tackling knife crime
• Other high-profile government priorities

You will work with colleagues across press, marketing, insight, internal communications, external affairs and social media.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver communications campaigns.
• Manage communications across multiple channels.
• Evaluate campaign activity.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage content production.
• Work with agencies when required.
• Develop creative communications ideas.
• Manage campaign plans and deadlines.
• Ensure activity delivers value for money.
• Turn complex information into clear messages.
• Identify and mitigate reputational risks.

Out-of-Hours Duty Rota

The role includes participation in the out-of-hours press office duty rota, involving approximately one to two shifts per month.

The Home Office provides in-depth training and overtime pay for this duty.

Essential Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience in a communications role.
• Experience planning and delivering communications across multiple channels.
• Experience evaluating communications activity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to negotiate and influence.
• Experience developing trusted stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to turn complex information into clear messages.
• Ability to tailor messages for specific audiences.
• Political awareness.
• Understanding of reputational risk.

Desirable Experience

• Public communications experience within a large, complex organisation.
• Experience engaging with journalists.
• Experience using Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud or similar creative tools.

Behaviours Assessed

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Evidence for Communicating and Influencing is required on the application form.

Technical Skills

Candidates will be assessed against:

• Communications – Ideas
• Communications – Insight
• Communications – Implementation

Benefits

The Home Office offers:

• Civil Service pension with 28.97% employer contribution.
• In-year reward scheme.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment.
• Annual leave increasing to 30 days with service.
• 8 public holidays.
• One additional privilege day.
• £2,300 Recruitment and Retention Allowance.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Potential hybrid working where business needs allow.

For eligible hybrid arrangements, employees are expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in an office.

Application Process

The recruitment process uses the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

1. Civil Service Work Strengths Test

Candidates who pass the initial eligibility stage will be invited to complete the online test.

Deadline: 20 August 2026

The test should preferably be completed within 24–48 hours of receiving the invitation.

Important: The test cannot be completed on a mobile phone or tablet.

2. Full Application

Successful candidates will complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement of up to 1,000 words
• Communicating and Influencing evidence of up to 250 words

3. Sift

The sift is scheduled from 24 August 2026.

The CV, Personal Statement and lead behaviour will be assessed.

4. Interview

Interviews are scheduled from 15 September 2026.

The interview will assess behaviours and technical skills and will include a written assessment.

Interviews will take place in person at the London, Manchester or Sheffield office.

Interview travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

Artificial Intelligence and Applications

AI may be used to support an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and based on the applicant’s own experience.

Applications may be withdrawn where plagiarism or misrepresentation is identified.

Location Preferences

Applicants can select up to three locations in order of preference.

Only select locations you are prepared to travel to.

Security Requirements

Successful candidates must satisfy the required security checks.

The role requires Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance and other applicable government security checks.

A basic or equivalent criminal record check is also required.

Nationality Requirements

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

• UK nationals
• Republic of Ireland nationals
• Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK
• Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals
• Certain individuals with settled, pre-settled, limited or indefinite leave to remain
• Eligible Turkish nationals and certain family members

Applicants should check the official nationality requirements before applying.

Visa Sponsorship / Certificate of Sponsorship

The advert does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is available.

Applicants requiring sponsorship should not assume that sponsorship is offered and should verify their eligibility before applying.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months.

Being placed on the reserve list does not guarantee a job offer.

Application Deadline

Thursday 20 August 2026 at 11:55 pm

Applicants are advised to complete the online test and application well before the deadline.

How to Apply

Job: Communications Campaign Officer
Employer: Home Office
Reference: 474479
Grade: Higher Executive Officer
Salary: £41,750–£48,250 + £2,300 RRA
Contract: Permanent
Locations: Manchester, Sheffield, Westminster
Deadline: 20 August 2026

Official application:
https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=2008413

Quick Summary

Final Reminder

This opportunity is particularly relevant to experienced communications professionals with campaign planning, stakeholder engagement, content production, public communications, strategic messaging or media experience.

Review the essential criteria carefully and ensure your application provides clear evidence of your relevant experience before submitting it.