The media team is responsible for delivering proactive coverage across print, broadcast and digital channels to support the UK’s international trade department. 

We advise ministers and senior officials on media communications and maximising opportunities to influence target audiences across the full range of channels, both in the UK and worldwide. 

Members of the team are also UK Government spokespeople representing the department and are responsible for protecting and promoting the reputation of the department in the media. 

As a Senior Media Officer or Media Officer, you will be a seasoned and astute media operator, who provides Ministers and the department with media handling advice on announcements, visits and breaking news stories. 

Key responsibilities include: 

1. Using excellent news sense and strong political knowledge to provide media handling advice to Ministers, senior officials and colleagues on sensitive, complex and high-profile issues. 

2. Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with Ministers, private offices, special advisers, senior officials, journalists, stakeholders and other government departments. 

3. Anticipating and spotting breaking news stories and issuing swift, robust and appropriate responses at short notice and under pressure. 

4. Using the full range of channels in promoting our priorities, maximising digital tools and evaluating your work so that you can gain insight to get the best possible results. 

5. Working effectively with the wider communications team, so that media handling plans are joined up with wider communications objectives. 

6. Senior Media Officers have line management responsibilities.

7. You will participate in an out of hours duty rota, for which you will be paid. 

Personal Attributes & Skills: 

You will have excellent communication skills, and a track record of maximising media opportunities, delivering and evaluating proactive media strategies, as well as dealing with day-to-day media queries. 

You will be resilient, able to handle multiple enquiries and prioritise effectively to deliver. You will be interested in politics and the wider world. 

You will be able to inspire others, bringing them along with you.

Person specification

Essential Experience: 

• Experience of working in a fast-paced media office, with highly effective media, rebuttal and crisis management skills. 
• Sharp news sense, excellent judgement, strong political savvy and outstanding communications skills. 
• Experience of advising senior figures and delivering high quality materials for them at pace. 

Desirable Experience: 

• Proven leadership skills and the ability to inspire colleagues to higher levels of innovation and achievement. 
• Experience of developing strategies and evaluation in a news environment.
• A very high standard and track record in a range of content types including writing and digital channels.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Pensions

Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using a lead behavior. This will be the behaviour which is listed first in the job advert. 
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviors responses.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Eligibility

Candidates in their probationary period are not eligible to apply for vacancies within this department.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

For more information please contact Hope Hadfield on either 0207 008 9971 or email [email protected] 

Please ensure you include the 7 digit vacancy reference number in the subject title of your email.

Sift/interview dates and location

Sifting will take place w/c 7th January 2019 and Interviews will be conducted w/c 14th January 2019 in London. 

Kindly note that these dates are indicative only. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

Further information

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional 

Please note – harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you. 

Any move to the Department for International Trade (DIT) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. 

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. 

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DIT by email: [email protected] 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. 

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.