Communications Officer (News) Portishead, England
Job description
Salary: £34,287 - £36,177 pro rata (plus a stand-by allowance and overtime approx. £4,000 per year).
Do you want to work for one of the most exciting, progressive and largest police forces in the country?
We’re looking for an experienced media professional to join our busy news team – to help respond to the thousands of regional and national media enquiries we receive every year and help tell the story of how Avon and Somerset Police is fighting and preventing crime and keeping communities safe.
You’ll have responsibility for managing sensitive and complex media issues, you’ll oversee ground-breaking documentaries and you’ll lead on the communications for high-profile investigations, incidents and police operations, as well as playing a key part in providing round-the-clock on-call cover.
You’ll relish the challenges of working under pressure as part of a team and you’ll share your experience to help us set the news agenda.
Working with senior leaders, you’ll provide professional advice to officers and staff at all levels and generate media handling plans and key messages for specific cases and operations. You’ll be working on everything from murder enquiries and modern slavery investigations to serious and organised crime and exploitation cases.
To be considered for the role you’ll need to have;
- Experience of working in a fast-paced newsroom or press office
- Excellent writing skills
- Sound media law knowledge
- A thorough understanding of how print, broadcast and digital media works
- The ability to build networks and strong relationships with local, national and specialist media
- Excellent prioritisation skills
- Experience of working independently
- A relevant industry degree or National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification or have an equivalent level of experience gained in a large and complex organisation.
Hours & Location of work:
You will work shifts to facilitate the core opening hours of the press office, between 8am and 5.30pm Monday-Friday. All press officers are on the on-call rota, to provide out-of-hours cover on weekday evenings and on weekends, for which a stand-by allowance and overtime for any hours worked are paid (approx. £4,000 per year).
The role also necessitates you traveling around the force area when required. You will agree your specific working arrangements with your line manager.
About us
Diversity is a strength and individuality is an asset.
We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.
We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country.
Find out more about our benefits and culture
Click the video link below to see why our colleagues feel they can "Be the Difference"
Avon and Somerset Police encourage flexible working where operationally possible.
This role has been identified as a blended role.
The successful candidate for this role will have the opportunity to work from home whilst also at a secondary work location, which will be a police premises. The successful applicant will have the option to discuss working arrangements with their line manager. All applicants must reside within the UK.
Important information before you commence an application (for external applicants)
You will require the following detail to complete this application form:
- National Insurance Number
- Identification Detail e.g. passport
- Address information including proof
- Referee information
- Full employment history including dates and any qualifications you may have attained
- Tattoos - you will also be requested to provide photos and describe of any visible tattoos you have
If the role requires you to drive you will also be required to upload details from your full driving licence including photos.
Important information before you commence an application- for ALL applicants
The application system only remains active on a single page for a period of 60 minutes.
Please ensure you allow time to complete your application fully as part complete pages do not save.
If the role has evidence questions you may wish to save these remotely and paste your answers into the boxes at time of submission.
