22.5 Hours Per Week (Work Pattern to Be Agreed)
date as postmark
Dear Applicant
Media Officer
Permanent
22.5 hours per week (work pattern to be agreed)
Thank you for your enquiry in regard to the above position.
Enclosed is a recruitment and information pack which includes the following:
- A job description and person specification
- Background Information and Terms and Conditions of Employment
Further information including our Corporate Plan is available on the Authority’s web site,
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 12noon on Wednesday 19 October 2016.
Anticipated Interview: week commencing Monday 31 October 2016.
It is not our practice to acknowledge applications or to inform applicants that they have been unsuccessful. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date of the advertisement, you may assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
I look forward to receiving your application and thank you for the interest you have shown in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Yours faithfully
The HR Team
Enc.
YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:Media Officer
GRADE:Band D
RESPONSIBLE TO:Communications Manager
RESPONSIBLE FOR:No direct management responsibility
OBJECTIVES OF THE POST:
To be responsible for all media relations across the Authority and across all channels (traditional and digital).
To generatepositive media coverage of the Authority and Park by producing and distributing news releases and using the Authority’s social media channels.
To handle all media enquiries and coordinate media responses across the Authority and prepare reaction statements on key issues.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Identify opportunities for media coverage and research, write, gain approval for and issue news releases and feature stories, to reach local, visitor and national audiences, using traditional and social media channels.
Handle and record all media enquiries received by the Authority and deal professionally, courteously and efficiently with journalists’ requests within deadline.
Liaise with officers and Members regarding journalists’ enquiries, arranging for official Authority spokespersons to provide quotes or carry out interviews with the media as appropriate. (Wherever possible the relevant specialist officer or Member will act as the spokesperson but there will be situations where the Media Officer may be required to represent the Authority.)
Prepare reaction statements on key issues, working with Senior Management Team (SMT) and the relevant specialist officers.
Build and sustain proactive relationships with media contacts in partner organisations, including other National Park Authorities, National Parks UK, National Parks England, Defra and Natural England.
Develop working relationships with key local journalists to get the Authority’s message out and ensure fair reporting of the Authority’s view to include following and messaging on social media.
Monitor the media, advise and brief colleagues appropriately and identify opportunities to refine the Authority’s coverage. This will include checking local papers, monitoring Google Alerts and social media outlets as appropriate.
Produce a fortnightly media briefing to include media coverage achieved and intended future news releases, prior to SMT meetings.
Keep the Authority’s media contact list up-to-date and add relevant specialist media to the distribution when issuing more specialist news releases in order to maximise coverage.
Deal with filming enquiries (often in conjunction with the Head of Ranger Services) from TV and film production companies to facilitate putting them in touch with landowners, etc, identifying opportunities to generate revenue for the Authority.
Contribute to the Authority’s crisis management plan by working with SMT and the Communications Manager to manage and contain media coverage during crisis events.
Work with the Communications Manager to develop and implement media strategies for the National Park Authority, in particular by contributing to communications plans for particular projects or events.
Help manage the media at major Authority events.
Provide, facilitate or advise on customised media training for officers and Members as required.
Keep up-to-date and implement the Authority’s Media Procedure and Protocol.
Contribute to the integrated output of the Communications Team as a whole, for example, providing copy for publications and the website and posting on Authority social media accounts.
Comply with the Authority’s Health and Safety Policy and Codes of Safe Working Practice.
Such other duties as are commensurate with the objectives and grade of the post, as directed from time to time by the Chief Executive.
