Police AI - Senior Media Manager

Job summary

Remote working (anywhere in the UK). Please note, some travel may be required.​

​This post is open to applicants who can meet the College’s nationality, UK residency and vetting requirements.

Police AI is a nationally significant technology and transformation programme in UK policing. Backed by central government investment and positioned at the heart of the police reform agenda, Police AI is the new National Centre for AI in Policing, helping to shape how policing uses data, technology and artificial intelligence to tackle crime, protect the public and modernise frontline operations.

We bring together operational policing, technical expertise, product delivery, assurance and the responsible use of AI to develop and scale capabilities that improve public safety outcomes. Our work helps forces respond more effectively to demand, strengthen investigations, identify risk and harm earlier, and free up frontline time for the activities that matter most to communities.

This is an opportunity to contribute to a programme with national reach and meaningful public service impact, helping to define how AI is developed, governed and adopted across one of the UK’s most important public services. The work is varied and complex, moves at pace, and has the potential to deliver better tools for policing, better outcomes for the public, and stronger foundations for the responsible use of AI.

Police AI is hosted within the College of Policing.

Our mission : Leadership, Standards, Performance. This guides our work with individuals, forces, and policing partners towards our vision. We exist to support police officers, police staff and volunteers to deliver the best service to the public. Only through high quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement can everyone in policing reach their full potential. Our mission guides our work with individual, forces and partners towards our vision.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

Due to our status as Public Servants, we are not eligible to participate in the Civil Service transfer process. While successful candidates can transfer in on their existing terms and conditions, any subsequent transfer out of the College to the Civil Service cannot be guaranteed on existing terms and conditions, and new starter/modernised terms may apply.

The College embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we comply with the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and apply the minimum selection criteria at sift stage of the recruitment process.

Job description

We are looking for people who are motivated by public service, interested in responsible innovation, and comfortable working collaboratively across organisational, operational and technical boundaries. Joining Police AI means contributing to a supportive, multidisciplinary team that is helping to shape the future of policing and ensure AI is used in ways that are effective, responsible, operationally useful and worthy of public trust.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Media Manager to lead media relations and press office activity for Police AI. Reporting to the Head of Communications and Engagement, you will manage the organisation’s external voice, building strong relationships with journalists and ensuring media engagement is timely, accurate and aligned to organisational priorities.

This is a high-profile role combining strategic media planning with hands-on delivery. You will lead proactive and reactive media activity, manage sensitive and complex issues, provide expert advice to senior leaders, and translate technical and operational AI-related topics into clear, credible and accessible communications.

Please note :

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete the following:

1) Personal Statement (750 words maximum)

Your personal statement should address your experience to date and the following element:

• Describe times when you have led media handling for a high-profile, sensitive or complex issues. What was the situation, what approach did you take, and what was the outcome?

2) Behaviour – Communicating and Influencing (250 words maximum)

You will be required to submit a 250-word statement demonstrating the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing in response to the following:

Describe a time when you provided media or communications advice to a senior leader on a reputationally sensitive issue with a tight deadline. What advice did you give and how did it influence the organisation’s approach?

Person specification

Key responsibilities :

• Leading Police AI’s media relations and press office activity, ensuring timely, accurate and impactful engagement with national, regional and specialist media.

• Developing and delivering proactive media campaigns that raise awareness of Police AI’s work and support broader organisational objectives.

• Providing expert media handling and reputational advice to senior leaders, particularly on complex, sensitive or high-profile issues.

• Creating clear, compelling communications materials that translate complex AI and policing topics into accessible content for public audiences.

To be successful in this role you’ll need:

• Significant experience in media relations, journalism or a press office environment, with a proven track record of delivering both proactive and reactive media activity.

• Experience managing sensitive, high-profile or reputational issues, providing clear advice and support to senior stakeholders in fast-paced environments.

• Strong writing and communications skills, with the ability to turn complex technical, operational or policy topics into clear, engaging messages for external audiences.

• A strong understanding of the UK media landscape and how effective media engagement can build trust, confidence and organisational reputation.

Please see the attached job description which contains full details of the role.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,440, College of Policing contributes £17,219 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).

