Communication Officer (News)

The role will be based at our offices at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BS, in central London. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Informal hybrid working arrangements apply and there is an expectation that staff will attend the office regularly. Work pattern and office attendance will be agreed with successful candidates.

Job Summary

We are looking for two experienced Communication Officers, with skills in press relations, to join our multidisciplinary communication. You will be a proactive self-starter with a sharp news sense, strong relationship building skills and demonstrable experience of landing positive stories to further an organisation’s agenda.

We are looking for team players, who can work alongside other Communication Officers, reporting to the Communication Manager for News. Working with the whole team and engaging closely with our expert lawyers, investigators and intelligence teams, you will help to raise the profile of the SFO’s efforts, to creatively tell our story and maintain a trusted and respected brand.

You will understand the UK media landscape, you will enjoy getting to know journalists and helping to shape their stories. We are also looking for someone with experience of supporting the communication handling of high profile and/or sensitive news stories. You will take part in our out-of-hours News desk rota, for which an allowance is paid, and be willing to attend court regularly.

You will also have the opportunity to support the development of our social media channels, devising relevant and engaging multimedia that speak to our audience.

A relatively small team by Whitehall standards, we all pitch in where necessary meaning we are looking for a fast learner who is keen to improve their proficiency in all areas of communication. Our team is responsible for press and media relations, digital and internal communications and information management.

Job Description

As a Communication Officer (News) you will be responsible for:

• Developing a good understanding of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), its media profile and spotting communication opportunities that further the SFO’s agenda.
• Maintaining professional relationships with national, international, regional and specialist media outlets and building strong links with colleagues across the SFO.
• Providing timely media monitoring and recommended handling, interview advice and briefing materials to Board members and other senior staff.
• Working to short deadlines to draft press lines in response to journalist queries.
• Working with our specialist legal, investigative and intelligence teams to draft interesting, easily-consumable and news-centric press releases that demonstrate the SFO’s unique capability.
• Devising engaging digital content that enhances the SFO’s brand and speaks to our audience.
• Building excellent, professional relationships with all stakeholders both inside and outside the SFO.
• Providing wider communication support to all areas of the team where needed.

Person specification

See above and attached Job Pack.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Communications Service (professional competency framework): Ideas
• Government Communications Service (professional competency framework): Implementation

Application stage

As part of the application process you will be required to provide:

• A supporting CV outlining your job history.
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words that explains how you meet each of the experience and technical criteria as listed in the job pack.

Interview stage

Behaviours as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview.

Candidates invited to interview will also be required to complete an assessment, assessing the technical criteria.

Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates in the invite to interview.

Sift to take place from 2 May 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 12 May 2025.

All dates are indicative and subject to change.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard 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)
• 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.

Contact point for applicants

• Name : People and Culture
• Email : People@sfo.gov.uk
• Telephone : 0207 239 7272