Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Media and Communications
Grade - Grade 10
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £30,375 - £33,348
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - Yes
Politically Restricted - Yes
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role
No two days are the same when working in our fast-paced, media and communications department. From appeals for wanted people, promoting court results and highlighting the great work of our operational teams, to being the first person the media turns to at the scene of a serious crime; you will work as part of a team which helps us build trust and confidence within our communities.
As a media officer, it will be your responsibility to build positive media relations with your local print, digital and broadcast journalists; providing a proactive news service which supports divisional policing and our force priorities: protect communities, catch criminals, deliver an outstanding service.
You will spot opportunities to showcase the great work of Sussex Police, particularly at a community level, and use media and digital channels to amplify this; strengthening public engagement and the reputation of our force.
In return you will join an award-winning team and start a career which can make a real difference to the people of Sussex. As well as a competitive salary, annual leave and pension, you will have access to a wide range of benefits including training and mentoring, discounts from some of the high street's biggest brands and various wellbeing services including discounted gym membership for our on-site gyms.
While the role is based in Lewes, we have adopted hybrid working and you will therefore be able to spend time working from the office, working from your divisional police sites and also from home.
Portfolios will be decided upon the outcome of the interview process and the experience of the successful candidate.
Key Responsibilities
- Liaise with districts and departments to create proactive news stories, with engaging multi-media content (including image, audio and video) that supports the operational needs of the force, positive outcomes and addresses how we prevent and respond to emerging issues and risk.
- Provide creative and engaging news stories online, through social media and news media.
- Access information, through the monitoring and researching of databases, attendance at meetings and at the scenes of incidents, building relationships with officers and staff, partners and media to provide accurate and relevant proactive and reactive material.
- Manage public confidence issues, monitoring coverage in social media as well as traditional and web-based media outlets, to assess opportunity, issue and risk and respond in a timely and appropriate way.
- To ensure the force is aware of current, emerging and anticipated media issues/public sentiment issues and takes appropriate action.
- Manage media enquiries and foster positive media relations, prioritising and challenging inaccurate or misleading content where appropriate in order to support operational needs and to help build public confidence in the force.
- Write and implement communications strategies to support operational requirements (criminal investigations, incidents, planned and unplanned events) providing advice to the investigating officer, and briefings, media and public FAQs, to help the operation and enable greater understanding of the force’s work.
- Act as a Bronze/Silver Media Officer in the event of a major/critical incident or planned policing operation, developing and implementing tactics to manage the communications issues relating to such incidents in liaison with Senior Investigating/Command Officers, departmental colleagues and where appropriate other agencies involved in the incident.
- Deliver multidisciplinary communications as required including the production of multimedia content for digital communications, the delivery of internal communications and campaigns, and assisting the wider business in the implementation of its communications and engagement strategies that build positive community engagement.
- Take part in the out of hours on call system for the Media and Communications Team.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
ESSENTIAL:
- Degree level qualification and NCTJ certificate or equivalent professional experience in PR/media relations.
- Experience of media relations and/or PR in a busy and fast-paced news environment; able to demonstrate how media coverage can be achieved with evidence of achieving this on behalf of an organisation.
- Evidence of writing effectively for multiple channels including news releases/articles, online audiences and multi-media social media posts.
- Sound knowledge of media law as applied to off and online information Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to turn complex material or jargon into plain English.
- Negotiating and influencing skills and experience of advising people at a senior level and from a range of background
- Evidence of publishing and engagement on social media channels including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Ability to balance and manage conflict between short and long term priorities and reactive/proactive work under pressures.
- Ability to demonstrate excellent communications skills and team working Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence.
- Ability to coach others in interview techniques and media work.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft applications including Word, Excel and SharePoint.
DESIRABLE:
- Professional qualification or membership of a professional communications body eg CIPR, PRCA.
- Knowledge of client management systems and publishing to digital channels.
- Experience of working in a policing or public sector environment.
- Working knowledge of licensed and/or open source multi-media software e.g. Adobe, Canva.
Further Information
We recognise that our people are balancing demanding careers with commitments and interests outside of work. We welcome applications and discussion with candidates who want to work full-time or part-time/flexible hours.
Applicants will be required to obtain and maintain vetting status for the required level of this post, this may include enhanced vetting.
Due to the nature and type of work required of this role, there may be occasions when the postholder is exposed to information which could cause distress. Support is provided for this within the team and wider organisation.
This role requires travel to meetings and locations across Surrey and Sussex. The post-holder must therefore have the ability to travel to these locations when required to do so. Where transport involves the use of police vehicles, you must have a full driving licence and the ability to attain a Force Police Driving Permit.
For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Maria Newstead Media Manager on 07773 476636 or via email maria.newstead@sussex.police.uk.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are;
- vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
- vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally.
If the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is success it will result in a transfer of employment
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self-employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.