External Communications Officer - Media and Press (Ref: 18083)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

External Communications Officer – Media and Press

Grade: IO (HEO equivalent)

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our communications team in a role focused on press and media relations. You will help shape national conversations on some of the most high-profile and sensitive issues facing the justice system – from pressures in our prisons and the delivery of justice through the courts to major policy reforms that directly affect victims, offenders and communities.

The role sits primarily within our Press and Media function, where you will support the team to manage media relations, respond to press enquiries and deliver proactive communications activity at pace and under scrutiny while working with Ministers, Special Advisers and Number 10.

The way the public find their news has changed and the Ministry of Justice communications team is at the forefront of efforts across Government to look at new ways we can reach our audiences.

Fewer people find out what is happening in the world through newspapers – and as communicators we have to find new, compelling ways to reach the public in an age of 24-hour and digital news.

That’s why we are looking for creative individuals who have ideas of how to communicate the Government’s work in the modern age – whether that’s explaining policy through innovative podcasts, digital first stories, or the use of gripping case studies from those who have had first-hand experience of our justice system.

Our communication strategies only succeed when we can work across all disciplines which means the ideal candidate will think beyond just press releases to set out our message. They need to consider how we can reach new and consumer media outlets, work with our stakeholder team to secure supportive voices and develop compelling broadcast content for television and social media.

We also want people who thrive under pressure, who can deal with complicated and fast-paced reactive queries on issues from our key justice agencies like the Prison and Probation Service and the Courts and Tribunals Service. You will need to be able to work at pace to find information, draw up a response and work with journalists to help inform their story.

You will also have the opportunity to work across other external communications disciplines, and we welcome candidates who bring experience or interest in digital, external affairs or strategic communications alongside their press skills.

Key responsibilities

• Handle incoming media enquiries accurately and at pace, drafting responses and lines to take in close collaboration with policy and senior colleagues.
• Proactively pitch stories and develop press releases, opinion pieces and other media content that land key messages with target audiences.
• Work across communications to support the development of communication strategies and campaign plans covering print and broadcast media as well as working with new media and digital outlets.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with journalists and editors across national, regional, trade and specialist media.
• Monitor media coverage and the wider communications landscape, identifying opportunities and risks and escalating issues appropriately.
• Draft high-quality written content across a range of formats and channels, including briefings, digital content and stakeholder correspondence.
• Work collaboratively across the wider communications team and with policy and operational colleagues to ensure press activity is joined up and aligned to organisational priorities.
• Contribute to evaluation of communications activity, using data and coverage analysis to inform and improve future work.

Skills and experience

Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience or strong potential in press and media work. We also welcome candidates who bring skills or interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Media and press – drafting press releases, handling media enquiries, building journalist relationships, developing reactive and proactive media strategies.
• Digital communications – creating content for websites and social media, using analytics to inform decisions and reach audiences beyond traditional media.
• External affairs – stakeholder engagement, managing relationships with partners, interest groups or parliamentarians to support broader communications goals.
• Strategic communications – contributing to narrative development, audience insight, and integrated campaign planning.

Person specification

You will be an effective communicator with strong writing skills and the ability to adapt your style for different audiences and channels. You will be collaborative, proactive and comfortable working at pace in a fast-moving environment. You will be curious, creative and committed to continuous learning across communications disciplines.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• GCS Insight - Understand how to reach the biggest and/or most appropriate audience for an announcement using a mix of media channels. Maintain an awareness of the news agenda.
• GCS Ideas - Work up ideas for stories and case studies to help increase media interest in a positive news story.
• GCS Implementation - Draft high-quality press releases that maximise media coverage and punchy statements that rebut criticism effectively.
• GCS Impact - Monitor media coverage and evaluate your success in reaching the target audience and delivering key messages.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,014, Ministry of Justice contributes £11,592 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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 appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/18083?entityId=18083