NCSC Senior Communications Officer Ref. 3753 in Cheltenham

About Us

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting‑edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify, analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks, and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security and is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

The role

In a dynamic, fast‑paced team you will work across both the press office and social‑media functions to deliver proactive announcements, manage emerging stories and media enquiries, and shape public conversation on cyber‑related issues.

You will:

• Lead the planning and delivery of communications strategies for key challenges such as protecting the UK’s critical national infrastructure and countering state‑sponsored cyber threats.
• Craft punchy press releases and reactive statements and confidently brief journalists on breaking news stories, including high‑profile cyber incidents.
• Collaborate with counterparts across the organisation and Whitehall to maximise effectiveness and manage risks.
• Travel to other UK sites and occasional international travel will be required. You will also be part of the press duty rota, which operates outside of core business hours and offers additional allowances.

About you

We seek someone whose communications skills, both written and verbal, are exemplary and who can bring fresh, creative ideas to audience engagement while providing strategic direction for our social‑media channels.

Your qualifications and experience:

• Prior experience in government communications, journalism or public relations, with excellent written skills and the ability to present technical information in a clear, compelling, and accessible way.
• Excellent persuasive and communication skills, with a proven record of effective written work.
• Experience delivering effective social‑media content to support wider organisational and brand objectives.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple projects to tight deadlines without compromising attention to detail.
• Calm under pressure, maintaining high standards in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong political awareness and knowledge of the media landscape, with the ability to spot emerging stories, issues and trends.

Competencies

At Level 3 the assessment will focus on:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Collaboratively
• Making Effective Decisions

Rewards and benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of £55,758, which includes a concessionary payment of £2,758. For roles based in London an additional £6,250 London Allowance applies. Other benefits include:

• 25 days’ annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 years of service, plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities to be recognised through the employee performance scheme.
• Interest‑free season ticket loan.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• On‑site facilities such as a gym, restaurant and coffee bars (availability varies by location).
• Paid parental and adoption leave.
• An excellent pension scheme – Civil Service pension.

Equal opportunities

At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds. We are committed to providing a fair and proportionate selection process that ensures a representative sample of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be offered an interview if it is practical.

We’re Disability Confident

GCHQ holds Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions’ Disability scheme and aims to offer a proportionate number of interview opportunities to disabled applicants who meet the essential minimum criteria for this position.