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Chief Press Officer(Ref: 89050)

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Ministry of Justice

Jul 27

Applications are closed

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior & Expert Level
  • London

Requirements

  • - Please refer to Job Description
  • - Chief Press Officer
  • - We want insightful, highly-motivated people with excellent news judgment to throw themselves into our busy, friendly team.
  • - As a Chief Press Officer, you will manage a team and be expected to provide leadership for the wider office.
  • - You will lead a team of press officers on one of our exciting briefs – which could include Prisons; Probation; Courts & Law; or Justice & Victims; or our busy, reactive Newsdesk.
  • - Wherever you end up you will be part of a team responsible for delivering a high-quality, 24/7 media relations operation for Ministers, Executive Agencies and officials across the full range of the department’s brief.
  • - You will be expected to hit the ground running, demonstrate your media instinct, and show willingness to lead by example. Dynamism and positivity are a must.
  • - These roles can be demanding and you will be expected to bring drive and enthusiasm for both management and media handling, as well as press relations know-how and the ability to impress Ministers.
  • - You will have a sharp news sense, be politically savvy and possess excellent media skills garnered from relevant press office experience.
  • - You will have experience of leading others and be able to show evidence of driving high performance.
  • - Experience of working in government communications is ideal, but not essential.

Responsibilities

  • - Lead a team of press officers on one of the exciting briefs
  • - Deliver a high-quality, 24/7 media relations operation for Ministers, Executive Agencies, and officials
  • - Drive the team to seek creative ways to generate media coverage
  • - Manage media facilities, organize interviews, draft reactive statements, and brief journalists
  • - Develop and coach the team to help them perform at a high standard
  • - Provide media-handling advice on policy briefs to senior officials and colleagues on sensitive, complex, and high-profile issues
  • - Develop strong relationships with journalists and brief them confidently and accurately
  • - Facilitate collaboration with other MoJ communications functions, departments, and agencies
  • - Provide feedback and direction to the wider office
  • - Act as a leader in the office and make considered decisions under pressure
  • - Coach the team to bring out the best in their ability and drive their continued development
  • - Manage a modern media team in developing proactive longer-term handling strategies
  • - Help drive the use of evaluation and insight
  • - Anticipate and spot breaking news stories and issue swift, robust, and appropriate responses
  • - Encourage and facilitate collaboration with other MoJ communications functions, departments, and agencies
  • - Participate in a management back-up rota for the out-of-hours duty press officers

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Chief Press Officer position at the Ministry of Justice?

The Chief Press Officer will lead a dynamic press office responsible for shaping stories and influencing news related to various areas, such as prisons, probation, family justice, legal aid, and the courts system. This role involves managing a team, providing media-handling advice to ministers, and driving high-quality media relations operations.

What are the key responsibilities of the Chief Press Officer?

Key responsibilities include leading a team of press officers, providing media-handling advice to senior officials and ministers, managing media facilities, drafting reactive statements, coaching team members, developing proactive media strategies, and collaborating with other MoJ communication functions.

What qualifications and experience are required for the Chief Press Officer role?

Candidates should possess a sharp news sense, political savvy, and excellent media skills acquired from relevant press office experience. Leadership experience and a proven ability to perform under pressure are essential. While experience in government communications is ideal, it is not mandatory.

What qualities and skills will the successful candidate need to demonstrate?

The successful candidate should demonstrate effective decision-making, leadership abilities, insight into media issues, creativity in developing press strategies, and the capacity to implement effective communication plans. They should also be able to handle high-profile and sensitive subjects confidently.

What is the expected work environment for this position?

This position is site-specific to London and will involve hybrid working, which includes substantial time in the office each week. The Chief Press Officer will also participate in a management back-up rota for out-of-hours duty, which involves additional payments.

What is the salary and benefits package for the Chief Press Officer role?

The salary for the Chief Press Officer is £58,847, with the Ministry of Justice contributing £16,418 towards Civil Service pension membership. Additional benefits include access to learning and development opportunities, a supportive working culture, a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%, annual leave, public holidays, and season ticket advances.

What is the application process for this position?

Applicants must submit a CV and a personal statement of suitability (no more than 750 words). The personal statement should explain interest in the role and demonstrate how their experience fits the criteria. Candidates may also need to complete a writing and prioritization exercise during the interview.

What behaviors and technical skills will candidates be assessed on?

Candidates will be assessed on two key behaviors: Making Effective Decisions and Leadership. They will also be evaluated on four technical skills, including Insight (understanding issues and providing communication advice), Ideas (developing proactive press strategies), Implementation (executing effective communication plans), and Impact (assessing communication effectiveness).

Is experience in government communications required for this role?

While experience in government communications is ideal, it is not a strict requirement. The emphasis is more on relevant press office experience, leadership skills, and the ability to drive performance under pressure.

Who can I contact for more information about the application process?

For more information regarding the application form, terms of employment, and the recruitment process, interested candidates are encouraged to contact Anna Rutter, Deputy Head of News, at anna.rutter1@justice.gov.uk.

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Ministry of Justice

We protect & advance the UK's principles of justice, working to deliver a world-class justice system for all.

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