Media Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA)

Civil Service pension 28.97%

Job summary

The UK Home Office is seeking a Media Manager to join the Communications Directorate, working on proactive announcements and managing media relations across broadcast, print and social channels.

You will build relationships with journalists, brief ministers, and design insight-led media plans to support government priorities, including national security and public safety, while coordinating with policymakers and various teams across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced media role with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Creative and digital communications capabilities.
• Ability to distil complex information into clear messages for audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic media plans and proactive announcements across channels.
• Manage emerging issues and communications risks with the newsdesk team.
• Build relationships with key journalists and brief Ministers on issues.
• Collaborate with policy staff, operational teams and external stakeholders.
• Advise on how media can support government priorities and national security.

Skills

Fast-paced media

News sense

Stakeholder relations

Written & spoken comms

Crisis comms

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.