Media Officer

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution 28.97%

25 days annual leave

Bank holidays

Career development opportunities

Flexible working

Job summary

Department for Transport is seeking a talented media officer to shape the national news agenda through creative communications and visuals. You will respond to media enquiries, work with policy and Ministerial teams, and help promote transport initiatives such as rail reform and electric vehicles.

You will thrive in a fast-paced Civil Service environment, spotting inaccuracies in media stories and building strong relationships with journalists, stakeholders, Ministers and Special Advisers.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within communications or media.
• Experience developing proactive and reactive communications approaches.
• Ability to work collaboratively to deliver at pace and manage competing demands.

Responsibilities

• Respond to media enquiries, informing the public with policy context.
• Develop proactive and reactive communications for government announcements and campaigns.
• Plan interviews, manage ministerial visits, and maximise positive coverage.
• Be available for duty rotration including out-of-hours, weekends and evenings.

Skills

Media experience

Public communications

Stakeholder relations

Job description

Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 30th September 2026

Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

As a media officer at the Department for Transport (DfT) you could be helping shape the national news agenda every day, creating headlines from transport policy and showcasing the latest announcements through creative communications approaches and visuals.

No two days are the same in the communications directorate. You might be communicating our reform of the railways, highlighting the department’s work to improve bus services, or promoting transport’s key role in encouraging the transition to electric vehicles.

You’ll need to be a confident and talented writer and at ease working in a fast-paced environment. You’ll also need to show a flair for spotting when there are factual inaccuracies in media stories and be able to build strong relationships with key partners, including journalists, stakeholders, Ministers and Special Advisers.

Top Responsibilities

• You will play an important role in responding to media enquiries, working with policy and Ministerial teams to inform and educate the public.
• You will also work proactively on government announcements on a range of significant transport policies and campaigns, using insight and creative communication handling to speak to our audiences on the platforms they use, including new media and social media.
• This will involve exciting Ministerial visit opportunities, planning interviews and maximising positive coverage.
• You will play an important role in a 24-hour communications team and will be part of a duty rota able to respond to enquiries out-of-hours. This includes working weekends and evenings and comes with a competitive remuneration package.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Experience of working within communications and/or media
• Experience of developing proactive and reactive communications approaches.
• Experience of working collaboratively with others to deliver at pace and manage competing demands.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Wednesday 30th September 2026