Press Officer

We are MHCLG

We are looking for motivated and creative individuals, with a passion for news and current affairs, to join our supportive, ambitious and collaborative team. To be successful in this role, you will be confident in turning complex information into clear, concise content that speaks to different audiences. You'll be responsible for coming up with innovative media tactics that target platforms and outlets beyond the traditional print and broadcast media - finding creative ways to tell stories about our policies to journalists and content creators. One of the main aspects of your role will be responding to incoming queries from the media. This will involve proactively monitoring for breaking news stories, providing swift and effective responses to requests for comment, verbally briefing members of the press and defending the reputation of the department. Collaboration is key, and you will work closely with ministers, policy teams, political advisers and partner organisations to develop concise messaging and clear communications tactics.

• Reactive media management - managing breaking stories, drafting concise media lines to very tight deadlines, and confidently verbally briefing senior journalists.
• Proactive media handling - drafting press releases, consumer factsheets, and developing proactive media tactics that will get cut through in a competitive media landscape. You will work with policy teams and political advisers to agree messaging and maximise ministers' time with media.
• News management - the ability to quickly spot both potential media risks but also opportunities to insert a government voice positively.
• Digital communications - helping to create, shape and exchange information with social media teams at traditional news outlets, as well as content creators. With the support of an experienced network of peers and a strong focus on professional development, you will develop skills in these areas.
• An essential part of the role is participating in the press office out-of-hours rota, providing a 24/7 point of contact for media enquiries and responding to breaking incidents outside of core business hours, for which you will be remunerated in line with the department overtime policy.

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)

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: Please submit your CV and a covering letter of no more than 1000 words that sets out how your experience meets the essential skills required in this role. You CV and covering letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Candidates invited to interview will be expected to complete a written test. Further details of this will be sent with invites to interview

Sift and Interview

Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 01/09/2026.

Interviews will likely be held in person at 2 Marsham Street in the end week commencing 7th September. We are unable to accommodate interviews in Wolverhampton and Bristol. If you have selected Wolverhampton or Bristol as your intended work place, we may consider funding reasonable travel fares for those who would be

financially disadvantaged. Please let us know if you would like to discuss further.

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
• Internal Fraud Database
• Appeals and Complaints
• Fixed Term Appointments for:
• External Candidates
• Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)
• Secondments
• MHCLG employees

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS + SC

London Office: BPSS + SC

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