Interim Media & Communications Officer

Venn Group; West Midlands; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 83,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working

Ad-hoc onsite attendance

Job summary

Venn Group is seeking an experienced Interim Media & Communications Officer to join a local authority on an initial two-month contract. The role is predominantly remote with occasional onsite attendance for filming or interviews.

You will manage media relations, handle press enquiries, draft statements, and oversee reputational issues in a politically sensitive environment, while advising senior officers and elected members. Strong local government communications experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant and recent media relations experience within local authority.
• Experience building relationships with local, regional and trade journalists for council communications.
• Proven ability to manage reputational issues in politically sensitive environments.
• Experience drafting media statements and handling media enquiries.
• Ability to develop and deliver multi-channel communications campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Handle media enquiries and draft press statements for council initiatives.
• Manage relationships with journalists and monitor media coverage.
• Coordinate proactive media opportunities and secure coverage for services.
• Advise senior officers and elected members on communications responses.
• Develop campaigns across multiple channels and oversee social media activity.

Skills

Media relations

Journalist relations

Crisis communications

Social media management

Public sector communications

Job description

Interim Media & Communications Officer

Duration: 2 months initially

Rate: Depending on experience (Umbrella, Inside IR35)

Predominantly Remote (Potential for ad-hoc onsite attendance)

We are supporting a local authority with the appointment of an experienced Media & Communications Officer on an initial two-month interim contract.

The council is seeking a communications professional with a strong background in local government media relations. This role requires someone who has been directly responsible for managing relationships with journalists and handling media enquiries within a council environment.

Key Requirements:

• Significant and recent media relations experience gained within a local authority
• Experience working within place-based council services, such as planning, housing, regeneration, economic development, environmental services, licensing or corporate communications
• Proven track record of handling press enquiries, drafting media statements and managing reputational issues in a politically sensitive environment
• Established experience building and maintaining relationships with local, regional and trade journalists while working for a council
• Ability to identify proactive media opportunities and secure positive coverage for council initiatives and services
• Experience advising senior officers and elected members on media handling and communications approaches
• Strong understanding of the political and reputational challenges facing local government
• Experience managing social media channels and creating engaging digital content
• Ability to develop and deliver communications campaigns across multiple channels
• Flexible approach to occasional onsite attendance for media activity, filming, interviews or key communications projects

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands‑on communications professional with a strong local government media background who can quickly integrate into a busy team and provide immediate support across press relations, stakeholder communications and corporate communications activity.