Communications Directorate – Head of Media
| Posting date: | 23 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £57,000 to £62,700 per year |
| Additional salary information: | National: £57,000 min, £62,700 max London: £61,000 min, £67,100 max |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 June 2024 |
| Location: | Cardiff |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 354549/1 |
Summary
As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.
You will join a multi-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK, working together to deliver the Home Office’s communications strategy.
We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is crucial to help everyone deliver their best work. We value diversity and provide an inclusive and encouraging environment for our team members. We nurture our talent and offer a broad range of learning and development opportunities to help you fulfil your potential.
If successful, you will play a pivotal role in delivering against the objectives set out in the Home Office communications strategy.
You will be responsible for driving forward insight-led, creative and proactive communications plans, making the most of broadcast, print, social and online opportunities to effectively reach our audiences.
In addition, you will take a lead on the development and implementation of reactive handling plans for complex and often controversial subject matters.
Relationship building both within the wider communications department and beyond will be a pivotal element of the role. You will work closely with colleagues in insight, marketing, social media, external affairs and Newsdesk teams to deliver and develop your plans. You will provide communications expertise to senior policy and operational officials and will have regular interaction with Ministers and the Home Secretary’s special advisers, demonstrating grip of communication handling for the Department.
In addition, you will lead in developing and maintaining positive relationships with key journalists – including national home affairs correspondents – personally briefing them on high-profile or complex issues.
The role will have direct line management responsibility. You will be a motivational leader who supports and raises the capability of the team. You will provide clarity of roles and responsibilities and demonstrate excellent judgement in signing off all media materials and handling, escalating where appropriate.
You will also be part of the senior management team out of hours back-up rota, supporting more junior colleagues who are on overnight or weekend duty.
Although largely media-based, the role-holder will be expected to work across all comms discipline to support colleagues as and when necessary.
Benefits
Please note that successful external candidates joining the Home Office will be on the minimum salary figure.
You will also be entitled to benefits, including 25 days of annual leave a year, which increases by one day every year to a maximum of 30, as well the cycle to work scheme and a season ticket travel loan.
Information about the role
- You will also be required to join the out of hours press office duty rota and contribute approximately one-two shifts a month. In-depth training and over-time pay is provided.
- Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
- Due to the nature of the role, this post is available on a full-time or compressed hours basis only, in line with local policies and successful completion of a probationary period.