Media Manager

This contract with our government client is for a Media Manager for 4 months based in Bristol preferred or Swansea. 60% in the office per month. The pay rate to candidate is   £108.15 p/d Umbrella.  

Responsibilities:  

- Deliver informative external communications to assist the effective operation of the services and promote the agency’s vision, priorities and policies.  

- Provide a highly-responsive reactive media handling capability, as well as proactively creating and seeding stories, and developing quality ‘direct-to-consumer’ content using digital and social media.  

- Ensure all communications activity is insight-driven and fully evaluated.  

- Draft quality press releases, press packs, and lines to take and issue within agreed protocols.  

- Work closely with colleagues at all levels from across the agency to gather information and obtain sign-off.  

- Liaise with external contacts, including press office and other government departments, where appropriate.  

- Draft proactive and reactive social media messages for range of the organisation's channels  

- Respond quickly to media requests and agree points of escalation.  

- Provide media handling advice to agency spokespeople, provide briefing and lines to take and oversee filming opportunities/interviews.  

- Develop and nurture excellent relationships with journalists and contacts in all forms of media, to improve story placement and check progress.  

- Review requests from media for the organisation's involvement and collaboration in filming and programme production activity and make recommendations to the Chief Media Officer and Head of External Communications.  

- Work up ideas for stories and case studies that support communication and business/policy objectives; seeding stories strategically to showcase policy strategy and operational delivery.  

- Manage and contribute to the delivery of external communications campaigns and plans, working collaboratively with communications business partners and subject matter experts, ensuring an integrated approach. Make decisions about the most appropriate channels, using digital and other technologies to full potential, such as blogs, email alerts, infographics, photography, filming and social media  

- Create quality publishable content, using appropriate digital channels to reach target audiences and ensuring that content meets accessibility and usability standards in accordance with the Government Digital Service (GDS) guidance.  

- Be an expert in GDS style requirements and Government Communications Service (GCS) principles, share knowledge and promote them as best practice throughout the organisation's Directorates and their teams, Directors, Senior Managers and the rest of the communications team.  

- Give advice and guidance to project personnel, subject matter experts, senior managers, Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) and Directors on social media usage at work in line with the organisation's social media policy and strategy.  

- Engage with partners and stakeholders - including in online networks – to maximise reach and foster support.  

- Respond to short notice organisational deadlines and requirements where necessary.  

- Maintain an awareness of the news agenda and emerging news events.  

- Conduct media monitoring to assess reach to target audiences and delivery of key messages.  

- Maintain an awareness of the news agenda and emerging news events.  

- Conduct media monitoring to assess reach to target audiences and delivery of key messages.  

- Interpret quantitative and qualitative data to build audience insight, using appropriate tools to monitor content and listen to conversations on key external digital channels, including social media.  

- Horizon scan and intervene in conversations as required or escalate for management action to protect and enhance agency reputation  

- Advise on, and analyse, effectiveness indicators for digital communication and campaigns.  

- In line with GCS requirements, set clear objectives and the evaluation criteria for the communication activities to measure the success of the messages and channels, producing monthly analysis reports for the evaluation board.  

- Provide guidance to staff to support the delivery of objectives. Manage and engage with honesty and integrity, upholding the reputation of the Agency, Department and Civil Service.  

- Work in collaboration with colleagues across all functions for the good of the organisation and to create a high performing and well respected Agency.  

Internal  

- Advise senior management and CSLs where messages are conflicting with other initiatives within the wider organisation that will impact on the integrity or timing of the communications.  

- Organise regular and timely updates to line manager and colleagues in Communications team, including, Chief Media Officer, Head of External Communications and Strategic Communication managers  

- Attend internal meetings / project boards as required to advise on and inform the development of external communication plans and campaigns.  

External  

- Advise the organisation's Press Office, the Digital Communications and Ministerial private office of media and social media issues requiring escalation or notification  

- Keep up-to-date with and implement changes and developments arising from the Communications Group Operating Model and new requirements set by the Government Communications Service. Build and share knowledge of communications activities to make informed decisions on strategies for improving external communications and designing and implementing new external communications channels.  

Assignment Background  

- Responsible for delivering external communications to support the organisation's services and providing a highly responsive reactive media handling capability  

- Entry level for Media team. Press office function that supports agency – national.  

Core Day to Day Duties  

- Media relations, producing content  

- Day to day media  

- Press office function – journalist enquiries, clearing things with SMT.  

- Corporate reputation team, contact centre.  

- dealing with enquiries – first line for business/government media team.

Essential:  

- Good verbal and written communication skills.  

- The ability to write clearly and simply, using plain English.  

- A practical understanding of how print, broadcast and digital media work, including the media cycle, circulation and deadlines.  

- Experience of working with the media, including digital and social media.  

- Negotiation and persuasion skills; ability to build alliances to make a case.  

- The ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.  

- A practical understanding of emerging digital services, tools and trends, including techniques for optimising digital content.  

Key Essential Skills and Top Evaluation Criteria:  

- Media experience is essential  

- Press office – managing reputation,  

- Able to communicate with Journalists  

- Drafting responses.  

- Understanding of how government depts and structure.  

- Solid experience – speaking with media.  

- Press Office experience  

- Copywriting / content production around social media – array of contact for digital platforms – blogs/social media/website etc.  

- Good communication skills  

Desirable Skills:  

- Any specific Technology/Systems experience required: MS suite  

- Any specific Technology/Systems experience required MS suite  

Useful if they have:  

- Gov delivery, mail marketing systems. Social media scheduling tools, media monitoring systems.  

- Previous Authority Experience required Public sector / government / charity experience.  

- CIPR would be beneficial.