Job Description

Details

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Reference number

423296
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Salary

33,273 - 37,692
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Higher Executive Officer###

Contract type

Fixed term###

Length of employment

up to six months###

Business area

ICO - Corporate Communications###

Type of role

Communications / Marketing###

Working pattern

Full-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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London, Wilmslow

About the job

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Job summary

Lead Communications Officer - Fixed term contract up to six months.

Full time/Part time





Salary

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33,273 - 37,692 per annum

with potential for further progression to 42,439 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Flexible



Contracted to our Wilmslow or London office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note that from Autumn 2026 our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.

Why work for the ICO?

Pay progression scheme. Hybrid and flexible working options. 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year). Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%). Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. Health Cash Plan. Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.


Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.

About us

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.

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Job description

This role will handle complex media enquiries, recognising and mitigating reputational risks. The postholder will use their media awareness and monitoring skills to identify opportunities and risks and inform decision-making to brief senior staff for high profile, national print and broadcast interviews. They will need to cultivate and manage relationships with media stakeholders and recommend media strategies that enable us to make the most of opportunities and engage our audiences with the crucial work we do

The postholder will need to draw on excellent written communications skills to turn complex subject matter into engaging content; to create material and provide operational support for integrated communications campaigns

There will be a requirement for out of hours working including participation in the on-call rota.

Key Responsibilities

Provide a pro- and reactive print and broadcast media relations service, promoting and safeguarding the good reputation of the ICO and raising awareness and understanding of our work Write, edit and advise on a wide range of communications materials Provide briefings and advice for senior ICO staff about print and broadcast media, social media and general communications channels Advise ICO staff on topical and reputation-sensitive issues and handle those issues; use news monitoring to ensure reputational risks and opportunities are spotted early and that action is taken swiftly to minimise or maximise impact Deliver effective internal and external partnership working by fostering good working relationships with journalists, press officers, peers, suppliers and other stakeholders Support speaking engagements for senior staff, identifying opportunities created, and prioritising media relations Support wider corporate communications projects by making a creative communications contribution to their planning, design, implementation and evaluation ###

Person specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage

Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience

Broad knowledge of communication fields and how they interact (e.g. evaluation, digital, campaigns, print, broadcast and social media)

Excellent writing ability with style adaptable to suit different communications, tools and audiences; ability to take complex information and write clear copy.

In-depth knowledge and experience of in-house press office, ideally national, including pro and reactive media relations, distribution, monitoring, briefings, evaluation etc.

Up to date knowledge of corporate social media approaches and their role in the broader communications mix

Ability to use standard office IT packages.

Essential criteria assessed at interview stage

Ability to deal with a demanding workload and able to switch priorities at short notice In-depth knowledge and experience of in-house press office, ideally national, including pro and reactive media relations, distribution, monitoring, briefings, evaluation etc. Up to date knowledge of corporate social media approaches and their role in the broader communications mix Excellent interpersonal skills with people at all levels - confident, persuasive, good negotiating skills Political awareness and understanding, good judgement and decision making and ability to handle sensitive issues effectively. Creativity and problem solving skills

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 33,273, Information Commissioner's Office contributes 9,639 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.



If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.

Closing Date

Please submit your CV and cover letter by

23:59 on Wednesday 3rd September 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : recruitment@ico.org.uk Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk