Ministry of Defence Press Officer

The Ministry of Defence is seeking a talented and motivated Press Officer to join one of government’s busiest and highest-profile news teams.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing media coverage and communications relating to military policy across the UK and around the globe – from the UK’s response to the war in Ukraine to the latest technology and equipment being developed for defence.

The post holder will be expected to engage with national and international media (print, broadcast and digital), working closely with ministers, military officials, policy teams and No10 Downing Street to deliver proactive and reactive communications.

The Ministry of Defence is looking for those who enjoy delivering interesting and diverse communications at pace to continue to enhance the reputation of the department, UK Government and Armed Forces; and to support global security and stability.

You will be expected to work from the Ministry of Defence’s Whitehall Office for the majority of the time.

This position is advertised at 36/37 hours per week, Tacos Dependant.

The Ministry of Defence – including the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force – are subject to intense public, parliamentary and media scrutiny.

You will be responsible for delivering successful proactive and reactive communications which protect and enhance the reputation of the department and the Armed Forces.

You will:

• Respond to enquiries from national, international, regional, consumer and digital media outlets to enhance and protect the reputation of the department, ministers and senior military officers.
• Draft press releases, statements, and briefings for senior spokespeople, Ministers and the military.
• Manage media arrangements at a range of high-profile events.
• Provide professional and comprehensive communications advice to ministers, military officers, senior officials, special advisors, and members of the Directorate of Defence Communications.

As part of the News team, you will report to a Senior Communications Officer.

You will take part in the out-of-hours duty rota, dealing with media enquiries across the full breadth of the MOD’s responsibilities. This can involve occasional overnight stays in MOD accommodation, for which a generous allowance is paid.

Communication areas you will cover include, but are not restricted to:

• Military Operations overseas
• Equipment procurement and latest technology being developed in Defence
• Lawfare and wider Defence policy issues that affect how the UK Armed Forces operate.

The role will provide opportunities for travel, both within the UK and abroad and wider media minding asks from across the directorate.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement (250 words).

At sift, candidates will be assessed against the following:

• CV
• Personal Statement

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Working together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating at Influencing

Technical Skills:

• GCS - Implementation - Competency framework – technical specifications - Government Communications

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.