Job Posting Title IRC41765 - Principal Officer Communications
Job Title Environment Agency - Principal Officer Media
Organization Name
Brief Description
A six month assignment managing regional media relations working in a
small team. Managing a 24 hour regional media service.
Position Specific Information
Managing the media
Manage the strategic planning of regional media relations and provide an
effective, speedy 24-hour media service to safeguard and enhance our
reputation. Create opportunities for proactive media engagement through the
development and maintenance of sound relationship with regional, national
and specialist news and features media. Make suitable arrangements to
monitor media customers’ satisfaction with the service provided and make
recommendations for improvement. Maintain good working relationships with
staff at all levels to ensure inquiries and interviews and dealt with promptly
and that any further consequences within the region or nationally are
addressed. Develop a broad understanding of our policies and activities so
that media requests can be dealt with quickly and accurately. Proactively brief
managers and staff on policies and key messages to ensure that an informed
response is given to the media and other stakeholders. Provide a media crisis
management service and contribute to the development of a crisis
management plan within the communications team. Give interviews that
communicate our policies and information when required. Manage
organisation of media opportunities and photo calls.
Detailed Description
Purpose of Job
Provide professional support to the Regional Director, RMT, RSU and other
staff and groups (including statutory committees) on all aspects of internal and
external communications
Principal Accountabilities
1. Provide technical and professional expertise in support of internal and
external stakeholders on RSU matters to enable the Regional Strategic Unit to
deliver the right solutions for the Agency in the region
2. Plan and evaluate proactive communication and influencing strategies
suitable for the relevant target audiences, to enhance the Agency’s reputation,
raise awareness of environmental issues and/or communicate sensitive
issues
3. Advise managers and staff on the most appropriate communications
methods, drawing on professional knowledge of the available and affordable
mix of communications techniques and their impacts, to ensure an effective
level of communications
4. Engage and manage external suppliers to deliver communications and
external relations support services, and seek creative approaches to the mix
of Agency communications within corporate identity requirements, to obtain
the best level of support within budget and time constraints
5. Provide media relations service as requested by the regional Corporate
Affairs Manager or Communications/External Relations Manager for media
relations so that Agency policies and key messages can be communicated
effectively and media inquiries can be dealt with promptly
6. May be required to develop, facilitate and evaluate a creative and effective
internal communications strategy for the region and advise regional and area
managers and staff on the most appropriate communications methods to
communicate effectively with Agency staff
7. May be required to manage the strategic planning of regional media
relations and provide an effective, speedy 24-hour media service to safeguard
and enhance the Agency’s reputation
8. May be required to monitor media outputs and, where appropriate, prepare
responses to defend the Agency or enhance its reputation in order to identify
any potential issues and concerns of key individuals or stakeholder groups
and brief staff appropriately
Educational Requirements
Minimum educational requirements for this role at fully acceptable level.
Graduate level education ideally in a communications or media related field,
although a degree that demonstrates a high level of analytical thinking and
ability to present ideas coherently is also acceptable.
Professional Membership
Working towards or currently a member of a professional body such as CIPR
or CIM
Job Requirements
Prior Experience
The typical experience required to do the job at entry level.
Communications team experience including handling media enquiries, writing
press releases on contentious issues and advising on communications
strategy and appropriate suppliers. Uses all forms of media and
communication to build, maintain and manage the reputation of an
organisation.
The typical total experience (both prior and in-job) required to do the job at the
fully acceptable level.
Communications experience with exposure at senior level including the
development of innovative communications strategies, advising and
supporting managers on handling contentious issues and providing media
training. Will have developed a strong professional reputation internally and
externally.
Shape of Role
To directly guide or support operations by providing specialised or technical
services
Additional Details
Contribution this Job Makes
To the development of others
Responsible for helping others and providing on-the job technical training or
guidance
Types of direct reports
Not applicable
The Way the Job Holder Works
The jobholder determines priorities and defines what should be done and how
to do it. The jobholder has full leeway to change his/her, or his/her
subordinate's procedures or approaches as he/she thinks best for getting the
job done. Review of the jobholder's work results is after the fact.
Capabilities
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality Suggests and seizes the
opportunity to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods,
processes and approaches to the Environment Agency without compromising
quality or accuracy.
Business of the Environment Agency Understands the direction, values, goals
and business of the Environment Agency, enhancing and protecting, at all
times, the Environment Agency’s work and interests.
Communicates Effectively Listens and questions to understand and engage.
Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through
speech and writing.
Achieves Results Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the
drive to meet targets. Effectively prioritises and organises activities and
resources to ensure timely achievement of results for the Environment
Agency.
Focuses on Customers and Partners Addresses the needs of internal and
external customers, provides rapid and effective responses and seeks to
continually improve quality and standards of excellence from a customer
perspective.
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems Finds and delivers optimal solutions by
effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and
taking sound and timely decisions.
Influences and Persuades Others Realises the importance of influence in
achieving outcomes. Uses appropriate interpersonal styles to secure actions,
change others’ views, gain agreement or effect the outcome of negotiations.
Business of the Environment Agency Understands the direction, values, goals
and business of the Environment Agency, enhancing and protecting, at all
times, the Environment Agency’s work and interests.
Networks Establishes and maintains a wide variety of internal and external
contacts for the benefit of the Environment Agency.
Programme and Project Management Selects, plans and manages
contractors, programmes or events to achieve a set of Environment Agency
objectives cost-effectively.
Customer and Partner Relations Consults and collaborates with Customers
and Partners effectively through awareness raising, education and combined
projects, ensuring buy-in to initiatives, and the beneficial promotion of the
Environment Agency’s duties and policies.
Customer and Partner Relations Consults and collaborates with Customers
and Partners effectively through awareness raising, education and combined
projects, ensuring buy-in to initiatives, and the beneficial promotion of the
Environment Agency’s duties and policies.
Corporate Affairs - community relations Undertakes activities to build
community relations, in support of key business objectives.
Corporate Affairs - market research Undertakes and manages research to
direct and support communications development.
Corporate Affairs - marketing mix Has a sound knowledge of the various
elements of the marketing mix and selecting the most appropriate tools to
reach specific audiences.
Corporate Affairs - media management Develops and manages a coordinated programme of proactive and responsive media activities in support
of corporate and functional objectives and the news agenda.
Corporate Affairs - promoting products & services Promotes additional
products or services to customers in order to meet their needs and
expectations.