Media Manager

Job summary

Can you craft informative external communications to support a complex organisation?

Are you experienced in working with the media?

Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

As a Media Manager in a busy press office, you will deliver informative external communications to assist the effective operation of DVSA’s services, promoting the agency’s vision, strategic plan and policies.

Providing a highly responsive reactive media handling capability, as well as proactively creating and seeding stories, you’ll work to develop quality content using digital channels and social media.

You’ll make sure that all communications activity is insight-driven and fully evaluated.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working for DVSA: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

As a Media Manager, you will deliver informative external communications to assist the effective operation of DVSA’s services, promoting the agency’s vision, strategic plan and policies.

Providing a highly responsive reactive media handling capability, as well as proactively creating and seeding stories, you’ll work to develop quality content using digital channels and social media.

You’ll make sure that all communications activity is insight-driven and fully evaluated.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Liaise with external contacts, including Department for Transport (DfT) press office and other government departments, where appropriate.
• Respond quickly to media requests and agree points of escalation. Provide media handling advice to Corporate Senior Leaders (CSLs) and DfT, providing briefings and lines to take, and overseeing filming opportunities/interviews.
• Manage and contribute to the delivery of external communications campaigns and plans, working collaboratively with Strategic Communications Managers and subject matter experts, ensuring an integrated approach. Make decisions about the most appropriate channels, using digital and other technologies to full potential, such as blogs, email alerts, infographics, photography, filming and social media.
• Act as a role model for team members and colleagues in line with Civil Service values.
• Maintain an awareness of the news agenda and emerging news events.
• Engage with honesty and integrity, upholding the reputation of the Agency, Department and Civil Service.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Experience of working with the media, including digital and social media.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and simply, using plain English and to the appropriate house style.
• Have a practical understanding of how print, broadcast and digital media work, including the media cycle, circulation and deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
• Have a sound understanding of emerging digital services, tools and trends, including techniques for optimising digital content.
• Have negotiation and persuasion skills as these will allow you to build good working relationships and make a case.
• Be comfortable in providing sound advice to senior leaders and officials and can act swiftly to protect the reputation of the agency.

Additional Information

You should hold a professional qualification/accreditation in communications or be willing to work towards one when in post (such as CIPR, PRCA or CMI).

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

This role can be based in Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Swansea or Yeading.

The role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

There will be some travel to other DVSA sites required as part of this role, including for line management duties. This may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

All members of the media team are expected to take part in a rota which involves early morning shifts, as well as weekday and weekend out of hours duty. Overtime is payable for out of hours duty. Applicants are encouraged to contact Elisabeth.taplin@dvsa.gov.uk with any questions in relation to this.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 1: Insight
• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 2: Ideas
• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 3:Implementation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,663, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes £10,331 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview and assessment

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Experience of working with the media, including digital and social media
• Negotiation and persuasion skills; ability to build alliances to make a case
• The ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines

The sift is due to take place from Tuesday 24 February 2026.

Stage 2: Interview and assessment

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical

• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 1: Insight
• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 2: Ideas
• Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 3:Implementation

During the interview, you will also be required to undertake an assessment to assess the following: Behaviour – Delivering at Pace, & Technical – Government Communications Professional Competency Framework - Competency 3: Implementation. Guidance for the assessment will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Please note that the technical elements of the role will be assessed against the Government Communications Professional Competency Framework, you can access the framework here.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from 2 March 2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile attached, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Further information on the selection process

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We will also hold a12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit theHow We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

Vetting

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Elisabeth Taplin
• Email : Elisabeth.taplin@dvsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

Attachments

Role Profile Opens in new window (docx, 796kB)