Communications Officer
| Posting date: | 25 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,745 to £34,280 per year |
| Additional salary information: | This role attracts a Communications Pay Enhancement of £5,280 |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 May 2024 |
| Location: | LE4 5SP |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 351387/3 |
Summary
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
This is an exciting opportunity for a media or communications professional to join a dynamic team to promote the government’s vision for the UK space sector and the UK Space Agency’s role in delivering it.
You will be engaging regularly with journalists from national and international news outlets, and build relationships with them to effectively manage proactive and reactive communications opportunities, and strengthen the Agency’s impact through media engagement.
You will play an active role in generating news stories and presenting our work in a clear and relatable style. This will involve working with a wide range of people and teams within the Agency and with our partners, providing considered advice about communications handling.
You will support the Communications Manager and Chief Communications Officer in delivering the UK Space Agency’s Communications Plan, using media relations to deliver key objectives and working with colleagues across other communications disciplines including Digital and External Affairs.
Key responsibilities
- Managing inbound calls and emails from journalists, drafting and clearing responses and providing a professional service that supports informed reporting on the UK space sector and builds the reputation of the Agency.
- Identifying potential news stories from across the organisation and developing media handling plans for announcements and project milestones, working closely with relevant teams to draft press releases and briefing materials.
- Identifying potential communications risks and providing effective communications advice to mitigate them.
- Contributing to the Agency’s Communications and Engagement strategy, ensuring that media activity supports key priorities and reaches target audiences.
- Evaluation communications activity and contributing key insights and recommended improvements into planning processes.
- Keeping abreast of developing media trends to improve, enhance and protect the Agency’s reputation.
- Building and managing relationships with journalists, producers, and editors across the media landscape.
- Building and managing relationships with key stakeholders, including counterparts in industry and academia, as well as across government.