Media Officer

The starting salary is £37,289, which includes allowances totalling £2,841.

The salary is broken down as £34,448 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £36,864. 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 in delivering our mission to keep the public safe.

In this role you will be part of a team, led by a Chief Media Officer, responsible for a specific area of delivery within external communications. You will work with colleagues delivering media activity and securing 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 deliver proactive media, responsible for a specific area of the Met’s delivery under the priorities set out in our A New Met for London plan.
• Working as part of a team delivering reactive communications - handling media queries and engagement across digital channels under the glare of global media scrutiny.

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 be part of a team planning and delivering media strategies, identifying opportunities, and effectively delivering proactive and reactive communications on nationally significant and often controversial issues in a fast-paced environment. 

Working with senior communication 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 this includes:

• Managing media facilities, drafting sharp and powerful statements, generating, and influencing coverage, providing timely and professional advice to colleagues across the Met.  
• Working in your team to deliver long-term, proactive strategic planning of communication activity to support the Met’s priorities across a range of communication channels. 
• Providing 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. 
• Using a full range of channels, maximising digital tools, and using relevant insight to get the best results. 
• Representing the department at meetings overseeing significant incidents and long running issues, to provide high quality communication advice.  
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with officers and staff, senior officers, journalists, partners, government departments and other stakeholders. 
• Working closely with the wider department, ensuring all media handling plans are joined up with wider campaign and communication strategies. 
• Effectively measuring and evaluating your work against agreed objectives and acting on learnings. 
• Contribute to the delivery of a 24/7 emergency service press office, working 36 hours across a 7-day rota with on-call responsibilities.

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.