Media Officer, BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Guardian Jobs; London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team as a Media Officer, where your expertise in media relations will help shape the narrative around key health policies. In this hybrid role, you will support a busy press office, ensuring the organization is well-represented in the media. You'll have the opportunity to develop media plans, write compelling press releases, and work closely with senior managers. Enjoy a variety of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, a double-matching pension scheme, and access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme. If you're ready to make a difference in the healthcare sector, this role is for you.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus bank holidays

Double matching pension contributions

Additional leave for volunteering

Onsite gym

Subsidised café

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted legal services

Flexible benefits and discounts

Learning and Development opportunities

Season ticket loan

Qualifications

• 2-3 years experience in a press office for a membership organization.
• Strong understanding of media operations and health policy.

Responsibilities

• Provide media and public relations support to senior managers.
• Write press releases and articles for publication.
• Assist in media activities and project promotions.

Skills

Media Relations

Writing Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Understanding of Health Policy

Job description

About the BMA

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the professional association and trade union for doctors in the UK. We represent, support, and negotiate on behalf of all UK doctors and medical students.

Would you like to work for an organisation that champions the work and lives of doctors across the UK? In a busy press office where no two days are the same and with a highly professional and friendly team? If you have two or three years of experience working in a press office for a large membership organisation or a healthcare or health policy body, we'd like to hear from you.

About the role

The Media Officer will support the media team in providing a timely, high-quality, and professional media service to ensure that the BMA is well represented in the media on key aspects of health policy and issues concerning the medical profession. This role includes specific responsibilities for providing administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the media team.

There is also a requirement to provide out-of-hours media support and guidance on evenings and weekends on a rota basis. This attracts a generous on-call allowance and time off in lieu.

As a Media Officer, you will:

• Provide media and public relations advice and support to the BMA’s senior managers and departments, including developing and delivering media plans.
• Provide specialist media and public relations input to specific projects to launch and promote BMA benefits and services. This includes advising and leading on the development and delivery of media strands for these projects.
• Write press releases and articles for publication, research, and set up broadcast interviews, promoting these to the media.
• Assist the head of media and senior media officers with media activities, including gathering background information, setting up or supervising interviews, or supporting specific stories.

This is a fixed-term contract position and is a hybrid role, combining remote work and office work at BMA House in Central London.

To be successful as a Media Officer, you'll have:

• Demonstrable experience working in a busy national press office
• A good understanding of how media works
• A good understanding of health policy, trade union activities, and the NHS
• Excellent writing skills
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Good negotiation and communication skills
• Experience of working within a membership organisation (desirable)

Why work for us?

We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays and a BMA company day
• Double matching pension contributions up to 12% of salary
• Additional leave entitlement for volunteering or moving house (after probation)
• Onsite gym and subsidised café at BMA House
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with free confidential counselling, helpline, and support
• BMA Law - discounted legal services such as will writing and conveyancing
• Flexible benefits and discounts through our employee benefits platform
• Learning and Development opportunities via our internal learning hub
• Season ticket loan (up to £10,000) after probation

Anonymous recruitment

The BMA is committed to being an inclusive employer, ensuring fairness and consistency in selecting the best candidates. We use software to anonymise CVs and applications, removing personal identifiers such as name, date of birth, age, and gender. These details are only visible to hiring managers if you are shortlisted for an interview.

Whether you work from home, in the office, or in a hybrid setup, we will support your needs.

If this opportunity interests you, please apply through our website. For any reasonable adjustments or additional support during the application process, contact us at [e-mail].

Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring:

We aim to promote a more inclusive environment that values diversity in all forms, recognizing that diversity strengthens us.

The BMA is dedicated to equal treatment of all employees and does not condone discrimination based on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, religion, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Please note, we cannot provide sponsorship under the UK points-based immigration system and do not hold a sponsorship license.