Senior Press Officer

Government Recruitment Service; Salford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Senior Press Officer to lead a team responding to media inquiries and managing the department's communications strategy. You will develop strategies, monitor media, and ensure accurate representation of departmental information. The role involves team management and supporting proactive communications. This is a full-time position requiring weekend work, making it ideal for those dedicated to public service and media excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in a press office environment or media relations.
• Proven ability to manage a team effectively.
• Strong understanding of UK media landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to respond to journalists and manage media inquiries.
• Develop reactive communications strategies based on emerging stories.
• Monitor media and ensure accurate reporting of the department's position.
• Draft press releases and other media products.
• Provide support for proactive communications.

Skills

Media monitoring

Crisis communication

Team leadership

Communication strategy

Relationship building with journalists

Job description

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter‑terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Communications Directorate is a multi‑disciplinary team delivering the Home Office’s communications strategy. We are insight‑led and results‑driven, and our marketing campaigns support strategic objectives using a wide range of channels. We seek to provide high quality media, rebuttal and social media services. Our Internal Communications team supports employee engagement and business transformation.

The Newsdesk is the lead reactive communications team in the Home Office, responsible for monitoring the media for emerging issues and ensuring the work of the department is accurately reflected in media reporting. As Senior Press Officer you will lead a team to respond to journalists and defend the department’s reputation.

Our work as Home Office communicators is never far from the front pages, making this a fast‑paced and hugely exciting and creative team to join.

You will be part of the department’s frontline, responding to calls from journalists, shaping news as it develops and protecting the department’s reputation. You will provide Ministers and their advisers with updates on news as it breaks – identifying and rebutting inaccurate reporting or criticism and ensuring the department’s position is clearly reflected.

You will lead a team of press officers to help shape the department’s responses to some of the biggest issues in the UK and monitor the media landscape.

Working on the Newsdesk you will have a bird’s eye view of all the missions the Home Office leads on – from Safer Streets, to Secure Borders, to Homeland Security – and the opportunity to become subject matter experts on them.

You will support proactive media teams with selling in stories, briefing Ministers and drafting products, such as press releases.

You will work closely with colleagues including policy officials, operational teams, external stakeholders, Ministers and 10 Downing Street, advising on the role communications can play in delivering on government priorities.

We are a multi‑disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK. We are also active members of the professional body for government communicators, the Government Communication Service.

Key Responsibilities

• Line management responsibilities for a team of press officers.
• Work closely with colleagues, including policy officials and operational teams, to produce reactive communications strategies.
• Respond to media enquiries and ensure the department’s position is accurately reported.
• Defend the department’s reputation through briefing and rebuttal.
• Monitor the media and social media for emerging stories and ensure colleagues are aware.
• Develop professional and trusted relationships with journalists.
• Deliver key press office functions on weekends.
• Provide support to colleagues leading on proactive communications by drafting media products and briefings.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of these roles, they are only available on a full‑time basis.

The role will involve weekend working. Successful candidates will be placed on a rota with colleagues which spans seven days a week – with five working days and two non‑working days spread across the seven, and shift disturbance allowance will apply.

Successful candidates will have the option of joining the out‑of‑hours press office duty rota for which overtime pay is provided.