Media Manager

Job summary

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 Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

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.

We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is crucial to help everyone deliver their best work. As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.

As a media manager for one of our proactive, thematic teams, (aligned to the Home Secretary’s priorities), you’ll be supporting on one of the UK Government’s key ambitions from reducing knife crime and combatting child sexual abuse and violence against women and girls to reducing net migration, protecting our borders, and strengthening the UK’s national security.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the Home Office Communications Directorate with our policies at the top of the news agenda, you’ll be part of the team helping to set that agenda and bringing the government’s top priorities to the public. The media team plays a key role in shaping communications in the rapidly evolving media landscape, using both traditional print and digital channels to reach our target audiences.

Job description

You will join a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK working in one of the most complex and demanding departments in government. Home Office communications sit within the wider professional body for government communicators, the Government Communication Service.

You will play a key role in one of the Communications Directorate’s thematic teams, focusing on media. This includes strategic planning on upcoming proactive announcements, managing emerging issues and communications risks and working closely with the newsdesk team on handling reactive enquiries from journalists.

You will work with teams across the Directorate to design and implement insight-led, innovative media plans to reach our target audiences across channels such as broadcast, print and social media.

You will be expected to build relationships with key journalists, briefing them on issues and pitching stories to show the government’s progress in key policy areas.

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

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with colleagues, including policy officials and operational teams, to advise on the role communications can play.
• Devise and deliver clear integrated media and communication plans to announce policies or successes by providing media advice, drafting press releases and facilitating ministerial interviews.
• Respond to media enquiries and ensure the Department’s position is accurately reported.
• Advise Ministers and senior officials on proactive and reactive media.

Training

The Home Office is committed to supporting learning and development through formal training and on the job opportunities.

Working Pattern

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

You will also be required to join the out of hours duty rota and contribute approximately one to two shifts a month. Training and overtime pay is provided.

Travel

Occasional national UK travel may be required for example for a Ministerial visit, when an overnight stay may be required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in a fast-paced media role, or similar, juggling competing priorities, exercising good judgement, and keeping calm under pressure.
• Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs, including how to identify and mitigate reputational risks.
• An ability to communicate effectively (excellent written and speaking skills), and develop trusted and productive relationships with colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.
• Creative and digital communications skills.
• Proven ability to distil large amounts of complex information into clear key messages suitable for specific audiences.
• Understanding of how audience insight and evaluation can be used to inform communication strategies and activity.

Desirable Criteria

• Past experience of working in Communications for a large organisation.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Communications – Ideas
• Communications – Impact
• Communications – Insight
• Communications – Implementation

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• Successful candidates will be eligible for a Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,300 annually.
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on