Media Officer - Cheltenham, United Kingdom - GCHQ

GCHQ
GCHQ
Verified Company
Cheltenham, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

About Us


At GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online.

Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks.

A role in GCHQ means you'll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.


The Role


We're looking for a talented and dynamic Media Officer with a passion for and experience of original storytelling to join our exciting and unique Communications and Engagement Team (CET).

We're one of the few organisations which can genuinely say:
"No two days are ever the same".


You will have experience of working in public relations and or journalism with excellent knowledge and interest of the UK and global news agenda and landscape, combined with strong news judgement, political awareness and the ability to confidently present work to seniors.

You will be able to spot, judge risk and reward and deliver stories with impact.

Working with a Senior Media Officer and closely with the rest of the Media and Digital team, you'll drive and deliver proactive media activity and manage reactive queries to promote and protect GCHQ's reputation.


Through storytelling and expert media handling you will help build to trust and understanding of our mission, help to attract the best people from all walks of life and highlight key threats to the UK to key audiences.


As well as good written skills, you will need good judgement, powers of persuasion, perseverance and good relationships with journalists and other media contacts to help us reach, inspire and engage audiences.


  • Deliver impactful news or feature stories through creative storytelling
  • Manage reputational risk for the organisation through reactive and strategic communications
  • Manage media relations across print, broadcast, online and consumer titles
  • Work closely with digital and external affairs team to deliver holistic communications campaigns
  • Strategic thinking to deliver on GCHQ's Communications Strategy
  • Work constructively with mission teams and policy colleagues to identify opportunities and risk
  • Support senior figures in the organisation, including Director GCHQ, with their media engagements
  • Use insight to plan their work to effectively meet target audiences as well as evaluation measure impact
  • Participate in the outofhours duty rota (for which an overtime allowance is paid)
You will work with colleagues from CET, across the organisation and partner organisations within government.


About you
You will have considerable experience working within a communications team or in a media organisation. Some experience of Whitehall would be desirable but not essential.

  • Proactive and reactive communications
  • Pitching to and dealing with journalists
  • Identifying media opportunities and risks
  • Ability to present ideas and advice to seniors
  • Good written skills


You'll need to be constantly curious, be a good team player working with a diversity of views, be able to persevere in sometimes challenging circumstances and creative in your storytelling given the nature of a lot of what GCHQ does is secret.

You'll also need to be a self-starter with the ability to get ideas off the ground without too much supervision


Training and development


You will have a formal induction to the organisation as well as a bespoke programme of on-boarding sessions with members of the comms team as well as different mission areas.

CET operates a buddy program to give you a support network outside of your line management chain.


Rewards and Benefits
You'll receive a starting salary of £36,836 with a concessionary payment of £2,330.

If your role is based in London this also attracts a London pay addition of £6,242 plus other benefits including:

  • 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
  • Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
  • Interestfree season ticket loan
  • Excellent pension scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and onsite coffee bars (at some locations)
  • Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal Opportunities
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:

We're Disability Confident

What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit.

Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:


  • Application sift, looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation and essential skills
  • Virtual interview with Presentation

Before You Apply
To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clear
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