Channel Manager (SEO) - New Media Unit - GCS

Job summary

The New Media Unit (NMU) is part of the Government Communication Service (GCS) and sits within the Cabinet Office. The NMU was established in November 2024 with the clear goal to reach, connect and rebuild trust with audiences in the most effective way possible. Our aim is to provide the public with relevant, useful and authentic content when and where they want to receive it and communicate in an entirely new way.

The government has signalled a clear intention to focus on ambitious, measurable, long-term objectives that deliver better outcomes for citizens. This requires a new way of doing government which is more joined-up and better reaches the public to build awareness, understanding and trust in the government’s missions. The New Media Unit is a critical lever in achieving these long-term aims, bringing together the specialist skills required to reach citizens with content they want to consume at a time and place they want to consume it.

The team is evolving, and works in an agile way proactively delivering on missions-based campaigns and responding to nation-wide communications. We need people who think differently and who can respond in an agile way to the ever-changing media landscape. At its core this team is focused on flexibility and collaboration across the three pillars (Strategy, Campaign and Creative), working closely with the GCS Strategy & Campaigns and Applied Data & Insight teams, alongside No 10 and departmental communication teams across government.

This is a really exciting time to be joining the NMU as we look to expand our activity, test and learn different approaches and deliver communications which make a difference to people’s lives. This is a rare chance to be part of something truly ground-breaking, where your ideas will directly influence the future of digital communications at the heart of government.

About the Government Communication Service

By joining a communications team, you will become a member of the Government Communication Service (GCS), a professional network of communicators working in government departments, agencies and arm’s length bodies. You’ll benefit from continuous professional development from our new learning and development curriculum, a network of skilled communicators sharing best practice, mentoring opportunities, and more!

For more information on how becoming a part of the Communications Profession can support your career and development please visit our careers page.

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Job description

What we’re looking for

We need outstanding specialists in design, content production, digital strategies, marketing and partnerships, who have a high level of digital expertise and will put audiences at the heart of everything they do. We're seeking innovative minds and creative talents to help craft our evolving vision. This is a unique opportunity to grow, learn and share your talent with a team of diverse experts with passion and a genuine curiosity to innovate government comms. Most importantly, we want people who care passionately about delivering outstanding communication for the public.

We value colleagues who embrace change, think outside the box, and thrive in a dynamic environment where responsibilities evolve with our ambitions. We welcome applications from the widest range of people of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. If you're passionate about making your mark and flourishing in an atmosphere that champions fresh thinking and adaptability, we want to hear from you.

Digital Campaigns, these staff collaborate on insight and strategy, and create a digital marketing plan to deliver the agreed campaign objectives, through collaborating with GCS, No.10, external partners, creators and influencers, agencies and media owners.

Job Description

As a Channels Manager in the New Media Unit, you will be responsible for executing paid digital media strategies that support the government’s long-term goals of increasing public understanding, trust, and confidence in UK government activities. You will work closely with government departments and 10 Downing Street to create, implement, and manage targeted paid digital marketing campaigns that deliver impactful messages to UK citizens.

In this role, you will take ownership of specific paid media channels (e.g., YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Search, CTV, or Programmatic). You will be responsible for the hands-on management and optimisation of digital advertising campaigns, using data and analytics to monitor and refine performance. This is an exciting opportunity for a results-oriented media professional with a deep understanding of digital advertising and a passion for public sector communications. To ensure the New Media Unit remains agile, channel ownership will rotate every six months, allowing you to master the entire digital ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Strategic Campaign Management

• Execute paid digital media strategies that support the government’s long-term goals of increasing public understanding, trust, and confidence in UK government activities.
• Portfolio Oversight: Directly manage 5 "Always-On" campaigns covering key policy areas and 6 tactical campaigns, ensuring impactful message delivery to UK citizens.
• Cross-Government Collaboration: Work closely with government departments and 10 Downing Street to create and implement targeted campaigns that align with national priorities.
• Reactive Agility: Lead fast-paced reactive elements, either by rapidly adding assets to existing "Always-On" campaigns or launching new in-platform activations to meet shifting communication needs. Please note, the media agency is responsible for in platform actions.

Hands-on Channel Ownership & Agency Partnership

• Operational Management: Take full ownership of assigned paid media channels, managing the hands-on optimisation and refining performance to meet public engagement goals efficiently. N.B there will be occasions when you are responsible for unassigned channels/platforms outside of your nominated channels/platforms.
• Agency Leadership: Manage the media agency relationship to ensure strategic plans are executed with precision, including direct oversight of trafficking and financial reconciliation.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with Campaign Leadership to bring strategies to life, and collaborate with Creator Leads to integrate creator-led content into the channel-specific media mix.
• Creative Technical Specs: Work with the Creative Team to ensure they have clear requirements for formats, variations, and technical specifications for your specific channels.

Developing Best Practice & Channel Excellence

• Strategic Benchmarking: Develop best practices for your assigned channels, defining which formats to use across the funnel to maximise impact.
• Performance Thresholds: Establish and monitor channel-specific KPIs, including minimum weekly spend and reach thresholds required to move citizens through the engagement funnel.
• Asset Optimisation: Determine the ideal number of asset variations and creative rotations needed to maintain campaign freshness and combat ad fatigue.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Skills & Experience

• Pro