Media Manager

UK Home Office; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA)

Civil Service pension

Job summary

UK Home Office is seeking a Media Manager to support proactive, thematic media work across the Communications Directorate. You will help shape upcoming announcements, manage issues and risks, and work with the newsdesk on reactive enquiries.

Based in one of multiple locations (Manchester, Sheffield, Westminster), you will build journalist relationships, plan campaigns, and collaborate with Ministers, policy teams and other government staff to deliver clear, impactful communications.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced media role.
• Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs.
• Excellent written and speaking communication skills.
• Creative and digital communications skills.
• Ability to distil large amounts of complex information into clear messages.
• Understanding of how audience insight informs strategy.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement insight-led, innovative media plans across channels (broadcast, print, social).
• Build relationships with key journalists and briefing on issues.
• Pitch stories to demonstrate government progress on policy areas.
• Advise on the role media and communication can play in delivering priorities.
• Coordinate with policy officials, operational teams, Ministers and 10 Downing Street.

Job description

Various locations: Manchester, Sheffield, Westminster

National pay locations: Manchester, Sheffield £41,750-£44,250;

Successful candidates will be eligible for a Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,300 annually

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Our work as Home Office communicators is never far from the front pages, making this a fast-paced and hugely exciting and creative team to join.

We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is crucial to help everyone deliver their best work. As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.

As a Media Manager for one of our proactive, thematic teams, (aligned to the Home Secretary’s priorities), you’ll be supporting on one of the UK Government’s key ambitions from reducing knife crime and combatting child sexual abuse and violence against women and girls to reducing net migration, protecting our borders, and strengthening the UK’s national security.

You will join a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK working in one of the most complex and demanding departments in government. Home Office communications sit within the wider professional body for government communicators, the Government Communication Service.

You will play a key role in one of the Communications Directorate’s thematic teams, focusing on media. This includes strategic planning on upcoming proactive announcements, managing emerging issues and communications risks and working closely with the newsdesk team on handling reactive enquiries from journalists.

You will work with teams across the Directorate to design and implement insight-led, innovative media plans to reach our target audiences across channels such as broadcast, print and social media.

You will be expected to build relationships with key journalists, briefing them on issues and pitching stories to show the government’s progress in key policy areas.

You will work closely with colleagues including policy officials, operational teams, external stakeholders, Ministers and 10 Downing Street, advising on the role media and communication can play in delivering on government priorities.

• Experience working in a fast-paced media role, or similar, juggling competing priorities, exercising good judgement, and keeping calm under pressure.
• Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs, including how to identify and mitigate reputational risks.
• An ability to communicate effectively (excellent written and speaking skills), and develop trusted and productive relationships with colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.
• Creative and digital communications skills.
• Proven ability to distil large amounts of complex information into clear key messages suitable for specific audiences.
• Understanding of how audience insight and evaluation can be used to inform communication strategies and activity.

Travel

Occasional national UK travel may be required for example for a Ministerial visit, when an overnight stay may be required.