College staff have Public Servant status. As a Public Servant, you are eligible to join the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

The College is a great place to work. We're passionate about our people and offer a wide range of benefits, including (but not limited to):

• Defined benefit pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Up to 31.5 days holiday (this is in addition to 8 public holidays and 1 privilege day)
• Continued professional development and structured career paths
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Flexi-time (for certain grades)
• Benenden Healthcare
• National Dental Plan
• Discounts for on-line shopping
• Free employee support line
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Rewards and recognition scheme
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.

We also have a number of thriving staff networks that provide the opportunity for advice, support and to drive change. A place to get your voice heard, share experiences and challenge our working practices to ensure equality of opportunity for all.

For more information about our benefits and staff networks, visit What we offer as an employer , College of Policing

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 and Experience.

This post is open to applicants who can meet the College’s nationality, UK residency and vetting requirements.​

Vacancy Reference: 7249

• Application

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete the following:

1) Personal Statement (750 words maximum)

Your personal statement should address your experience to date and the following elements:

• Describe times when you have led media handling for a high-profile, sensitive or complex issues. What was the situation, what approach did you take, and what was the outcome?

2) Behaviour – Communicating and Influencing (250 words maximum)

You will be required to submit a 250-word statement demonstrating the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing in response to the following:

Describe a time when you provided media or communications advice to a senior leader on a reputationally sensitive issue with a tight deadline. What advice did you give and how did it influence the organisation’s approach?

• Sift – Date to be Confirmed

An initial sift will be undertaken against the Personal Statement.

Candidates who are successful at the initial sift stage will progress to a full sift, where the remaining assessment element (Behaviour) will be reviewed and scored.

Candidates who do not achieve the minimum pass mark at the initial sift stage will not have their Behaviour statement assessed and will receive a score only for the element assessed at the initial sift.

• Interview – Date to be Confirmed

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to attend an interview.

The interview will assess all three Behaviours outlined in the advert.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

This role is available for 24 months as a fixed term appointment and a secondment opportunity to:

• colleagues employed directly by the College or the Civil Service. Please note you will be required to obtain the written support of your line manager prior to submitting your application.

• serving police officers substantive in the rank of Chief Inspector, or those officers suitably qualified for temporary promotion in the rank of Inspector. All applicants must have the support of their Chief Officer which must be of NPCC rank, i.e., CC, ACC or DCC and this must accompany an application.

• serving police staff at the equivalent rank of Chief Inspector who have their chief officer's approval. Chief Officer’s approval must be of NPCC rank, i.e., CC, ACC or DCC. Approval for a secondment must accompany an application.

Central service conditions may apply.

Please ensure you return the attached secondment approval form either as an attachment when submitting your application or via email to recruitment@college.police.uk.

For further information on applying for a secondment please visit the “Secondments into the College” page.

For fixed Term contracts:

Whilst this fixed term contract is offered on the understanding that it will only last as long as the stated contract length, there could be a possibility that it could be extended or made permanent should circumstances allow.

Internal College applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the recruitment process, will be given priority over other applicants.

Our vetting

If you are successful at interview, you will be required to undertake pre-employment security checks. You will be sent a security questionnaire which must be accessed within 24 hours.

Please note, these checks can take up to 10 weeks. You will only be offered a start date after the checks have been completed. If the outcome of these checks is not satisfactory, your recommendation for employment will be withdrawn

Internal College applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the recruitment process, will be given priority over other applicants.

How to apply and contact information:

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, and as Public Servants we follow the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

We embrace diversity and promote equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

For further information visit our ‘Work for us’ page.

What it's like working at the College of Policing

• If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Kat Kinloch , Kat.Kinloch@college.police.uk , Head of Comms and Engagement

We believe that a diverse workforce brings many benefits to the organisation including diversity of thought and improvements to the way we work internally and with partners and communities. We strive to be fully inclusive but we know there is more to do. We genuinely encourage people from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups to apply for this role.

We want to continually improve our recruitment processes and to remove any barriers to equal opportunities that could disadvantage those from particular backgrounds. In order for us to have the information to do this, we ask you to please complete the diversity section of the online application process. We use a “blind” shortlisting process and we hope that by using this method we will be able to promote greater diversity in our workforce and remove any subconscious decisions based on biases.

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

Security

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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

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 : College of Policing Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@college.police.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@college.police.uk

Attachments

Secondment approval form (2) (2) Opens in new window (docx, 81kB)Senior Media Manager JD Final Opens in new window (docx, 250kB)