Planning and Press Officer

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

This range is provided by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Responsibilities will be:

• News planning – work with policy and communications teams to ensure the Department’s communications work is planned in advance with all handling aspects recorded.
• News gridding - represent the department at weekly meetings, to make sure our announcements are reflected and prominent within wider Government plans.
• Horizon scanning – quickly spot both potential issues but also opportunities to insert a government voice positively.
• Reactive media handling – manage breaking stories, draft and provide timely lines to take and accurate information to journalists.
• Proactive media handling – draft proactive press releases and communications handling plans that tells the Department’s story in a clear and succinct way. You will work with policy colleagues and Special Advisers to agree key messages and plans to maximise ministerial time, including on visits.
• Digital communications - help the Department create, shape, share and exchange information through online and virtual networks.

Person specification

Essential Criteria for the Role:

• Experience working as a media gridder or planner in a fast‑paced press office or media relations environment.
• Ability to maintain strong attention to detail and accuracy while working under pressure managing multiple priorities.
• Adept at handling reactive media enquiries to tight deadlines by drafting clear and accurate responses.
• Strong presentation skills, adaptable for various challenging audiences.
• Strong understanding of the multimedia landscape and news cycle, equally comfortable writing press lines and creating platform‑appropriate content for digital channels.
• Ability to horizon scan and quickly spot potential problems but also opportunities to insert a government voice positively.
• Ability to quickly collate information from one format into another.
• Collaborative approach to working with officials, communications teams and other Government departments.

Click Apply for more details and benefits of working for DWP

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Strategy/Planning and Other

Government Administration

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by 2x

Apply BELOW