Senior Press Officer

Job summary

Information about the Command

The Strategy Directorate drives NCA strategic mission through rigorous intelligence insights, performance insights, risk management and communications. We shape priorities and build influence across government, law enforcement and the public.

Information about the Business Area

Communications plays a vital role in promoting and supporting NCA activity. We use our communications channels as an operational tool to disrupt serious and organised crime. Communications manage the Agency relationship with media outlets and journalists, issuing media releases and statements as well as interviews with Agency spokespersons. The team commission targeted audience research, developing, implementing, and evaluating marketing strategies for awareness raising or behaviour change. Communications lead a range of projects, channels and events to increase leadership visibility and boost Officer engagement.

Job description

The Senior Press Officer role provides an exciting opportunity to join the NCA’s high performing Communications Team.

You will use your knowledge of the media and skills as a professional communicator to build public and partner awareness of serious and organised crime, and confidence in the NCA’s response. Your work will also help to build the Agency’s intelligence picture of the most serious and complex crime threats facing the UK, and to disrupt the criminals presenting the greatest risk.

This is a full time role but we can consider flexibility in working hours to support a work-life balance that can be discussed upon offer

Role Description

The role of senior press officer is to engage with the media to inform the public and other identified audiences about the work of the NCA, to protect and improve our reputation, while also supporting the NCA’s mission of protecting the public from serious and organised crime.

As part of the wider communications team within the NCA’s Strategy Directorate, the press office is responsible for handling reactive queries from the media as well as proactive communications to promote the work of the Agency.

The Communications Team, which includes media, digital, internal comms, and campaigns specialists, work closely together and with a variety of internal and external partners to land our messages with target audiences.

The team’s activity has contributed directly to the capture of wanted international fugitives, the safeguarding of vulnerable people, and widespread public action to mitigate crime threats.

Duties & Responsibilities

Promote the NCA - Showcase the NCA’s unique role in UK law enforcement by delivering engaging, proactive stories on NCA activity, and working up ideas for content that supports communication objectives.

Professionalism - Provide a professional service for journalists by managing high-profile and sensitive media issues and answering enquiries in a timely and informative manner, including on an out-of-hours rotational basis.

Advise NCA officers on the media - Become a trusted source of communications support and counsel for NCA officers.

Build knowledge of the NCA - Develop expertise on the NCA’s wide remit and range of functions.

Engage across communications disciplines - Work with expert colleagues across the communications team – including digital, internal and campaigns - to share knowledge and maximise the impact of content across all audiences.

Build relationships - Develop and nurture excellent relationships with journalists and contacts (e.g. bloggers) in all forms of media, to improve story placement and check progress.

Media handling - Demonstrate techniques and strategies for handling journalists, respond quickly to media requests and agree points of escalation.

Audience - Understand how to optimise audience reach through a mix of media channels.

Person specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Insight - Use insight to identify target audiences and stakeholders, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach.

Engaging your audience - Communicate in a succinct and engaging manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact to a range of stakeholders.

Communication skills - Demonstrate an ability to express ideas effectively, flexibly and creatively, both verbally and with strong writing skills, to develop innovative solutions.

Processing information - Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations.

Experience - Demonstrate solid experience of working in a busy press office or other news-focused environment where you used your communicating and influencing skills to deliver at pace while demonstrating awareness of the bigger picture.

On-call working

Officers take part in the on‑call rota covering evenings and weekends, with an allowance paid per session and enhanced pay for any work undertaken (x1.5 weekdays, x2 weekends).

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.

Industry recognised communication qualification (such as CIPR) or equivalent

Experience of working in a busy press office or an equivalent track record of being able to multitask in a fast paced role that requires engaging with external stakeholders about the organisations' work.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Communicate to a news audience in a succinct manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing.
• Use of insight to identify audiences, support decision making and help inform the overall communication approach
• Demonstrate the ability to express ideas effectively and creatively both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrate an ability to process complex information to produce effective content or recommendations

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,049, National Crime Agency contributes £13,630 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
• Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Sm