Planning and Press Officer

Government Recruitment Service; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government communications department in the UK is seeking a Planning Press Officer. You will coordinate public announcements and media activities, working closely with various teams to ensure effective communications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in press relations and be adept at digital communication. This role offers a chance to work centrally within government, directly engaging with journalists and shaping public narratives.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing press relations and media communications.
• Strong understanding of government communications.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate public announcements and media activities.
• Represent the department at meetings and ensure announcements align with government plans.
• Track developments in Government and Parliament.
• Develop innovative communication plans across platforms.
• Engage directly with journalists and provide timely information.

Skills

Confidence in information gathering

Adept at spotting communication opportunities

Ability to manage reactive media

Proactive media handling

Digital communication skills

Job description

Working in a media team within Government Communications is an exciting, inspiring opportunity that will challenge and develop you as a professional communicator. You will be operating at the very heart of government, helping to shape news coverage on issues that affect everyday lives.

As Planning Press Officer, you will play a key role in a team which coordinates all the department's public announcements and media activities.

You will be the main Press Office contact with No.10’s planning team, representing the department at weekly meetings, making sure our announcements are reflected and prominent within wider Government plans.

Most of your time will be spent attending weekly communications meetings, tracking what's happening in Government and Parliament, keeping an eye on upcoming statistics and research releases, and watching for potential issues on the horizon.

You will work with colleagues across the Department and our arm’s‑length bodies to support them to provide accurate, detailed information about their plans, making sure the department stays on track to deliver on the Secretary of State’s priorities.

To be successful in this role, you will be confident in bringing together information from a range of sources, be adept at spotting opportunities to amplify our messages, identify potential clashes before they happen, and advise ministers and senior officials on how to time announcements for greatest effect.

In addition, as part of a team that also leads on communications activities for two ministers.

you will work with journalists directly by proactively issuing press releases you have created, responding to incoming queries and participating in the round‑the‑clock duty rota.

You’ll be responsible for developing innovative communication plans across multiple platforms, beyond traditional print and broadcast media, working creatively with colleagues on digital and social media channels to reach different audiences.

Responsibilities

• News planning – work with policy and communications teams to ensure the Department’s communications work is planned in advance with all handling aspects recorded.
• News gridding – represent the department at weekly meetings, to make sure our announcements are reflected and prominent within wider Government plans.
• Horizon scanning – quickly spot both potential issues but also opportunities to insert a government voice positively.
• Reactive media handling – manage breaking stories, draft and provide timely lines to take and accurate information to journalists.
• Proactive media handling – draft proactive press releases and communications handling plans that tells the Department’s story in a clear and succinct way. You will work with policy colleagues and Special Advisers to agree key messages and plans to maximise ministerial time, including on visits.
• Digital communications – help the Department create, shape, share and exchange information through online and virtual networks.