Job ref: 191870
TPR grade: Grade 10 - Associate
About us
More than half the UK working population rely on The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to regulate their retirement savings. With a career at TPR, you’ll be joining an organisation that will impact on millions of lives for decades to come.
Everyone at TPR plays an important role in helping to keep more than £2trn of savings safe. We’re committed to bringing people into TPR who are ready to make a difference and put UK savers at the heart of what we do.
It is important to us that TPR remains a great place to work. We do all we can to help our people reach their full potential with learning, secondment, and development opportunities. We put our 900+ employees first, supporting flexible working and offer a diverse, lively, and inclusive environment. This includes our Disability Network, Family Network, LGBT+ Network (Proud), Minority Ethnic (ME) Network and Women’s Network, which offer spaces to connect.
Our new corporate strategy outlines a bold and challenging vision of how pensions regulation should evolve to keep pace with a change in the scale and nature of the industry. We are at the start of that journey. Join us to find out what part you can play.
We operate a hybrid working model, with regular attendance in our Brighton office to connect with colleagues across the business.
Role
We are currently seeking a media officer to join The Pension Regulator’s busy media relations team.
The pensions landscape continues to see significant change with a host of new regulations designed to protect savers, tackle wrong-doing and help improve retirement outcomes. As a result, we have an ever-growing profile in the press.
In the context of these changes, as media officer you will be play an influential role in telling a strong story about TPR’s work to protect savers, highlighting our compliance and enforcement actions, and promoting the regulator’s messages on improving standards and enabling good outcomes for people saving into workplace pensions.
Through your work, you will help manage TPR’s reputation, educate the pensions market on our work and build support for TPR’s approach to regulation. You will maximise the creative use of all communication channels, and robustly defend the organisation in the press.
Responsibilities
You will:
- be confident in dealing with journalists, stakeholders, and other government bodies, and proactively manage media enquiries and reputational issues as required using agreed lines to take
- produce and sell in high-quality press releases, articles, blogs and podcasts to core pensions trade press, national print and broadcast media and business sector publications
- build and maintain strong relationships with key press contacts
- be creative and proactive in generating media and public relations opportunities to raise awareness of the regulator’s work to promote high standards across the pensions industry
- advise colleagues, including the regulator’s Board and senior management team, on media-handling strategies, statements, and lines to take
- participate in our out-of-hours rota as required – approximately one week per month
- work dynamically to provide support to other communication functions as appropriate
Essential and desirable criteria
Essential:
- Proven experience in media relations or PR with a strong news sense and judgement.
- Excellent spoken and written communication and organisational skills.
- A self-starter – able to generate creative ideas and opportunities to highlight TPR’s messages.
- Ability to quickly absorb and understand information on complex policy or legal issues and the ability to translate this material into succinct, relevant, and engaging content.
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines, often having to prioritise to meet unexpected or changing workload.
- Ability to advise, influence and persuade others, often at senior levels.
Desirable:
- Experience of working in the financial services or pension sectors.
- Experience of working as an in-house media officer.
Person specification
- Ability to prioritise and use initiative.
- Calm under pressure.
- Communication skills at all levels.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Personable and a team player.
Salary and benefits
As well as a salary from £31,684, we offer:
- Civil Service Pension arrangements, which are recognised as some of the best in the pensions world
- discretionary bonus arrangements
- access to performance related pay progression
- 25 days annual leave provision
- flexible working arrangements
- development opportunities
- enhanced parental leave arrangements
- a free employee assistance programme
- an excellent office location in Brighton
How to apply
To apply please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk quoting role reference number 191870 along with:
- a covering letter with details of how your skills and experience meet the role requirements
- a copy of your CV
- details of your notice period
Current employees in their first 12 months of employment who want to apply for this vacancy should first contact their line manager to discuss their application.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to the recruitment, employment, retention and development of people with disabilities and to improving their employment opportunities. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
Applications will be considered on a part time and job share basis. If you want your application to be considered as part of a job share, please apply with the hours you are available to work.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, the successful candidate will be required to provide their right to work in the UK before they start employment. Unfortunately, TPR is not able to offer sponsorship at the time. TPR is a UK-based organisation with a working location in Brighton, candidates must live in the UK to be employed by us.
The Pensions Regulator is an arm’s length government body and part of the public service.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory background screening checks and criminal record checks (BPSS).
If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk.