Media Manager

Pensions Regulator

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Communications

Full time

£75,099 per year

Job summary

Role title: Media Manager

TPR grade & pay group: Business Lead – 5

Directorate: Strategy, Policy & Analysis

Salary:£75,099 per annum, plus excellent benefits package

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Brighton / hybrid (6 days per month in the office)

Closing date:18 March 2026

Job description

The role and responsibilities

As Media Relations Manager, you’ll play a central role in shaping how The Pensions Regulator engages with the media and protects its reputation. You’ll lead a high‑performing team of media officers and speechwriters to deliver proactive, strategic and evidence‑driven communications that tell the story of how TPR protects savers, enhances the pensions system, supports innovation in savers’ interests and responds to a rapidly changing landscape of fewer, larger schemes.

You’ll work closely with the Head of Public Affairs, providing trusted counsel and deputising as needed — including at Executive Committee and directorate‑level forums. You’ll collaborate across Strategy & Communications to help shape TPR’s external communications strategy, ensuring our narrative is clear, confident and aligned with organisational priorities.

You’ll oversee impactful media engagement, strengthen our social media presence, support senior leaders through high‑quality briefings, and ensure speeches and presentations enhance TPR’s visibility and influence. You’ll embed evaluation at the core of your work, using insight and data to continuously improve how we communicate.

This role is ideal for an experienced media professional and leader who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys leading and developing teams, brings strategic clarity under pressure, and wants to shape narratives that directly impact outcomes for millions of savers.

Person specification

This role is ideal for someone who:

Thrives in a fast‑moving environment where priorities can shift.
Enjoys building high-performing teams and leading and supporting others to do their best work.
Wants to make a positive difference to savers and the wider pensions system.
Builds trusted relationships and works collaboratively to get the best results.
Communicates confidently and with impact to influence industry behaviour and the wider debate.

Essential Criteria

In‑depth knowledge of media‑handling, public relations and best practice, gained through significant experience in a fast‑paced media environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy, data and evidence into clear, compelling content.
Experience leading, motivating and developing high‑performing teams, with strong planning and quality‑assurance skills.
Skilled in influencing and persuading internal and external stakeholders.
Strong understanding of media and PR monitoring, evaluation and analytics to demonstrate impact and continuously improve.
Ability to identify and analyse reputational risks as well as spot opportunities for the organisation and shape media‑handling strategies in response.
Strong understanding of social media and its role in managing an organisation’s public profile and influencing behaviour.
Experience producing high‑quality verbal and written briefings for senior leaders, including Board, CEO and Executive Committee.
Knowledge of pensions or financial services is desirable.
Experience working in a press office within an arm’s‑length body or central government is desirable.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,099, Pensions Regulator contributes £21,756 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The team

The Public Affairs team is at the heart of TPR’s external communications, helping to shape how the organisation is understood by journalists, strategic stakeholders and industry influencers. The Media team ensures TPR’s voice is clear, evidence‑based and trusted, telling the story of our work to protect savers, enhance the pension system and support innovation in savers’ interests.

TPR offers:

Genuine opportunities for learning and development.
A values‑led, inclusive environment.
Hybrid working and flexible shift patterns.
A vibrant workplace supported by active employee networks (Disability, Family, LGBT+, Minority Ethnic, Mental Health, Women’s).

Reward and benefits

We offer 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, hybrid working, a 35‑hour week (full‑time), flexible working patterns and flexitime. We also provide competitive parental leave and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Our benefits portal (Edenred) provides a wide range of discounts, plus cycle‑to‑work and other schemes.

Our culture

TPR is dedicated to being a high‑performing, inclusive organisation where people can thrive. We emphasise learning, development and flexibility, and our modern Brighton workspace is designed with accessibility at its core.

We are proud of our supportive staff networks, inclusive culture, and commitment to diversity, equality and wellbeing.

About The Pensions Regulator

With a career at TPR, you’ll join an organisation with a clear purpose — protecting more than £2trn of pension savings. Our Corporate Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for how regulation must evolve as the pensions landscape changes. We are committed to diversity, good decision‑making, and ensuring our work delivers positive outcomes for savers.

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

Applications

To avoid disappointment, we recommend submitting your application as early as possible. We may close the vacancy once we receive a high volume of applications.

Current TPR employees should speak to their line manager before applying.

We welcome applications on a part‑time or job‑share basis.

Selection and interview

If shortlisted, we will contact you shortly after the closing date. Due to high volumes, we may not respond to all applicants individually. If you haven’t heard from us within 21 days of applying, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

As a Disability Confident Employer, candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview (subject to high‑volume criteria).

Diversity and inclusion

TPR is committed to diversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Further information

Visit our website to learn more about working at TPR, our culture and our recruitment process.

If you have any questions or require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

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

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

Salary range

£75,099 per year