Description
Information/Press Officer required to work within a press office for a government department. The role of IO involves: organising Ministerial interviews, visits, announcements and publicity around speeches and events; providing timely proactive and reactive media handling advice to ministers and senior officials; skilfully and effectively briefing journalists accurately and with authority; working closely with ministers private offices, officials and communications colleagues to plan and implement media strategies across a broad range of media outlets including specialist, lifestyle, online and other new media; strategically planning communications activity across all disciplines to maximise our impact and negotiating with private offices and Number 10 on timing and handling plans. developing an understanding of issues across the department enabling you to play an effective part in the wider press office team; and participating in an out-of-hours duty rota, for which overtime and allowances are paid. As this is a government role, security clearance to CTC level must be achieved unless already a holder.
Skills Required
Essential Skills:
You should be an experienced communications professional with the following: an excellent news sense to anticipate and spot breaking news stories the judgement and drive to make difficult decisions and take swift and appropriate action the ability to persuade others of the benefits of your recommendations or negotiate with others good writing skills - you can turn around clean, crisp copy in plain English to tight deadlines good oral communications skills combined with the confidence to deal with people at all levels the ability to identify and understand internal and external audiences and adapts language to suit a broad understanding of comms channels, how they interact and work to reach target audiences the confidence and skills to quickly get to grips with our agenda and build knowledge of our organisation an understanding of pressure from and demands of Ministers and officials the skills to make a persuasive and objective case to support communications advice a talent in developing and nurturing excellent contacts with the media and external stakeholders the skills to actively engage with a broad range of internal partners to shape handling a proven track record of drafting media/comms plans for proactive announcements, launches etc. an awareness of political context in making communications choices the ability to remain focused under pressure, organise priorities, tackle complex tasks and issues with determination in a busy environment and in the face of resistance - a can-do attitude the ability to quickly identify where changes are needed and make them happen. a commitment to taking responsibility for own contribution to working and delivering your team's objectives