Chief Press Officer

www.grapevinejobs.co.uk - Jobboard; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government department is looking for a Chief Press Officer to lead a media team in London. The role involves developing media strategies, managing press relations, and advising senior officials. Candidates should have strong media skills and leadership experience. A dynamic and positive approach is essential. This hybrid role requires significant office presence.

Qualifications

• Experience in a relevant press office
• Evidence of driving team performance
• Experience in government communications is ideal, but not essential

Responsibilities

• Lead the media team and manage proactive strategies
• Provide media-handling advice to senior officials
• Develop relationships with journalists
• Anticipate breaking news stories

Skills

Sharp news sense

Political savvy

Excellent media skills

Leadership skills

Ability to work under pressure

Job description

From keeping drugs out of prisons and cutting crime, to overhauling sentencing laws and improving support for victims – the Ministry of Justice is one of only a handful of Government departments that can truly dominate the news agenda. We're looking for a Chief Press Officerto join the team.

About the role

You will lead a team of press officers on one of our exciting briefs – which could include Prisons; Probation; Courts & Law; or Justice & Victims; or our busy, reactive Newsdesk.

Wherever you end up you will be part of a team responsible for delivering a high-quality, 24/7 media relations operation for Ministers, Executive Agencies and officials across the full range of the department’s brief.

Day to day, you will drive your team to seek creative ways to generate media coverage, while taking a front-footed approach to managing the risk of criticism. MoJ is a busy department and much of the work is fast-paced and under pressure. As well as leading on high-profile media issues, you will be expected to develop and coach your team to help them perform at a high standard and continue improving.

You will be expected to hit the ground running, demonstrate your media instinct and show willingness to lead by example. Dynamism and positivity are a must. You’ll quickly become a trusted adviser to Ministers and Special Advisers. And you will bring ideas and energy as part of the senior management team, to help us maintain the high standards and excellent atmosphere in the office.

These roles can be demanding and you will be expected to bring drive and enthusiasm for both management and media handling, as well as press relations know-how and the ability to impress Ministers. But you will meet this challenge with the full backing of our extremely supportive team and you will be given everything you need to succeed and continue developing your skills and career. We place a huge emphasis on learning & development and have worked hard to develop an inclusive culture where everyone’s opinion and insight are treated as important.

Key responsibilities

The precise balance of responsibilities will depend on the role. However, you will be expected to:

• Play an active role in the senior management team – thinking about the wellbeing and capability of the whole office, as well as your own team. You will have the confidence to bring your own ideas and challenge others to ensure sound decision-making
• Act as a leader in the office – making considered decisions under pressure and giving confidence and clear direction. You will be expected to help the team understand your thought process and decision-making to help their own development
• Coach your team to bring out the best in their ability and drive their continued development through regular objective setting
• Manage a modern media team in developing proactive longer-term handling strategies that set the agenda across the full range of channels
• Help drive the use of evaluation and insight, and contribute to improving the Press Office’s understanding and use of digital communication and the changing media landscape
• Provide regular media-handling advice on policy briefs to the Lord Chancellor, Ministers, senior officials and colleagues on sensitive, complex and high-profile issues
• Develop strong relationships with journalists and brief them confidently and accurately, ensuring your team can do the same
• Anticipate and spot breaking news stories and drive your team to issue swift, robust and appropriate responses
• Encourage and facilitate collaboration with other MoJ communications functions, departments and agencies.

These posts are site-specific to London and will report to one of the Deputy Heads of News. You will be expected to adopt a hybrid working pattern including substantial time in the office each week. You will also be expected to participate in a management back-up rota for the out-of-hours duty press officers, for which significant additional payments are made. We are a family-friendly organisation, with a number of parents on the existing Senior Management Team, and welcome applications from parents and caregivers.

• You will have a sharp news sense, be politically savvy and possess excellent media skills garnered from relevant press office experience.
• You will have experience of leading others and be able to show evidence of driving high performance. You will have the ability to thrive under pressure, take tough decisions in your stride, and the credibility to instantly impress senior stakeholders, including Ministers.
• Experience of working in government communications is ideal, but not essential.

For a full job description and to apply, pleaseCLICK HERE .