Proactive Media and Science Communications lead - £42,869 p.a. + benefits

We are currently looking for a Proactive Media and Science Communications Lead to join our Enablement Function within the Communications and Engagement group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU. Please note that there might also be a requirement to travel to South Mimms, Herts or other locations as appropriate. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently operate a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.
Who are we?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.
The MHRA Communications and Engagement Group is a multi-award-winning team that has a consistent track-record of achievement and providing value for money. Our focus is to support the agency to deliver its business outcomes by putting patients and the public at the centre of all our work. We are organised in the following teams: News & Media, Communications, Patient and Public Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Experience. This role is in our News and Media team.
The proactive media and science communications team leads on generating proactive media and social media strategies to communicate the agency’s scientific expertise and wider contribution to public health and science., + Develop and deliver effective media and social media strategies, enhancing the agency’s reputation and promoting and explaining its scientific expertise and wider contribution the agency makes to public health and science nationally and globally.
+ Initiate, produce and deliver proactive and creative content with the media and social media and develop and nurture these contacts and identify proactive and scientific news and content from across the agency, ensuring it is produced into a relevant format and style for the media and social media and their channels and audiences., + Plan, deliver and evaluate proactive and creative media / social media strategies and scientific comms that supports the business priorities and culture change set out in the agency’s corporate and business plans and act as communications account project manager for various agency groups.
+ Provide proactive media, social media and scientific communications advice to senior leaders, including the executive committee and chief executive.
+ Place stories in a strategic way to achieve coverage and exposure, aligned to agency business priorities. Produce appropriate communications such as media handling and social media strategies, press notices and media lines to take, to effectively communicate our messages in consultation with agency staff. Capable of using communications skills to develop interesting, accessible content and implement this across a range of channels.
+ Speak regularly to key journalists and social media influencers and build knowledge on their areas of expertise and interest and maintain ongoing professional relationships. Act as an agency spokesperson, providing authoritative, clear, honest and credible communications to the media and social media on agency issues, and participate in a 24-hour media on-call rota., We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
+ Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.
+ Test, further information will be supplied when you reach this stage
+ Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the competency-based answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description., + 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) (opens in a new window)
+ 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Communicating and Influencing - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with the ability to develop good working relationships and influence journalists, social media influencers and senior managers, dealing with conflict and challenge in a calm, measured way.
Managing a Quality Service - Good planning, project and time management skills, with ability to work on own initiative and in team to problem solve and prioritise own work according to changing business needs.
Delivering at Pace - Regularly monitor your work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks. Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.
Experience of working in a busy media and communications environment in a large, complex, expert organisation with a track record of proactively delivering successful strategic media / social media campaigns to deliver business objectives and enhance reputation proactively and creatively.
A relevant qualification along with membership of CIM, CIPR or other relevant professional body desirable.
Catalyst - You are self-motivated to act to achieve a goal. You are confident using your own initiative to take forward actions.
Networker - You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation. You identify connections and reach out to bring people together., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £42,869, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £12,419 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
+ Privilege Leave: 1 day
+ Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
+ Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
+ Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
+ Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on
+ Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
+ Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
+ Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
+ Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
+ Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
+ On-going learning and development