Introduction

An exciting job opportunity to join as a Senior Media Relations Officer in the Communications Office (Media Relations Team) is available.

If you enjoy the fast-paced world of media, where no two days are the same and looking to develop or enhance your experience in this field, this may be the ideal career path for you!

The Team

The Media Relations Team – which forms part of the House of Commons Communications Team – has a varied portfolio of responsibilities that include:

• Communications planning
• 24/7 media enquiries desk and on-call service
• Official statements, news releases, media briefings
• Media handling advice, including to domestic and Bill committees of the House of Commons
• Press Gallery and broadcaster relations
• Integrated public-facing campaigns
• Commercial filming and recording
• Photographic services (including official Chamber images)
• Monitoring and reporting on media coverage of the House
• Media management around major incidents

The Role

The post-holder will work alongside two other Senior Media Relations Officer and within a small but busy team at the frontline for the House of Commons’ contact with journalists.

It will be your job to engage them on corporate affairs and parliamentary procedures, both through reactive reputational media work and proactive external communications. As well as answering incoming media enquiries, you will ensure enquiry logging systems are up to date, prepare briefing materials, and be part of a small team that produce daily internal news briefings and weekly business bulletins for journalists. You will also take part in the duty media relations rota to provide a 24/7 response service to journalists, which attracts overtime payments.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role:

• You will be versatile, creative and a committed self-starter. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate a considerable working knowledge of media relations and strong writing experience, with the skills to producing engaging and accessible copy and information on complex subjects to deadline.
• You will have good awareness of the media landscape, experience of news handling and/or responding to media enquiries, providing outstanding customer service.
• You will have the ability to remain focused under pressure, organise priorities and tackle complex tasks and issues, with determination in a busy environment.

The full criteria and role information can be found on the job description.  Please refer to the job description when completing your application.

Why join/Eligibility

• Annual leave starting at 30 days pro rata 
• Civil Service Pension scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan 
• Discounted membership of the in-house gym

Further details can be found on the attached House of Commons Benefits and support document

The next steps

All applications must be submitted on a House of Commons application form 

We may ask you to complete a test, presentation or other assessment as a part of the interview process.

All criteria will be assessed at interview stage.