Job description

Are you a committed team player who can bring your whole self to work? 

Do you have experience of working in a busy media office working to tight deadlines? 

Would you like the opportunity to work in an exciting, energetic work environment where no two days are the same? 

If so, we’d love to hear from you 

We are looking for a creative and talented Press Officer to join our press office at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and become part of our high performing team. 

At the MCA, our Press Officers are responsible for maintaining and developing external relations, promoting key priorities and safety messages and protecting the Agency’s reputation using a variety of different platforms. 

The successful candidate will become involved in our creative media plans, handle media and lead in a way that maximises positive coverage. Our Press Officers are at the frontline of Maritime and Coastguard communications and this is an exciting time to join the team as we move in new directions under the leadership of a new CEO. 

Key responsibilities 

• Maintaining and developing good media relations with journalists across the UK from a broad range of publications, broadcasters and trade press, local, regional and national. 

• Handling incoming media enquiries effectively and professionally, responding with either phone calls or emailed statements in a timely manner. 

• Identifying the need for proactive media handling plans and creating these plans, liaising with key stakeholders as well as press and marketing colleagues in an holistic approach. 

• Developing and delivering key lines to take and disseminating them to media contacts. 

• Briefing Senior Leadership Team, Department for Transport as required on major incidents and matters of policy. 

• Creating press releases and social media content in accordance with our style guidelines, covering proactive and reactive, incidents and policy as well as corporate announcements. 

• Identifying proactive opportunities and creating press releases, articles and features as required. 

• Working as an integral part of the wider communications team, providing media support for campaigns. 

• Advising MCA colleagues on media handling - briefing for interviews, providing 1-2-1 practice where necessary, shadowing them at media events to advise. 

• Effectively evaluating media and social media activity, providing reports and figures where asked on social media following, engagement. 

• Contributing to social media project ideas based on key policies and messages across the MCA, working with press and wider Communications team. 

About you 

We are looking for someone who is a natural communicator. You will have a real passion for building fantastic and engaging content. You may already have a background in PR or Journalism and have the ability to produce outstanding work. You are able to tell a story and react quickly to new information. First-class writing skills are paramount to this job and the ability to turn around press releases and responses to tight deadlines. 

You would be described as a diligent person, happy to concentrate on your work and do a thorough job even when under pressure. You are ready to react quickly and will be a focused and calm person who can get the job done regardless of the environment you are in. We would encourage those with excellent judgement and a strong understanding of social media and the importance of engaging digital content. 

About us 

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government's maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea. 

Safer lives, Safer ships, Cleaner seas. 

Our vision is to be the best maritime safety organisation in the world. 

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 

We are part of the Department for Transport (DfT). DfT is a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department. 

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future. 

DfT has been recognised for its leadership on workplace gender equality by being included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017. 

DfT’s inclusion is recognition of our commitment to make the Department a great place to work through our culture of equality and inclusivity and the great strides we’ve made to raise the number of women in senior positions. 

Licences

Full valid UK Driving Licence

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits Pensions

Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Allowances

In the future, the role may have a requirement for the successful candidate to be included on the on call, out of hours rota for which an allowance would be paid.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass basic security checks.

Nationality statement

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules.

If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Please tailor your personal statement to reflect your experience of: 

• Working in a fast paced media office or press release team 
• Demonstrating excellent communication skills – written and verbal 
• Working at pace to achieve tight deadlines 
• Using a variety of writing skills and tailoring content to suit different platforms eg social media, press releases 
• Dealing with crisis communications 
• Being resilient and adaptable to change 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include: 
• an interview 
• an interview with one or more exercises 
• a full day of activities including interactive, written and timed exercises 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here 

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about: 
• what energises and motivates you 
• how you would manage situations relevant to the role 
• your previous experience 
• your professional skills and knowledge 

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information Contact point for applicants

If you have any queries relating to this vacancy, please contact Heather Skull 
Email : [email protected]

Sift/interview dates and location

The sift is due to take place on 1st July 

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from 22nd July 

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a security check may be carried out. 

Further information

The role involves short notice deployments and also occasionally working very long hours during incidents. There is some UK travel involved. 

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. 

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies. 

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process. 

Any move to the Department for Transport (DfT) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. 

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 
• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs 

• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact 

Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: 
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission