Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
We are looking for a motivated Press Officer to deliver reactive and proactive media engagement, helping to build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and stakeholders across the housing and regeneration sector.
You will join MHCLG’s Communications Directorate and work in a team that delivers key communications for our delivery partner, Homes England.
You’ll play a crucial role in delivering purpose led, values-driven reactive and proactive media engagement for Homes England, helping to establish and maintain strong relationships with journalists.
You’ll develop media materials, briefings, handling strategies and respond to media queries from national and specialist media outlets.
You’ll work flexibly, using your expertise to support campaigns or other activity across the wider communications mix when needed, including social media and external opportunities like events. Additionally, you’ll collaborate with other internal colleagues in relevant teams to understand and plan for emerging opportunities and issues.
You’ll maintain relationships with colleagues across the communications team and work with teams across the broader organisations, providing advice and ensuring appropriate recommendations and briefings are supplied.
In addition, you’ll build productive relationships with journalists, and with national and local external communications teams from across the housing and regeneration sector.
Job Description
- Build a trusted network of journalists and other key external stakeholders.
- Plan and deliver proactive media activity, including press releases, media materials, briefings and handling plans aligned to organisational priorities.
- Produce content for other external communication priorities.
- Draft copy to a high standard for press releases, comment pieces, reactive lines, speeches, features and media briefings.
- Provide interview scripts and prepare members of staff ahead of interviews.
- Anticipate communications issues, escalating and recommending solutions where necessary.
- Build a trusted network of journalists and other key external stakeholders.
- Plan and deliver proactive media activity, including press releases, media materials, briefings and handling plans aligned to organisational priorities.
- Produce content for other external communication priorities.
- Draft copy to a high standard for press releases, comment pieces, reactive lines, speeches, features and media briefings.
- Provide interview scripts and prepare members of staff ahead of interviews.
- Anticipate communications issues, escalating and recommending solutions where necessary.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Strong understanding of the media and political environment and news cycle, with the ability to apply sound judgement in a fast-paced, reactive setting.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, producing high-quality copy, tailoring messages to different audiences.
- Proven ability to turn complex information into clear, concise key messages and media materials.
- Ability to draft and implement successful media handling strategies, with a focus on delivering compelling content for traditional, consumer and digital channels.
- Knowledge of communications and content disciplines, including social media/digital channels, and the ability to contribute to the wider communications mix when required.
- Ability to effectively handle media queries and build productive relationships with journalists and other external stakeholders.
- Experience of anticipating or identifying communications issues and recommending effective solutions.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
Alongside your salary of £36,169, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £10,478 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
Behaviours , Experience
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Important: Your CV and Cover Letter
must be merged into a single document before uploading.
Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)
Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 500 words, please set out how you meet the essential skills and experience required in the role.
Stage 2: Interview
- Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
- Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Sift and Interview
Sifting is envisaged to take place 02/06/2026.
Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)
We are a Disability Confident employer.
We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.
However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.
How We Recruit
Find out more about our recruitment processes here.
- Applying
- Sifting
- Interview
- Interview Results & Feedback
- Reserve List
- Near Miss
- Civil Service Grades
- We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
- Reasonable Adjustments
How To Apply
Find out everything you need to know before applying here.
You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.
- Security Clearance Requirements
- Civil Service Nationality Requirements
- Right to Work
- Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
- CV Declaration
- Sponsorships
- Salary and Grade
- Existing Civil Servants
- Conflict of Interest
- Location and Flexible Working
- Fixed Term Contracts
- Internal Fraud Database
- Appeals and Complaints
Security Clearance Requirements
National Office: BPSS
London Office: BPSS + CTC
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Michael Greenland
- Email : Michael.Greenland@communities.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk
Further information
About
If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
a procedural irregularity
an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk
