Press Officer

One of my local government clients are currently recruiting an experienced Press Officer on a temporary basis. This is a 3-month minimum contract with the possibility of the role being extended further to work Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Hybrid working role were, however, you will be required to attend the office 2/3 times a week. Overview: * To contribute to the successful development and delivery of the communications priority projects as identified in the communications forward plan * To carry out proactive and reactive media relations work identifying, researching and drafting positive news stories, and researching and drafting effective rebuttals to negative stories, to prevent them being published and damaging the reputation of the council as a whole. * To develop & establish positive links and relationships with media and external agencies to effectively communicate council services and policies that will improve and enhance the reputation of the council. * To provide expert media and external relations advice in the absence of the Media Manager Responsibilities: * To implement a programme of media relations work, concentrating on ‘selling in‘ positive stories about the council, working pro-actively towards generating a greater volume of positive coverage about the council, particularly in local, specialist and national print, broadcast and web-based media. This is done in particular to enable the successful delivery of the priority projects. * To manage potentially negative stories about the council, stopping false or unjustly negative stories about the council where possible, and rebutting negative stories where necessary; carrying out media work on a day-to-day basis. * To work with communications colleagues from across the division in order to support the successful delivery of specific projects * To understand and analyse reports and other policy-level documentation, and understand these in the context of legislation and proposed legislation in White Papers. * To appreciate and sensitively manage actions in relation to these documents. If you are interested in this vacancy, please send your CV to Jahker Miah from Coyle Personnel Ltd