JOB SUMMARY

Do you have a passion for news and current affairs?
Are you a motivated, creative individual who thrives on working in a fast paced environment?
If so we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team and shape media coverage on stories that are regularly top of the news agenda.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is central to the mission-driven government - from delivering the homes this country needs, to handing power back to communities and rebuilding local governments. As one of our senior press officers, you’ll be part of an ambitious, collaborative and supportive team that responds to breaking news, manages crisis communications and proactively shapes the narrative on key issues. This role requires someone who can build strong relationships with journalists and stakeholders, can take a leading role in supporting ministers and senior officials, with the resilience to deliver in challenging situations. Combining strategic thinking with hands-on media engagement, you will translate complex policy decisions into clear, compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences across traditional and digital media channels. Curiosity about how people consume and share news across different platforms will be key. You will likely have responsibility for task management of at least one Press Officer an as a result, you will need to be able to be able to oversee both your own and others’ workloads, juggling competing priorities to tight deadlines.
About Government Communications
By joining a communications team, you will become a member of Government Communications, a well-established profession 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 much more! Learn more about how joining the communication profession can support your career and development, and get advice on your application by visiting the GCS careers page https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/professions/working-in-communications/

JOB DESCRIPTION

To be successful in this role, you will be confident in turning complex information into clear content that resonates with diverse audiences.
You’ll be responsible for developing innovative media handling plans across multiple platforms – beyond traditional print and broadcast media – working creatively with colleagues on digital and social media channels to reach different audiences. Collaboration is key, and you will work closely with ministers, private offices, officials, stakeholders and other communication disciplines to create clear communication strategies and concise messaging.
You will also be responsible for responding to incoming queries from the media, proactively monitoring for breaking news that might require correction or rebuttal, providing swift and effective responses.
An essential part of the role is participating in the press office out-of-hours rota, providing a 24/7 point of contact for media enquiries and responding to breaking incidents outside of core business hours, for which you will be remunerated in line with the department’s overtime policy. Regular attendance in London to support ministers and special advisers will be required.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on major proactive policy announcements and coordinate communications for high-level engagements.
• Creating clear, engaging content that translates complex government policies for public understanding.
• Providing expert communications advice to ministers, special advisers, and senior officials on policy matters.
• Responding swiftly and accurately to breaking news stories and manage crisis communications.
• Monitoring media coverage, rebut inaccurate stories, and protect departmental reputations
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists, stakeholders, and across government departments.
• Working closely with our digital communications teams to develop and deliver integrated media strategies that maximise reach and engagement.
• Overseeing and developing junior team members, providing leadership and supporting their growth.

THE INTERVIEW WILL BE OF A BLENDED NATURE CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING SUCCESS PROFILES ELEMENTS:

Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions
Experience: Yes - Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description
Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

IN THE FULL CAMPAIGN WE WILL TEST THE BELOW SUCCESS PROFILE ELEMENTS:

Experience: Yes - Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description
Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on major proactive policy announcements and coordinate communications for high-level engagements.
• Creating clear, engaging content that translates complex government policies for public understanding.
• Providing expert communications advice to ministers, special advisers, and senior officials on policy matters.
• Responding swiftly and accurately to breaking news stories and manage crisis communications.
• Monitoring media coverage, rebut inaccurate stories, and protect departmental reputations
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists, stakeholders, and across government departments.
• Working closely with our digital communications teams to develop and deliver integrated media strategies that maximise reach and engagement.
• Overseeing and developing junior team members, providing leadership and supporting their growth