Press Officer - Belfast Regional Centre - Erskine HouseAbout the jobJob summaryDiscover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.Are you passionate about shaping public perception and handling high-profile media stories? Do you have experience in managing complex media relations or working in busy external communication roles? If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join HMRC's Press Office. Our Press Office runs one of the most high-profile 24-hour news operations in government, dealing with subjects from Self Assessment to Inheritance Tax, and tax avoidance and offshore evasion to Child Benefit. We are responsible for liaising with journalists from all media outlets on both a proactive and reactive basis, ensuring that inaccurate information is rebutted and that we represent HMRC policies and activity clearly and accurately. With a proactive approach to media and stakeholder engagement, we are breaking new ground in digital and social media news management, directly influencing the daily lives of every UK citizen.Job descriptionOur team is dispersed across the UK, making teamwork and support among colleagues essential. Building strong relationships with HMRC teams, other government departments and the media is crucial for promoting and explaining HMRC's policies effectively. This role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to present compelling communications strategies to senior leaders. Job holders in this grade will carry out a range of activities across communications professional disciplines to support efficient running of the directorate. This may involve being deployed to support emerging priority work. We provide a 24/7/365 service to the media running an on call service outside of normal working hours, which are 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. All colleagues at grade Higher Officer (HO) and above joining the press office team will be part of the on call rota. If you're up for a dynamic challenge, thrive under pressure and enjoy a fast-paced role where every day is different, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.Person specificationResponsibilities:Develop and implement proactive media plans that align with HMRC's campaigns and business milestones across all platforms.Respond to media enquiries within agreed deadlines, working closely with colleagues and officials to agree on suitable messaging.Collaborate across the press, digital, external affairs, campaigns and business partner teams to deliver effective, targeted communication strategies.Evaluate results and use insights to inform and improve future activities.Anticipate and address potential issues before they arise, handling them effectively and rebutting inaccurate media stories.Keep the Press Office Planner updated on key events and opportunities.Identify opportunities for specialist media coverage and lead the execution of those stories.Monitor media coverage to stay informed on relevant stories.Build strong relationships with journalists, stakeholders and officials across HMRC and other government departments to ensure accurate, timely messaging.Supporting, colleagues across the Press, Digital and External Affairs team and the wider communications team to ensure delivery of priority work.Some travel and overnight stays will be necessary to attend meetings, events etc.Participate in the out-of-hours press office on call rota.Essential Criteria:Extensive experience in professional external communications roles, such as a journalist or press/public relations officer.Strong writing skills with attention to detail, including the ability to convey complex information clearly to non-expert audiences.Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments/organisations and with external partners, to deliver outstanding results-driven communication activity.A creative, forward-thinking approach with the ability to generate innovative ideas for media and stakeholder content.Strong decision-making and organisational abilities, able to deliver accurate work under pressure.Capable of thriving in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, and providing constructive feedback to senior colleagues.Membership of GCS or willing to join as part of the role.You'll need to be an excellent writer, capable of explaining complex issues clearly. Your writing skills will be tested during the interview, and your application will be reviewed for accuracy in grammar, punctuation and content. Only candidates demonstrating these high standards will be invited for interview. Transitional SitesFor more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it's important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.These sites are:Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, NewcastleYou will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stageLeeds Locations Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.MembershipsMembership of GCS or willing to join as part of the role.Technical skillsWe'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: A separate 250-word statement on the GCS Competence - Implementation - Press & Media. GCS - Insight - press & media GCS - