Senior Media Officer

The starting salary is £45,073, which includes allowances totalling £2,841.

The salary is broken down as £42,232 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £50,385. Plus, a location allowance of £1,841 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Westminster

We need experienced communicators with strong media handling and PR skills to support us in delivering our mission of keeping the public safe.

In this role, you will be part of a management team (led by a Chief Media Officer) responsible for a specific area of delivery within external communications. You will lead colleagues delivering media activity and securing great coverage in support of our priorities set out in A New Met for London, our blueprint for delivering a different way of policing for the capital. 

You will be responsible for one of the following:

• Helping manage elements of a proactive media team responsible for a specific area of the Met’s delivery under the priorities set out in A New Met for London, our blueprint for delivering improved policing for the capital.
• Playing a management role in a team of 20 overseeing reactive communications - handling media inquiries and engagement across digital channels under the glare of global media scrutiny

All these roles are exciting, demanding, and involve close contact with high profile leaders in the Met and the opportunity to provide high-quality communications advice.

You will help oversee and co-ordinate the planning and delivery of media strategies, identifying proactive opportunities and effectively managing proactive and reactive communications of nationally significant and often controversial issues in a fast-paced environment. 

Working with senior comms leaders, you will support the planning, management, delivery, evaluation, and continual improvement of cross-discipline communication. 

The key responsibilities will vary depending on the exact role, but are likely to demand you will:

• Play a leading role in the department’s management team. 
• Guide and support your team to manage media facilities, draft sharp and powerful statements, generate and influence coverage and develop their ability to provide timely and professional advice to colleagues across the Met.  
• Lead and deliver long-term, proactive strategies that land across the full range of communication channels. 
• Provide regular media handling advice to senior officers across the Met on sensitive, complex and high-profile issues.  
• Have personal involvement in the full range of press office work: setting up and managing media facilities, briefings, and interviews with senior colleagues, providing briefings and Q&As, and creating engaging and compelling media content. 
• Ensure the use of the full range of channels in our work, maximising digital tools and using relevant insight to get the best possible results. 
• Represent the department at strategic meetings overseeing significant incidents and long running issues, to provide high quality communication advice.  
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with officers and staff, senior officers, journalists, partners, Government departments and other stakeholders. 
• Understand the A New Met for London plan and the Commissioner’s priorities and use these to implement key messages clearly, accurately, and creatively across channels.
• Play a central role in the strategic planning of communication activity, bringing discipline and structure to your team’s work and ensuring their contribution fully supports the Met’s priorities. 
• Work closely with the wider department, ensuring all media handling plans are joined up with wider campaign and communication strategies. 
• Effectively measure and evaluate our work against agreed objectives and ensure your team acts on learnings. 

Additional Information

We welcome applications from part-time workers.

The Location of this role is New Scotland Yard – Westminster. In addition, you may be expected to work at other Met buildings across London as part of a blended working agreement. There are also some opportunities for remote working when appropriate.

The working hours for this role are 36 hours a week, spread across a seven-day rota between 7am and 8pm. You will be part of working a weekend rota (approximately one weekend in five) with premium pay for weekends and time off in lieu and may be required to provide other out of hours cover with appropriate notice. You will also be part of an on-call rota.

How to apply

Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV, Personal Statement, and online application form. Your personal statement should outline why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. (NB. Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV).

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 22 September 2024.​​​​​​​