About the job

Job summary

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this role will be the interface and conduit (matrix working), between Corporate Press, Marketing and VisitBritain’s global communication teams. They will promote the value of tourism and the work of VisitBritain (VB) including its marketing campaigns and research, partnerships, business visits and events to the media and to internal and external stakeholders – telling our story.

They will provide a timely and proactive service to journalists including handling corporate media enquiries and pitching stories. They will develop and implement communication and press plans for campaigns, ensuring consistent media messaging tailored for specific audiences (national and international media, trade media and industry stakeholders) and working, where relevant, with external and internal stakeholders and partners.

The International (VB) Senior Press Officer should be comfortable working in a busy press team, have a ‘nose for news’ as well as excellent writing and editing skills, skills in digital and social media and knowledge of media evaluation tools. Knowledge of the tourism sector, domestic and international, is desirable.

While this role focuses on the work of VisitBritain, as part of a small and nimble press office you will be required at busy times to assist with press queries for campaigns and other activities regarding VisitEngland.

Job description

Please refer to the job description.

Person specification

Please refer to the job description.

Benefits

• Flexible Working – We work to make flexibility a reality, and welcome conversations of flexible working from day one.
• Hybrid working.
• Annual Leave – You will get 25 days annual leave when you join, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service plus you will get an additional 2.5 ‘Privilege Days’ each year.
• Generous Pension – We have a defined contribution pension scheme with a maximum employer contribution of 11% of the annual salary.
• Enhanced Parental and Family Leave Policies – – We provide enhanced family leave, offering up to 23 weeks paid leave for maternity and adoption for eligible employees.
• Commitment to Learning – We are committed to developing and supporting learning, and we have a wide internal L&D offer, with on the job learning opportunities, mentoring schemes, and formal training. We dedicate and provide a minimum of 5 days a year for employees to focus on their own learning.
• Bicycle Scheme loans.
• Eye Care Voucher.
• Staff discounts on VisitBritain Shops.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

­Create an account on https://visitbritain.ciphr-irecruit.com/Applicants/vacancy and complete an application with personal statement highlighting your suitability for the role and submit it.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview with the selection panel.

For more information on our interview process, please navigate to - https://www.visitbritain.org/careers 

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.

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) (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.