Salary
You’ll receive a starting salary of £55,758, which includes a concessionary payment of £2,758. For roles based in London, you’ll receive an additional £6,250 London Allowance.
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. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy aims to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.
The role
In a dynamic, fast‑paced team you’ll work across both the press office and social media functions to deliver proactive announcements, as well as manage emerging stories and media enquiries.
This is a unique opportunity to inform the media and the public about the NCSC’s priorities, encourage people to follow our practical cyber security advice, and help shape the public conversation on cyber‑related issues.
We will ask you to lead the planning and delivery of communications strategies relating to some of our biggest challenges, such as protecting the UK’s critical national infrastructure and countering the cyber threats posed by other states.
Working closely with counterparts across the organisation and Whitehall, you’ll help maximise effectiveness and manage risks. This will include crafting punchy press releases and reactive statements, as well as confidently briefing journalists on breaking news stories, including high‑profile cyber incidents.
You’ll need exemplary written and verbal communications skills.
Some travel to other UK sites, and occasional international travel, will be required. You’ll also be part of our press duty rota, which operates outside of core business hours, and attracts additional allowances.
About you
We’re looking for someone who can bring fresh, creative ideas to audience engagement, while providing strategic direction for our social media channels.
Excellent persuasive and communication skills are essential, as the role involves frequent engagement with communications counterparts, internal stakeholders, and the media.
You’ll thrive as part of a collaborative, high‑performing team that prides itself on delivering exceptional results. Our culture is important to us, and you’ll enjoy a positive and supportive working environment where morale is prioritised and there is regular engagement with senior leadership.
Prior experience in government communications, journalism or public relations is essential, along with excellent written skills and the ability to present technical information in a clear, compelling, and accessible way.
Highly organised, you can manage multiple projects to tight deadlines without compromising attention to detail. You stay calm under pressure, maintaining high standards in a fast‑paced environment.
You’ll have a keen interest in the news, with the ability to spot relevant stories, emerging issues, and trends, supported by sound judgement and political awareness when identifying communications opportunities and risks.
Competencies (Level 3)
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Collaboratively
- Making Effective Decisions
Training and development
At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment, which is designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. We are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we’ll enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.
Rewards and benefits
Other benefits include:
- 25 days’ annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 years’ service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
- Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
- An interest‑free season ticket loan
- A cycle‑to‑work scheme
- Facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on‑site coffee bars; availability varies by location
- Paid parental and adoption leave
Equal opportunities
At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce, such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds.
Disability confident
GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions’ Disability scheme. As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. This is known as the Offer of an Interview.
Minimum criteria
- Reach the minimum pass mark for the online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), assessment important for all roles in our organisation
- Demonstrate experience as a communications professional, with a proven record of effective written work
- Demonstrate experience in delivering effective social media content to support wider organisational and brand objectives
- Demonstrate ability to collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders, confidently communicating insights and recommendations
- Demonstrate evidence of successfully delivering projects on time while balancing competing priorities and working under pressure
Eligibility
To work at NCSC, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality.
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV).
