We would like to reassure all applicants that we are continuing to recruit through these challenging circumstances. For any vacancies advertised we are proceeding with Video Interviews where possible and are facilitating remote homeworking for all positions where possible. Should you have any queries on the current recruitment process at the MHRA please contact [email protected].

Do you want to be part of the biggest news and social media stories in a time of unprecedented focus on public health? Then working for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and joining our award-winning news centre team is for you! 

We currently have a great opportunity for a Senior Media Officer to join the Comms Division for a six month period on a FTC. This new role will be supporting our communications response to COVID-19, dealing with and shaping news issues that are affecting everyone’s lives.  

You will be advising senior managers and expert staff about how we can enhance our reputation through effective media engagement.  Working within a busy press office, your expertise will help to promote our public health mission and deliver our business priorities in the context of the Government’s pandemic response. You must have a good understanding of crisis communications and media relations.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research. The agency is made up of c.1300 staff working across three centres:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regulatory centre (MHRA)
• Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) 
• National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls (NIBSC)

This role sits within the Communications Division, which serves the whole agency. The Division comprises the following teams: Strategic Communications and Marketing (SCM), News, Digital and Content (NDC), Internal Communications, Patient and Public Stakeholder Engagement and Customer and Information Services.

Key responsibilities:

• Anticipate the emerging news agenda, handle high-profile and sensitive media issues and respond quickly and accurately to breaking or negative stories to limit potentially damaging media and social media coverage.
• Support social media campaigns and consider the use social media channels and communities to communicate appropriately. 
• Lead on high profile and sensitive media issues to manage the reputation of the agency, responding quickly and accurately to breaking or negative stories to limit potentially damaging media coverage.
• Produce appropriate written communications such as media handling strategies, news releases and media lines to take, to effectively communicate our messages in consultation with agency staff.
• Proactively and creatively initiate, lead, develop and implement news and content strategies to demonstrate the agency’s wider contribution to COVID-19 and the public health agenda in line with agency objectives and ensuring these are reported in a balanced way.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Excellent knowledge of what drives reputation with a track record of proactively leading and implementing successful strategic media and digital communications campaigns to deliver business objectives.
• Good planning and prioritisation skills
• Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a busy media and communications environment in a large, complex, expert organisation, and reacting to fast-breaking, high-profile news stories, to deliver business objectives and enhance reputation.
• Knowledge of social media platforms with ability to incorporate these tactics into communications plans
• Excellent writing and editorial skills with the ability to convert complex information into clear messages for a range of audiences

If you would like to know more about this role, please click on the Job Description and Person Specification.

Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact [email protected]

Please ensure all application questions are completed; your application may not be considered if any key questions are left blank.

Closing date: Wednesday 10th June 2020

Fixed Term Contract: 6 months

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other question please contact [email protected]

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules.

Our process requires that you apply through our careers site, where you will be asked to complete your application and answer some competency based questions. Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role score and then scored on their competency answers so please ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Mira Mepa, Head of Recruitment and Operations, [email protected], in the first instance.