We're looking for an exceptional Senior Press Officer to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Senior Press Officer, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.
Our opportunity is part time, 24 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.
World changing work
From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.
We're a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
We're experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
We're better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers
Your world of expertise
As one of a vibrant team of Press Officers and Senior Press Officers, you will sit within the Media and Campaigns Team, under the Head of Media and Campaigns, within the wider Communications and Engagement function. You will have a key role in promoting, protecting and enhancing the Met Office brand and reputation, supporting delivery of the Communications and Engagement strategy across media, social media and communications channels, as well as supporting running of the day-to-day press office. You will be responsible for leading our PR around particular sectors which may include aspects of communicating climate science and technology, as well as supporting wider Met Office priorities.
Your key duties
Lead team resources day to day to plan, create and deliver media and social media communications projects especially across weather, climate, and industry/Government Sectors to exploit and maximise media coverage that promotes and protects the brand and reputation.
Work across the whole of our media and digital offering to contribute to a consistent voice and good consumer experience across all our channels and with colleagues to continuously improve the service provided to internal and external audiences.
Handle news media enquiries in an appropriate, timely manner, including using social media channels, to promote and protect the Met Office's reputation in line with the communications and engagement strategy and programme plans.
Proactively identify up-and-coming media and social media opportunities and threats and ensure that the Met Office is aware of and prepared for all key issues that may impact our reputation and take advantage of opportunities.
Create and develop meaningful internal and external contacts, to cultivate beneficial relationships widely with the media and partners, and across the Met Office and our stakeholders.
Ensure that reputation management, and when necessary, crisis management, is conducted throughout all media and comms channels, including social channels, providing consistent lines for all stakeholders.
Provide direction, guidance and advice to the Executive, senior management and to other Met Office staff to help them maximise opportunities with the news media, and to identify and manage risks.
Draft lines to take, media plans, narratives, messages, press releases, Q&A, blogs, and other digital content, including social media, in collaboration with appropriate colleagues, and ensure that all Met Office communications are co-ordinated in a way that benefits the Met Office.
As necessary, deliver media interviews in the press, on radio and occasionally on TV.
There may be opportunity/necessity to become part of an out of hours on-call roster in this position.
Why join us
Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is accredited as a 'Great Place to Work UK 2023' and in addition has achieved a place on both the UK's 'Best Workplaces in Tech' and 'Best Workplaces for Women' lists.
As our Senior Press Officer, your total reward package will be up to £57,639 annually, which includes:
£41,725 base pay (pro-rated for part time)
An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 27%
Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave. Please note that annual leave will be pro-rated for part time employees.
Essential Criteria, skills and experience:
Expert by nature - Experience and understanding of the news media and social landscape, having worked successfully in a role that includes regular contact with the media.
Better together with evidence of excellent interpersonal and team working, and negotiation skills that enable delivery of effective working relationships at all levels of an organisation.
Live and breathe it - Demonstrable experience of dealing with fast-moving situations, being able to make good judgement in difficult situations.
Expert by nature - Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, being able to communicate with impact.
Keep evolving - Experience of developing engaging online, social media, and news content across a spectrum of distribution channels, which successfully deliver increased reach or manage reputation.
Expert by nature - Experience of communicating complex subjects to a public audience.
Expert by nature - Ability to develop and deliver multi-channel PR plans (including consistent messaging) to successfully promote, position or protect a topic with an agreed audience, demonstrating a successful outcome.
How to apply
If you share our values, we'd love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.
Closing date 15th September 2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 30th September 2024. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.
How we can help
If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please contact us via. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.
We understand that great minds don't always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.
We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.
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