Media Officer

Overview

The Department for Education is seeking a creative, energetic and politically aware media professional to join its communications team in London or Sheffield. The role supports the department’s work to improve opportunities for children and young people, and to communicate major policy priorities across early years, schools, colleges, universities and children’s services.

This vacancy uses Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. You must complete both tests by the closing date, and leave enough time to finish the written application afterward.

The department leads government work aimed at reducing the link between a young person’s background and their life chances. Its wider focus includes raising school standards, improving attendance and wellbeing, addressing inequality including SEND provision, supporting a broad curriculum, improving progression into further study and work, strengthening family relationships, expanding high-quality early education and childcare, and reducing harm to children.

About the Team

You will join a busy, high-performing and inclusive communications function that works closely with ministers, special advisers and senior officials. The team helps shape public understanding of education policy and supports major government priorities, including the Opportunity Mission.

The department values inclusion and diversity and is committed to equal opportunities. It also supports flexible working, staff development, and a range of staff networks including BAME, LGBT+, Carers, and EU/EEA Nationals networks.

Role Purpose

As a media officer, you will help translate complex policy and departmental activity into clear, engaging and timely media communication. The job involves handling both proactive campaigns and reactive issues, strengthening relationships with journalists and creators, and advising senior stakeholders on communication implications.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and shape media plans and handling lines for a variety of channels to support announcements and policy launches.
• Build productive relationships with journalists and content creators, keep them informed about upcoming activity, and pitch story ideas to secure coverage.
• Understand ministerial priorities and spot emerging risks or issues linked to each portfolio.
• Track media coverage and assess its impact to improve future handling.
• Use audience and media insight to adjust messaging, narratives and approach for different groups.
• Advise policy colleagues, senior officials, ministers and special advisers on the communications implications of current, new and developing policy.
• Produce strong written communications across reactive responses and planned media materials, maintaining accuracy, tone and consistency.
• Work with the social media team to deliver joined-up campaigns across owned and earned channels.
• Represent the department in cross-government discussions and collaborate with external partners to share insight, influence where needed and support joint initiatives.
• Take part in an out-of-hours duty rota and provide an on-call media response service.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience handling both reactive and proactive media matters.
• Proven experience building integrated communications plans across media, social and digital channels with an audience-first approach.
• Ability to use insight and evaluation to create effective communication strategies for different audiences.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to advise senior stakeholders and manage competing priorities.

Selection Process

The role is assessed using Success Profiles and will consider behaviours, experience and technical skills. The behaviour assessed is Delivering at Pace. The technical skills assessed are Insight, Implementation, Ideas and Impact.

Applicants must submit a short CV through the application form and a statement of suitability of no more than 750 words. The statement should address each essential criterion and give concrete examples showing what you did, how you did it and the result. CVs or statements sent by email will not be accepted.

At sift stage, the department will assess experience against the essential criteria. If there are many applications, sift may be based on the personal statement only. The department may also raise the minimum pass mark for the numerical and verbal tests if applicant volume is high or competition is strong.

Application sifting is scheduled to begin on 06 July 2026, though this date may change. Successful candidates after sift will move on to interview, with further details to be confirmed.

Working Arrangements and Other Information

This role is based in London (SW1P 3BT) or Sheffield (S1 2FJ). Most employees work to a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting, although changes may be agreed in exceptional circumstances with the line manager and in line with role requirements. Travel to your main office is not reimbursed, but travel to a non-primary office location will be covered.

The department offers flexible working options such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours, along with strong professional development opportunities. Civil Service staff in a permanent post should note that salary on appointment may be determined by transfer or promotion policies.

Artificial intelligence may be used as a support tool for applications, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and based on your own experience. Misuse of AI or plagiarism may result in withdrawal of the application and possible disciplinary action for internal candidates.

Pay and Benefits

The salary for this role is £40,044. The department also contributes £11,600 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Other benefits include 25 days of leave, rising by one day each year up to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service, plus the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 bank and public holidays.

The Civil Service Pension Scheme is described as highly competitive and among the most generous in the UK.

Application Requirements

To apply, candidates must complete the online tests and then submit the required application materials through the form. The application must include a short CV and a statement of suitability of up to 750 words. It is recommended that candidates allow 24–48 hours to complete the online tests well before the closing date to avoid technical problems.

Only CV details entered into the application template will be considered. Applications submitted by email will not be reviewed.