Chief Media Relations Officer

Government Recruitment Service; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government health department in the UK is seeking an experienced Chief Media Relations Officer to lead their media team. The ideal candidate will drive innovative communications, shape important health narratives, and enhance team culture while ensuring effective media collaboration. This role is vital to conveying public health messages and supporting key health initiatives. The successful candidate will join a friendly team that values development and well-being.

Benefits

Career development support

Friendly team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in leading communications teams.
• Strong understanding of media landscape and trends.
• Ability to drive innovative communications strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the media team in delivering proactive and reactive communications.
• Shape narrative on critical health issues and ministerial visits.
• Collaborate across communications teams to implement innovative ideas.

Skills

Leadership

Creative communication

Media relations expertise

Collaborative teamwork

Understanding of health landscape

Job description

In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

The Department of Health and Social Care media team sits at the very heart of the health and social care debate, working to ensure the public understands the government's vision for a healthier nation.

From breaking news on NHS reforms to proactive activity on policy that will change lives, the team translates complex health policy into compelling stories that resonate with millions of people across the UK.

Our media experts work hand-in-hand with ministers, providing the communications support that ensures every hospital visit, every policy announcement, and every crisis response delivers maximum impact.

The team help shape how health stories are told, working across national, regional and specialist media to ensure the government's health priorities reach every corner of the country with clarity and conviction.

They thrive on collaboration, working seamlessly with NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency and other key partners to create powerful communications that drive real change.

The team actively shape the news agenda, using our deep relationships with journalists and understanding of the health landscape to ensure that vital public health messages reach the people who need them most.

We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking and creative Chief Media Relations Officer to join the team and provide leadership and direction as we communicate some of the most important issues of the day.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and driving delivery of creative and innovative proactive and reactive communications, putting our audiences at the heart of everything we do.

You will lead a team to deliver on key departmental priorities, shaping the narrative on critical health issues such as cutting waiting times, supporting the NHS workforce and helping people live healthier lives, while also organising and supporting ministerial visits. Working collaboratively across communications teams, you will play a pivotal role in turning innovative and creative ideas into reality. You will need a strong awareness of the wider media landscape – understanding how traditional, digital and social media interconnect, recognising emerging trends, and anticipating how stories will develop across different platforms and audiences. As a team leader, you will play a key role in boosting team culture and morale, creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and motivated to do their best work, whilst maintaining high professional standards.

You will be supported to develop your career as part of a friendly, welcoming team where learning, development and wellbeing are integral parts of the offer.