Media Relations Officer

Sheffield City Council; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield City Council is seeking an experienced Media Relations Officer to protect and build its reputation across high-profile issues. You will manage media enquiries, secure positive coverage and advise officers, senior leaders and elected Members.

You'll write media releases and statements, develop compelling stories and build relationships with journalists to support council priorities while handling sensitive issues with clear communication.

Qualifications

• Experience in media relations, journalism, public relations or communications within a large and complex organisation.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with journalists and senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage media enquiries, secure positive coverage and provide expert communications advice.
• Develop compelling stories, write media releases and statements.
• Build strong relationships with journalists and support council priorities.
• Deliver communications campaigns and handle sensitive and complex issues.
• Participate in out-of-hours activity including the communications on-call rota.

Skills

Media relations

Journalism

Public relations

Communications strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Job description

Are you an experienced communications professional with excellent media skills and sound judgement? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same?

We're looking for a Media Relations Officer to help protect and build on Sheffield City Council's reputation. You'll work across a broad range of high-profile issues, managing media enquiries, securing positive coverage and providing expert communications advice to officers, senior leaders and elected Members.

You'll develop compelling stories, write media releases and statements, build strong relationships with journalists, and help deliver communications campaigns that support council priorities. You'll also play a key role in handling sensitive and complex issues, ensuring accurate, timely and effective communication with the public and the media.

We're looking for someone with experience in media relations, journalism, public relations or communications within a large and complex organisation. You'll be confident working under pressure, able to manage competing priorities, and skilled at turning complex information into clear, engaging content.

In return, you'll join a supportive and ambitious communications team where you'll have opportunities to develop your skills, influence high-profile projects and make a real difference to the people of Sheffield.

Some out-of-hours working is required, including participation in the communications on-call rota.

Interviews will be held 08/10/2026 & 12/10/2026

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.