Press and Media Officer; opens in window

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Press and Media Officer

Salary: £40,444 – £45,529
Directorate: Communications
Grade: F15
Location: Chesterfield with regional East Midlands travel
Contract: Permanent

About therole

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Press and Media Officer to join ourbusy Communications team and help shape the daily news agenda for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and the Mayor of the East Midlands.

This is afast-paced role for someone who understands the media, has excellent news judgement and knows how to turn complex issues, policies and programmes intoclear, compelling stories.

You will play acentral role in delivering both proactive and reactive media activity, building strong relationships with journalists and ensuring EMCCA and the Mayor are represented clearly, accurately and effectively across local, regional and national media.

From identifying opportunities to showcase the impact of our work, to responding quickly and confidently to breaking news and media enquiries, you will helpraise the profile of the Mayor, EMCCA and the East Midlands region.

You will also provide trusted media advice to senior colleagues and the Mayoral Office,helping to identify opportunities, anticipate reputational risks and ensure timely, consistent communications in a rapidly changing media and political environment.

As aregional press and media role, you will need to travel regularly across

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. You will also be expected to participate in the emergency out-of-hours communications rota, which will involve some evening and weekend working. Out-of-hours rota work is paid.

What you'llbe doing

You will:

• Deliver proactive and reactive press and media activity for EMCCA and the Mayor of the East Midlands.
• Develop and maintain strong,professional relationships with journalists across local, regional and national media.
• Identify opportunities to turnEMCCA and Mayoral priorities, programmes and achievements into compelling news stories.
• Write high-quality press releases,media statements, briefings, social media content and opinion pieces for arange of audiences.
• Respond confidently and accuratelyto media enquiries, often working to tight deadlines.
• Monitor the news, media and political landscape to identify emerging issues, opportunities and potential reputational risks.
• Provide timely, clear andwell-informed media advice to senior colleagues and the Mayoral Office.
• Help shape the daily news agendaand develop proactive media opportunities that demonstrate the impact ofEMCCA's work across the region.
• Facilitate press conferences and coordinate media activity around interviews, announcements and events.
• Support journalists and manage media during interviews with the Mayor and other senior spokespeople.
• Work closely with colleagues across
  
  Communications, Marketing and the wider organisation to develop integrated communications activity.
• Integrate PR and social media activity to maximise the reach and impact of key announcements and campaigns.
• Monitor and evaluate media coverage and communications activity, using insight to improve future media approaches.
• Contribute to protecting and enhancing the reputation of EMCCA and the Mayor through accurate, timelyand consistent communications.
• Travel regularly across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to support media activity, interviews, announcements,events and other communications activity across the EMCCA region.
• Participate in the emergency out-of-hours communications rota. This will involve some evening and weekend working when required, with out-of-hours rota work paid.

About you

We're looking for an experienced press and media professional who thrives in a fast-moving environment and understands what makes a story work.

You will have strong press office, media-handling or news environment experience and be comfortable managing multiple priorities, responding to enquiries and delivering accurate work under pressure.

You'll have excellent writing skills and the ability to adapt your style for different audiences and channels. Whether you're writing a press release, drafting astatement, preparing an opinion piece or creating social media content, you'llknow how to communicate complex issues clearly, accurately and compellingly.

Most importantly, you'll have strong news judgement and reputational awareness.

You'll be able to spot a good story, anticipate where issues may develop,identify…