Media Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 300507**Salary**:

- £31,265 - £39,000- The national salary range is £31,265 - £34,446, London salary range is £35,405 - £39,000. Your salary will be dependent on your base location**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer- HEO**Contract type**:

- Fixed Term
- Loan**Length of employment**:

- Up to 2 years**Type of role**:

- Communications / Marketing**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- This position is based at NIO 1 HORSE GUARDS ROAD, LONDON, SW1A 2HQ, SW1A 2HQ, MOJ NIO Erskine House, BT1 4GFAbout the job

**Job summary**:

- Please refer to Job Description**Job description**:
**LOCATION**

London or Belfast
Occasional Travel to other office locations will be required.

**DURATION** Two-year loan/ fixed term contract.

**APPLICATIONS INVITED FROM**

Salary Scale - London £35,405-£39,000 Belfast £31,265-£34,446

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band advertised.

**Who we are**

**Inclusion and diversity**

We strive to be an inclusive employer and are recognised by our staff and externally as being an employer where diversity and inclusion are valued.

We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation.

We have an active D&I network supporting colleagues through D&I Advocates, championed by our Directors.

We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.

**What we do**

**Background**

The NIO represents Northern Ireland’s interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland.

We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past; playing a key role in rebalancing the NI economy; representing NI interests, including on the border with Ireland, following the exit from the EU.

Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, requiring regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials.

We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.

**ABOUT THE ROLE**:
We are looking to recruit a highly motivated person to work as a media officer at the heart of

the NIO’s communications team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a very important area of the UK Government. The post holder will work under the supervision of a senior communications officer.

They will respond to media queries and breaking news stories, draft and implement proactive communication plans, monitor, develop digital content and work with partners across government. They will support ministerial visits and will be required to be part of the out-of-hours duty rota.

This role offers substantial scope for learning and development. It requires flexibility, proactivity, and a willingness and interest to learn new areas of work.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

- Responding to all media queries in a timely manner, working alongside policy colleagues to produce appropriate responses that shape reporting;
- Working as part of an out-of-hours duty rota, handling media enquiries, coordinating the departmental response and circulating media coverage;
- Preparing communications plans, press releases, statements and social media / digital content;
- Distributing communications products (news releases, statements, commentary etc) to key media stakeholders and on NIO social media / digital channels;
- Monitoring all news and digital media channels, tracking and evaluating developing news stories and providing updates to relevant stakeholders;
- Supporting the team to arrange and organise Ministerial events and visits as well as interviews and press conferences. Developing media plans for events, announcements and policy changes;
- Developing and maintaining working relationships with key media and external stakeholders to ensure that key messages are amplified across a wide range of outlets;
- Maintaining and updating information on the nio.gov.uk webpage.

**ESSENTIAL CRITERIA**:

- Excellent written and oral communications skills, ability to communicate effectively at all grades combined with strong planning and organisational skills
- An excellent news sense with the ability to anticipate and spot breaking news stories, as well as identifying opportunities to influence reporting;
- Experience writing copy e.g. for communications plans, press releases, statements and social / digital channels;
- Demonstrable experience of working to meet tight deadlines.

**DESIRABLE CRITERIA**:

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