Job Description

ID 2911

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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
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Vacancy details

Vacancy title
Press Officer - Welsh Essential


Closing date
24/07/2025, 16:00


Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
35,787
Salary range or pay band
HEO 35,787 to 43,759
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
First Minister's Group
Directorate
Communications
Branch
Press Office
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
Purpose of post
The press office is a busy and interesting place to work, which handles lots of media enquiries, while also developing proactive, creative opportunities to promote the Government. As a press officer, you will work with your team to communicate some of the most important and high-profile issues facing Wales today. Working with your Chief Press Officer/Senior Press Officer, you will provide media advice and support to Welsh Ministers and senior officials. Delivering positive coverage in the media is a central part of the job, so a good news sense, creativity and enthusiasm is essential. A big part of this is successfully selling-in stories to news editors and journalists - so, we're looking for someone with a positive, resilient, can-do attitude. Responding swiftly and accurately to breaking news, you must be able to effectively horizon scan to spot potential problems and work with colleagues to draft concise, accurate responses. As a member of our press office you will be expected to take part on the out-of-hours duty rota, for which overtime is paid. You will be required to provide Welsh language support to Cabinet members and deal with the Welsh language media.

Key tasks
You will:

Act as a media contact for Ministers on a specific portfolio. Ensure that the policies and initiatives of the Welsh Government are clearly communicated through the media via proactive and reactive media communications, including press notices and statements to the media Alongside your press office team, you will meet regularly with Ministers, Special Advisers, and senior officials to plan future media activity and handling. Respond swiftly and accurately to reactive media queries and breaking news stories, ensuring that horizon scanning processes are in place to spot issues; Monitor the news and correct/rebut inaccurate news stories when necessary. Develop communications plans to support key announcement or issues. Provide regular evaluation of activity for Ministers and officials. Accompany Ministers on engagements, advising on media arrangements, organising and managing interviews. Occasionally collect video or photo content for the social media team during media engagements. Maintain strong links with UK, Welsh, regional and specialist media. Establish and maintain good working relations with a range of individuals and organisations including Ministers, special advisers, policy colleagues, external agencies, stakeholders and contractors. Adhere to high professional standards, including good writing skills. Keep abreast of developments in the communications landscape, in particular how best to incorporate digital and social media into integrated communications plans and share learning with colleagues. Work with communications colleagues in other disciplines to deliver cross-cutting strategic communications activity and develop wider knowledge of all communications activity. Line manage the assistant press officer on the team. Take part in the evening and weekend press office duty rota as required.

Development opportunities
There will be opportunities to deputise for the senior press officer on your team.
Other vacancy related information
Welsh language skills are essential for this role. Candidates have the choice to complete their application form in either English or Welsh, however the interview itself will be conducted in Welsh apart from one question in English and the written exercise at interview stage will need to be completed in Welsh.


In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion:


Experience 2 - Creativity.

Provide an example of a time when you came up with an idea or a hook for a story, article or press release and how you developed it.


Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.



Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Matthew Pritchard 03000 258894