Media Communications Lead

Media Communications Lead – Chief Media Officer

The starting salary is £57,301, which includes allowances totalling £2,841.

The salary is broken down as £54,460 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £66,356. Plus, a location allowance of £1,841 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Westminster

From national to local media and digital channels; politicians, celebrities and local community through to the impact on police officer and colleagues, this role is about getting behind the story, understanding your audiences, using great news judgement, maximising positive coverage, advocacy and engagement to manage and creatively tell the story of how the Met is keeping London safe to the public.

We need experienced and senior communicators with strong media handling and PR skills to support us in delivering our mission of keeping the public safe.

 These are fast-paced and impactful senior roles. You will be responsible for one of the following:

• Leading a proactive media team responsible for a specific area of the Met’s delivery under the priorities set out in A New Met for London, our blueprint for delivering improved policing for the capital
• Jointly leading a team of up to 20 people on reactive communications - handling media inquiries and engagement across digital channels under the glare of global media scrutiny
• Supporting the planning, management, delivery, evaluation and continual improvements of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner’s reactive and proactive cross-discipline communications.

All of these roles are exciting, demanding, and involve close contact with high profile leaders in the Met, as well as members of management board, providing high-quality communications advice.

You will oversee and co-ordinate the planning and delivery of media strategy, identifying proactive opportunities and effectively managing proactive and reactive communications of nationally significant and often controversial issues in a fast-paced environment.

Working with senior comms leaders, you will support the planning, management, delivery, evaluation and continual improvement of cross-discipline communication.

This communications role is integral to the success of the Metropolitan Police Service. Our communities and police officers and staff depend on excellent communication and engagement.

The key responsibilities for this role are:

The key responsibilities will vary depending on the exact role, but are likely to demand you will:

• Lead a team in your delivery area with a clear strategy to communicate how the organisation and senior leaders are delivering A New Met for London. 
• Co-ordinate and oversee the delivery of high quality proactive and reactive communications and tailor them for media, digital and internal channels. 
• Lead multi-skilled teams as they work across several communication disciplines using modern up-to-date professional practice.
• Lead the strategic planning of communication activity across disciplines, building on three-month plans and providing clear and concise communication advice.
• Overseeing, coordinating and delivering response and rebuttal across digital channels.
• Use A New Met for London plan and the Commissioner’s priorities to oversee the delivery of key messages clearly, accurately and creatively across channels.  
• Represent communications to a very high standard with senior officers and staff, including strategic meetings overseeing significant incidents and long running issues, to provide high quality communications advice. 
• Lead teams to set up and manage media facilities, briefings and interviews with senior colleagues, provide briefings and Q&As, create engaging and compelling media content and quality assure reactive statements.
• Have a deep knowledge of both proactive and reactive delivery across the Communication and Engagement team and be part of improving the planning and scheduling of media activity, as well as the sign off and commissioning processes. 
• Lead a team, driving communications in your area of responsibility and ensuring the team has clear portfolios and priorities, objectives, feedback and support. 
• Show high ethical and professional standards that align to the values and principles set out in A New Met for London.

Additional Information

You may be expected to work at other Met buildings across London from time to time.

You will be part of working a weekend rota (approximately one weekend in five) with premium pay for weekends and time off in lieu and may be required to provide other out of hours cover with appropriate notice. You will also be part of an on-call rota.

Benefits Package

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of almost 29%.
• Up to 33 days of annual leave in addition to public holidays.
• Access to employee benefits, such as dental, cycle to work and savings when you shop.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Generous maternity, paternity, and parental leave.
• Interest free Season Ticket Loan.

How to apply

Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV, Personal Statement, and online application form. Your personal statement should outline why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. (NB. Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV).

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 10th July 2024.