Lead Communications Officer

Information Commissioners Office (ICO); Wilmslow; Hybrid; GBP 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory body for information rights is seeking a Lead Communications Officer to manage media relations and support communications strategies. The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in media relations, strong writing skills, and the ability to handle sensitive issues. This full-time role offers flexible working options and competitive salary range of £33,273 - £37,692 per annum. Closing date for applications is September 3, 2025.

Benefits

Pay progression scheme

Hybrid and flexible working options

25 days paid holiday

Pension with employer contribution

Health Cash Plan

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in communications and media relations.
• Broad knowledge of communication fields and their interaction.
• Up-to-date knowledge of corporate social media approaches.

Responsibilities

• Manage media relations to promote and safeguard the ICO's reputation.
• Write and edit a variety of communications materials.
• Provide briefings and advice for senior staff on media issues.

Skills

Excellent writing ability

In-depth knowledge of media relations

Ability to handle sensitive issues

Creativity

Excellent interpersonal skills

Job description

Lead Communications Officer page is loaded

Lead Communications Officer

Apply locations Wilmslow, Cheshire London time type Full time posted on Posted 5 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: September 4, 2025 (8 days left to apply) job requisition id JR588

Lead Communications Officer – Fixed term contract up to six months.

Full time/Part time

Salary : £33,273 - £37,692 per annum with potential for further progression to £42,439 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Flexible

Contracted to our Wilmslow or London office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note that from Autumn 2026 our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.

Why work for the ICO?

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .

About us

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

Job Description

This role will handle complex media enquiries, recognising and mitigating reputational risks. The postholder will use their media awareness and monitoring skills to identify opportunities and risks and inform decision-making to brief senior staff for high profile, national print and broadcast interviews. They will need to cultivate and manage relationships with media stakeholders and recommend media strategies that enable us to make the most of opportunities and engage our audiences with the crucial work we do

The postholder will need to draw on excellent written communications skills to turn complex subject matter into engaging content; to create material and provide operational support for integrated communications campaigns

There will be a requirement for out of hours working including participation in the on-call rota.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a pro- and reactive print and broadcast media relations service, promoting and safeguarding the good reputation of the ICO and raising awareness and understanding of our work
• Write, edit and advise on a wide range of communications materials
• Provide briefings and advice for senior ICO staff about print and broadcast media, social media and general communications channels
• Advise ICO staff on topical and reputation-sensitive issues and handle those issues; use news monitoring to ensure reputational risks and opportunities are spotted early and that action is taken swiftly to minimise or maximise impact
• Deliver effective internal and external partnership working by fostering good working relationships with journalists, press officers, peers, suppliers and other stakeholders
• Support speaking engagements for senior staff, identifying opportunities created, and prioritising media relations
• Support wider corporate communications projects by making a creative communications contribution to their planning, design, implementation and evaluation

About you

Essential criteria assessed at application stage

• Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience
• Broad knowledge of communication fields and how they interact (e.g. evaluation, digital, campaigns, print, broadcast and social media)
• Excellent writing ability with style adaptable to suit different communications, tools and audiences; ability to take complex information and write clear copy.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of in-house press office, ideally national, including pro and reactive media relations, distribution, monitoring, briefings, evaluation etc.
• Up to date knowledge of corporate social media approaches and their role in the broader communications mix
• Ability to use standard office IT packages.

Essential criteria assessed at interview stage

• Ability to deal with a demanding workload and able to switch priorities at short notice
• In-depth knowledge and experience of in-house press office, ideally national, including pro and reactive media relations, distribution, monitoring, briefings, evaluation etc.
• Up to date knowledge of corporate social media approaches and their role in the broader communications mix
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people at all levels – confident, persuasive, good negotiating skills
• Political awareness and understanding, good judgement and decision making and ability to handle sensitive issues effectively.
• Creativity and problem solving skills

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.We are championing this through ourEquality Diversity and Inclusion Boardtogether with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at [e-mail] who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.

As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy

Closing Date

Please submit yourCV and cover letter by23:59 on Wednesday 3rd September 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

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