Assistant Communications Officer - EXTEND

BBC; Bridgwater; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC is seeking an Assistant Communications Officer for its Corporate Press Office in London. This 12-month fixed-term role involves supporting external communications to protect and promote the BBC's reputation, managing media inquiries, and contributing to communication materials for various BBC divisions.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

Defined pension scheme

Discounted dental and healthcare

Flexible working hours

Unrivalled training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal and social skills.
• Proficiency in office software and ability to simplify complex data.

Responsibilities

• Support media monitoring and manage the Press Office inbox.
• Assist in publicising BBC programmes and services.
• Contribute to the creation of communication materials.

Skills

Written and spoken English communication

Interpersonal skills

Office software proficiency

Social media understanding

Job description

Package Description

Band: B

Contract type: 12 month FTC

Location: London based role with some flexibility - i.e. hybrid working

Salary: £24,800-£28,000 plus London Weighting Allowance of £5319

Any offer of employment with the BBC will be conditional upon you having the right to work in UK

We're happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

• Excellent career progression - the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.

• Unrivalled training and development opportunities - our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.

Benefits - We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance, 26 days annual leave (including 1 corporation day), with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme, and discounted dental, healthcare, gym, and more.

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply, you should identify as deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent and meet the definitions of disability under the relevant acts. We are committed to accessible application processes and workplace adjustments. For more information, contact the BBC Extend team or visit the BBC Extend webpage.

Job Purpose

We are seeking an Assistant Communications Officer for the BBC's Corporate Press Office in London. This is a twelve-month fixed-term role supporting external communications to protect and promote the BBC's reputation and raise awareness of its services and programmes. You will work on a busy press desk, often as the first point of contact for media inquiries. The Corporate Press Office manages media relations on corporate topics such as the Director-General's work, diversity, licensing, strategy, HR, and editorial policy, coordinating communications across various BBC divisions during a pivotal period.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Support colleagues in handling sensitive or reputational issues.
• Respond to stakeholder inquiries appropriately.
• Perform media monitoring and manage the Press Office inbox.
• Assist in publicising BBC programmes and services.
• Contribute to the creation of communication materials such as press releases, briefings, and presentations.
• Help evaluate communication campaigns, including data collection and impact analysis.
• Assist in organising press conferences and corporate events.
• Provide administrative and project support as needed.
• Support social media management and content creation for online platforms.

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

Essential

• Ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and social skills, both face-to-face and via phone.
• Proficiency in office software and ability to simplify complex data.
• Quick learner of new IT skills, including digital editing and website uploads.
• Good understanding of social media for content promotion.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and focused.

Desirable

• Experience in a communications environment.
• Event organisation experience.
• Proven ability to produce communication materials under tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of media channels including print, broadcast, and online.