Senior Media Manager

GMCA; Manchester; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

GMCA in Manchester is seeking a Senior Media Manager to lead the News & Media team and drive proactive storytelling to explain Greater Manchester’s work and ambitions. You will shape media strategy, coordinate resources, and deliver high-quality communications across channels.

You’ll organise press conferences, handle media inquiries, and secure high-impact coverage with tight deadlines while mentoring colleagues to strengthen editorial judgment and delivery across regional, national and

Qualifications

• Experience in press office or newsroom working with journalists to secure coverage.
• Excellent writing and storytelling transforming complex policy for broad audiences.
• Ability to plan staff deployment, manage resources, and meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Organise press conferences and respond to media enquiries.
• Secure high-impact coverage for policies and initiatives.
• Provide sound media advice to senior leaders and policy teams.
• Lead and develop the News & Media team to deliver results and grow capability.
• Collaborate with Head of News and Media on prioritisation and execution.

Skills

Media relations

Editorial judgment

Storytelling

Team leadership

Job description

Senior Media Manager

Salary: £49,282-£53,459

Closing date: 07/09/2026

Department: CA Communications & Engagement

Location: GMCA

Division: News & Media

Hours Per Week: 36.25

Job Details

Senior Media Manager

3-month FTC (Sabbatical Cover)

Your role:

This is one of the most exciting roles in public sector media relations and will put you at the heart of an organisation at the cutting edge of English devolution.

You’ll play a leading role in a talented team as they make headlines in regional, national and international media, telling the story of Greater Manchester’s work to build a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life.

An average week in the News and Media Team is fast-paced and varied from organising press conferences and responding to media enquiries, to securing high-impact coverage for our pioneering policies and providing sound media advice to leaders.

You’ll join a team with a wide range of backgrounds and experience, finding ways to get the best out of everyone, helping the team to deliver and develop professionally.

About you:

• You’ll have a good understanding of how the local, regional and national media work, gained in a press office or newsroom, and you’ll know how to work with journalists to secure the best coverage for Greater Manchester.
• You’ll have great editorial judgment and attention to detail, spotting opportunities and reputational risks and using the news cycle to your advantage. You’ll also know how to tailor a story to different outlets and platforms.
• You’ll have excellent writing and storytelling skills, communicating complex policy issues in clear and compelling English, and be able to foster creativity in others.
• You’ll work with the Head of News and Media to manage resources effectively, planning how staff are deployed, ensuring work is distributed fairly and helping the team to prioritise to ensure delivery (often to tight deadlines).
• You’ll care deeply about the team you lead, coaching staff to grow their skills and confidence, escalating both staffing and editorial issues to senior leaders promptly and delegating skilfully.

About us:

As an employer, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of a number of key Greater Manchester strategic functions and service providers including; Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS); Waste and Resources; Environment; Work and Skills; Research; Public Sector Reform; Police, Crime and Criminal Justice; Homelessness; the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub and the Commissioning Hub.

We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, Trans status and Non‑binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

To find out more about working for us please click here: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/

Our offer:

In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:

Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Home | greater.jobs

Mandatory Information:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers’ right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Hybrid working

This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid‑19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our [Manchester city centre office / Fire and Rescue service HQ in Swinton / other location] with remote working, typically from home; the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.

Supporting Documents

Role Profile