PERSON SPECIFICATION: MEDIA OFFICER
CRITERIA / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLEQualifications
Degree or equivalent, preferably in a related subject e.g., journalism, public relations or English /
Media qualification e.g. NCTJ or PR Qualification /
Current full driving licence /
Experience
Substantial experience in a journalism, media relations or PR role /
Experience of dealing with the media including handling media enquiries, writing news releases, acting as a spokesperson, organising briefings, gaining positive news coverage /
Experience of crisis management in relation to media relations /
Knowledge of National Park Authority or local government systems /
Skills
Strong communicator, with skills to deal effectively with range of contacts. Excellent oral and written communication skills. /
Ability to work calmly under pressure and to tight deadlines. /
Ability to deal positively, constructively and firmly with enquiries. /
Able to deal with information of a confidential and sensitive nature. /
Political awareness and sensitivity. /
A ‘nose’ for news stories and media opportunities which will reflect the work of the Authority in a positive light. /
Competent IT user including Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Access plus web content management systems /
Proficient with Photoshop and Publisher /
Full understanding of how to access the full potential of social media and comfortable with using it, especially Twitter, Facebook and Instagram /
Personal Qualities
An interest in promoting the aims and objectives of the National Park Authority /
Enthusiastic, positive approach /
Enjoy working in small team and happy to ‘muck in’ /
Capacity to acquire quickly a wide knowledge of the strategic, environmental and political context within which National Parks operate, plus National Park purposes and policy. /
Media Officer
Based at:Bainbridge, Wensleydale,
Background
The Yorkshire Dales National Park was designated in 1954 in recognition of its extraordinary natural beauty, the diversity of its wildlife habitats, its rich cultural heritage and its fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation. It is a dramatic upland dissected by numerous long glaciated valleys or dales with a resident population of 23,637 people. The area is a working landscape, with agriculture, quarrying and tourism, offering the main employment opportunities. Indeed, it is the long history of people settling in and working this harsh environment that has created a cultural landscape recognised today as one of the most distinctive in Western Europe.
The Park is looked after by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and it’s the Authority’s job to care for this very special place and its communities and to help people understand and share in it.
The National Park was extended to the north and west on 1 August 2016, it now covers an area of 2,179 square kilometres (841 square miles).
It is one of a family of 15 National Parks in the UK, protected for future generations to enjoy. Truly Britain’s breathing spaces.
From 1974 the whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park was administered by a Committee of North Yorkshire County Council but, as a result of the Environment Act 1995, the new National Park Authority was established on 1st April 1997. The Authority remains within the framework of local government but is independent of the counties and districts. The Authority now consists of both county council and district council representatives as well as parish representatives and members appointed by the Secretary of State.
The 1995 Environment Act revised and updated the purposes of national parks which are:-
“conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the areas, and promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of those areas by the public”.
In pursuing these purposes the Authority
“shall seek to foster the economic and social wellbeing of communities within the National Park.”
The National Park Authority is advised by the Chief Executive (National Park Officer), who is supported by approximately 130 staff.
Terms and Conditions of Service
Pay
Band D
Salary: £19,239to £23,166 pro-rata per annum (with possible progression to £27,394). The starting salary is normally at the bottom of the band.
Work Base
This post is based at our Yoredale office in Bainbridge, Wensleydale, however, there may be travel elsewhere in the Park.
Pension
All staff are automatically brought into the Local Government Pension Scheme, unless they elect otherwise. Membership of the LGPS provides access to high quality pension benefits based on final pay.
Hours of Work
The hours of work are 22.5 per week, the working pattern is to be confirmed with the successful applicant.
A flexitime scheme is in operation. This allows you to vary your start and finish times within set parameters to help your work fit in with your social and domestic responsibilities. If you have accrued sufficient time, the scheme allows you to take up to 12 days extra leave during the year.
Holidays
The holiday entitlement is based on length of service within Local Government or related employment.
On commencement of employment: 25 days pro-rata (for part-time employees).
After 1 year continuous service: 26 days pro-rata.
After 2 years continuous service: 27 days pro-rata.
After 3 years continuous service: 28 days pro-rata.
After 4 years continuous service: 29 days pro-rata.
After 5 years continuous service: 30 days pro-rata.
Plus Bank Holidays.
Special Leave
Working for a public sector employer, you will find that we offer favourable entitlements compared with many other employers in regard to time off for such reasons as maternity, maternity support leave, adoption and special leave for various other reasons.
We also support employment initiatives aimed at achieving work/life balance such as parental leave and time off for family emergencies.
Training and Development
The National Park Authority is committed to the professional and personal training and development of its staff. To support this, the Authority has achieved the national Investors in People (IIP) Standard. An appraisal scheme is in place for all staff and opportunities to undertake in-house and external training programmes are available.
Recruitment Clearance
The offer of appointment is subject to medical clearance by Occupational Health and receipt of satisfactory references.
Miscellaneous
New entrants to local government are subject to a probationary period of six months.
The notice period applicable to this post is 2 months.
The Authority operates a non-smoking policy in its offices.
Completed application forms to be returned to the HR Office, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yoredale, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3EL, by 12noon on Wednesday 19 October 2016.
Anticipated Interview Date: Week commencing Monday 31 October 2016.
If you have not been contacted for interview within three weeks of the closing date, you may assume that your application has not been successful.
Recruitment Pack\