Media Manager

Details
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Reference number

479813

Salary

£41,750 \- £48,250
National pay locations: Manchester, Sheffield £41,750\-£44,250; London pay location: Westminster £45,750\-£48,250\. Plus annual allowance of £2,300\.
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer### Contract type

Permanent### Business area

HO \- Communications Directorate### Type of role

Communications / Marketing### Working pattern

Full\-time### Number of jobs available

3
Contents
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• Location


• About the job


• Benefits


• Things you need to know


• Apply and further information

Location
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Manchester, Sheffield, WestminsterAbout the job
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Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter\-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

Our work as Home Office communicators is never far from the front pages, making this a fast\-paced and hugely exciting and creative team to join.

We believe a positive, open and supportive culture is crucial to help everyone deliver their best work. As a member of the Communications Directorate, you’ll be supporting our mission to deliver outstanding public services that work for everyone.

As a media manager for one of our proactive, thematic teams, (aligned to the Home Secretary’s priorities), you’ll be supporting on one of the UK Government’s key ambitions from reducing knife crime and combatting child sexual abuse and violence against women and girls to reducing net migration, protecting our borders, and strengthening the UK’s national security.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the Home Office Communications Directorate with our policies at the top of the news agenda, you’ll be part of the team helping to set that agenda and bringing the government’s top priorities to the public. The media team plays a key role in shaping communications in the rapidly evolving media landscape, using both traditional print and digital channels to reach our target audiences.

Job description

You will join a multi\-disciplinary team with colleagues based across the UK working in one of the most complex and demanding departments in government. Home Office communications sit within the wider professional body for government communicators, the Government Communication Service.

You will play a key role in one of the Communications Directorate’s thematic teams, focusing on media. This includes strategic planning on upcoming proactive announcements, managing emerging issues and communications risks and working closely with the newsdesk team on handling reactive enquiries from journalists.

You will work with teams across the Directorate to design and implement insight\-led, innovative media plans to reach our target audiences across channels such as broadcast, print and social media.

You will be expected to build relationships with key journalists, briefing them on issues and pitching stories to show the government’s progress in key policy areas.

You will work closely with colleagues including policy officials, operational teams, external stakeholders, Ministers and 10 Downing Street, advising on the role media and communication can play in delivering on government priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with colleagues, including policy officials and operational teams, to advise on the role communications can play.


• Devise and deliver clear integrated media and communication plans to announce policies or successes by providing media advice, drafting press releases and facilitating ministerial interviews.


• Respond to media enquiries and ensure the Department’s position is accurately reported.


• Advise Ministers and senior officials on proactive and reactive media.

Training

The Home Office is committed to supporting learning and development through formal training and on the job opportunities.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of these roles, they are only available on a full\-time basis.

You will also be required to join the out of hours duty rota and contribute approximately one to two shifts a month. Training and overtime pay is provided.

Travel

Occasional national UK travel may be required for example for a Ministerial visit, when an overnight stay may be required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in a fast\-paced media role, or similar, juggling competing priorities, exercising good judgement, and keeping calm under pressure.


• Strong news sense and understanding of current affairs, including how to identify and mitigate reputational risks.


• An ability to communicate effectively (excellent written and speaking skills), and develop trusted and productive relationships with colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.


• Creative and digital communications skills.


• Proven ability to distil large amounts of complex information into clear key messages suitable for specific audiences.


• Understanding of how audience insight and evaluation can be used to inform communication strategies and activity.

Desirable Criteria

• Past experience of working in Communications for a large organisation.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace


• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Communications – Ideas


• Communications – Impact


• Communications – Insight


• Communications – Implementation

Benefits
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In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• Successful candidates will be eligible for a Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) of £2,300 annually.


• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28\.97%.


• In\-year reward scheme for one\-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.


• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.


• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.


• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home\-based working. This is a non\-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.


• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Sign\-up on our website to receive emails with information about careers at the Home Office.

Things you need to know
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Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.### Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the followingCivil Service Work Strengths Test and Verbal Test.

1\. Online Test – by 24th September 2026

If you successfully pass the Civil Service Work Strengths Test and Verbal Test, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24\-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online tests or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Following successful completion of your tests, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2\. Application – by 24th September 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV


• Personal Statement (maximum 500 words)


• Evidence of the Behaviour Delivering at Pace (maximum of 250 words)

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3\. Sift – from 28th September 2026

The sift will be held on the Persona

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