Communications Officer Health Security Agency​/CoS

Position: Communications Officer Health Security Agency (CoS Available)
Communications Officer – UK Health Security Agency (CoS Available)UK Health Security Agency is seeking a skilled Communications Officer to join its dynamic team. The ideal candidate will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex and challenging information clearly and concisely to a diverse audience. This role requires someone who can adapt messages to various formats and stakeholders, ensuring clarity and engagement across multiple platforms. As part of the UKHSA, the Communications Officer will play a vital role in shaping the agency’s communication strategy and supporting its mission to protect and improve public health. With a focus on delivering high-quality, impactful messaging, this position offers an exciting opportunity for a communications professional looking to make a difference. Certificate of Sponsorship is available for the right candidate.About

UK Health Security AgencyUKHSA prides itself on being an employer of choice, where everyone matters, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from all individuals, including groups that are currently underrepresented in its workforce. The ethos of UKHSA is to be an inclusive organisation for all its staff and stakeholders. The organisation aims to create, nurture, and sustain an inclusive culture where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of both its workforce and wider communities. This is achieved by celebrating and protecting differences, removing barriers, and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for everyone. Position: Communication Officer Job Type: Full Time Location: BristolAbout the RoleAs a member of the regional communications network, the post holder will be an effective communicator who will contribute towards the overall aim of promoting UKHSA’s key messages and outputs, as well as supporting the various strands of the UKHSA-wide communications strategy and enhancing the organisation’s reputation, all through the lens of the region in which they are embedded. The post holder will possess excellent media handling and writing skills and have experience of liaising with journalists and drafting versatile, quality content for a wide range of channels and platforms including social media, the web and print media. The post-holder will be adept at working with key external stakeholders and senior colleagues internally to collaborate on proactive projects, emerging issues, and work together on mutually beneficial outcomes for our communications aims and objectives.Main

Duties

• Handle proactive and reactive media communications, including acting as a point of contact for incoming enquiries from local and regional journalists and developing timely responses in line with UKHSA’s corporate view.
• Proactively sell-in stories to regional media – press and broadcast.
• Monitor the range of media channels, including press and digital, and respond to any inaccurate or misleading content particularly where there is a reputational risk.
• Build and maintain good relations with key regional journalists.
• Co-ordinate any broadcast bids and provide support to UKHSA spokespeople undertaking interviews, including accompanying them to interviews.
• Support provision of a full communications service to regional health protection colleagues.
• Draft clear, high-quality content for a wide range of channels and audiences.
• Ensure content is underpinned by sound use of UKHSA’s data and intelligence wherever appropriate.
• Contribute to developing quality proactive communications as well as horizon scanning for any potential reputational risks.
• Support and deliver communications around UKHSA’s marketing campaigns.
• Where requested by the regional communications manager, represent UKHSA communications at various regional and local meetings.

This is not an exhaustive list; please see the Job description document for the full list of duties.Person SpecificationsQualifications

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area.

Knowledge and experience

• Experience as defined by type/level (not length).
• Expe…