CMA1990 – Senior Media Relations Officer

Are you interested in shaping national news agendas? Working on high profile cases that make a difference to people and that journalists want to write about? How about taking on our increasing portfolio across tech and major mergers?

We’re looking for a talented and capable senior press officer who already has good experience to join the CMA’s successful media relations team. You will be joining at a busy and exciting time as the CMA’s public profile and role continues to expand. With the CMA taking on responsibility for regulating digital markets, and increased responsibility for large mergers post-Brexit, a strong interest, a good intellect, and a desire to get up to speed quickly in these technical and complex areas is essential.

About the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.

The role

The Senior Media Relations Officer will take responsibility for leading and delivering CMA communications work to a high standard – whether that’s rebutting a critical story from a national paper, finding the perfect place to land an op-ed or planning for and delivering major announcements. Given the varied nature of our work, the person who takes on this role will be used to dealing with media contacts at all levels and be confident in setting up and supporting on interviews – from competition wires to the BBC. The role will involve working with colleagues in the Strategy, Communications and Advocacy Directorate to ensure our communications are integrated, professional and deliver the messages we want them to.

The post holder will provide assured and effective media handling advice to colleagues across the CMA, including the CEO and Chair, on a range of high profile and exciting projects. They will take responsibility for ensuring our media relations activity is impactful and helps to deliver key communications’ objectives.

The successful candidate will be expected to be part of an out of hours rota and handle some early morning announcements. This role could include line management responsibilities in the future.

What you will need

• Significant experience of working in a busy press office. (Lead criteria)
• Experience of working on tech-related projects, and/or having a strong interest in the sector, with a desire to learn more and get up to speed quickly. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of managing national, regional and trade media in proactive, reactive and crisis situations, spotting reputational difficulties and ensuring the organisation is adequately prepared to respond to them. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of writing accurate, engaging press products with clear and concise messaging, and tailoring this to suit different audiences.
• Demonstrable experience of writing and delivering effective communication plans that raise the profile of an organisation and its work.
• Evidence of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and persuading other (often more senior) colleagues on communications issues.
• Ability to work independently and at pace, effectively managing work priorities to meet specified deadlines, even during busy periods.

What we can offer you

We recognise the value of work-life balance, offering hybrid working arrangements and flexible working options including part-time, compressed hours, and job share arrangements. You will be equipped with excellent technology tools and services that facilitate collaboration regardless of your location. Our modern, professional workplaces across the UK provide an exceptional working environment. Furthermore, we proactively promote mental and physical well-being through a diverse range of well-being initiatives, including an employee assistance programme and a supportive network of mental health first aiders. 

The CMA is a hugely rewarding, diverse and stimulating place to work – an opportunity to work for the public good and to stretch and develop yourself in doing so. All CMA staff enjoy generous benefits, including an excellent pension scheme, at least 25 days leave (increasing to 30 over five years), and generous maternity/paternity leave provision. You can also take advantage of interest-free season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme.

To find out more about this opportunity and about working for the CMA, please click on the APPLY button.

CMA – Working for the CMA , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Or our LinkedIn page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/competition-and-markets-authority/

Your role:

Key responsibilities for this role are:

• To provide assured and effective media handling advice to colleagues across the CMA – both to promote the CMA’s work and respond to media queries or agendas.
• To produce high quality press products (press releases, Q&As, communication plans and op-eds) which achieve their goal and appeal to the right audience (internal and external).
• To understand and appropriately identify audiences for individual projects and then advise on communicating with them effectively, thinking about communications in the round, not just press.
• To accurately predict media agendas and respond to them effectively – acting as an authoritative, accurate spokesperson.
• To evaluate communications work and use that insight to inform and influence future work.
• To build strong relationships with key CMA colleagues, media, and other stakeholders relevant to the role, ensuring the CMA’s work is clearly understood and represented.
• To play a role in the CMA’s out of hours duty rota and support its delivery of market sensitive announcements – this involves some work outside of core employment hours.

The CMA is seeking to appoint the best qualified candidate for this role and welcomes applications from under-represented groups.

When completing your written application, please ensure you provide evidence and examples (as far as you are able), in response to the Essential Criteria below, and against which your application will be assessed.

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application.

If you do not meet the lead selection criteria in your application, the panel will not be required to score your application against the remaining essential criteria of the role.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience of working in a busy press office. (Lead criteria)
• Experience of working on tech-related projects, and/or having a strong interest in the sector, with a desire to learn more and get up to speed quickly. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of managing national, regional and trade media in proactive, reactive and crisis situations, spotting reputational difficulties and ensuring the organisation is adequately prepared to respond to them. (Lead criteria)
• Proven experience of writing accurate, engaging press products with clear and concise messaging, and tailoring this to suit different audiences.
• Demonstrable experience of writing and delivering effective communication plans that raise the profile of an organisation and its work.
• Evidence of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and persuading other (often more senior) colleagues on communications issues.
• Ability to work independently and at pace, effectively managing work priorities to meet specified deadlines, even during busy periods.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

As well as the interesting and varied work you’ll do to contribute to effective competition in the UK, and to ensure consumers get a good deal when buying goods and services, you’ll also benefit from:

• An exceptionally generous pension scheme with a significant employer contribution and range of options, including a tax-free lump sum at the point of retirement and injury, ill-health and life assurance benefits
• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering
• Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard
• A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work

Any move to the CMA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Like many other organisations, we operate a hybrid working model with a mix of office and home working. We believe this supports us to deliver our best work while allowing the flexibility to maintain balanced and healthy lives. 

If you’re already a civil servant being appointed on level transfer, you’ll retain your existing terms, including annual leave. If you are being promoted you’ll receive either a 10% pay increase or the new grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Applicants new to the civil service can be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the starting point indicated above, but not more than the advertised mid-point, depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We want a diverse workforce that reflects the consumers we serve. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, including ethnically diverse people, people with a disability, people with diverse gender identities and from people of different ages. 

We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

Our Values

The CMA delivers impactful outcomes for people, business and the UK economy.​ We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect, and are Collaborative and Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

Job contact :

• Name : Vidya Krishnamoorthy
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk
• Telephone : 020 3738 6399

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk