Lead Communications Officer (Media Relations) – Full time, 6 months fixed term contract

Salary: £29,024

Location: It is envisaged that the roles will be primarily based at our Head Office in in Wilmslow, although flexibility of location including homeworking is open to discussion for the right candidate so applicants across the UK are welcomed.

You will be expected to attend Wilmslow office as and when required by the business.

The work of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has never been more relevant. As an independent regulator, we uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

Our work makes the news because people care about their privacy. We help make sure people’s personal data is protected whether they’re ordering a pint through an app in a pub or if their health data is being shared through GPs.  In the last few months we’ve spoken out about the use of cookies, flagged the importance of privacy in vaccination passport schemes and introduced a world-beating code to protect children’s privacy online.

As we prepare to welcome a new Information Commissioner and respond to government reforms to data protection laws, our work will continue to have impact.

Our work is interesting and immensely rewarding and our Corporate Communications department plays a key role in our success. We’re looking for three experienced media relations professionals who can handle the demands of a national press office, turn complex subject matter into engaging content and communicate our work with clarity and impact to audiences across the UK and beyond.

The Lead Communications Officer (media relations) posts will join our busy press team, working at pace to deal with reactive media enquiries to consistently high standards. You will maximise opportunities by proactively contacting journalists to update on the work of the ICO and build on our strong network of media relationships.

You’ll be able to craft statements for the media whilst managing the reputational risk to the ICO, find creative ways to explain how our work protects the public and be able to deliver impactful campaigns to promote our ground-breaking work into issues such as children’s online privacy.

You will be advising senior staff on the issues of the day, initiating and creating media briefings, and arranging media interviews with national broadcasters, publications and websites.

You’ll have a keen eye for opportunities and risks, monitoring the media for developing and reputational issues, and providing strategic updates for the ICO Executive Team and directors.

And you will be incorporating your digital and creative skills into your comms campaigns, with the ability to monitor social media and create social content.

The department operates an out of hours “on call rota” system to respond to media calls, for which an allowance is payable. The successful candidate would have the opportunity to participate should they wish.

The Lead Communications Officer role will require occasional travel to locations throughout the UK and internationally (which may involve some out of hours working) in order to represent the ICO at and respond to media activities and events

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.  

We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. To find out more visit ico.jobs.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all members of the community regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, marital status, pregnancy or any other personal circumstances.

We are dedicated to ensuring our recruitment and selection processes are fair and inclusive and enable everyone to showcase their individual talents. Our HR team are happy to discuss any additional support you may need at any stage and will make reasonable adjustments according to your needs. Applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, if they meet the minimum criteria for the role.

At the ICO we support a number of flexible working arrangements and we are happy to discuss your personal needs or preferences during the recruitment process.

Disabled applicants are guaranteed an interview, if they meet the minimum criteria for the role.

At the ICO we support a number of flexible working arrangements and we are happy to discuss your personal needs or preferences during the recruitment process.

If you are disabled and have difficulty using our online application system please email the HR team at [email protected] who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.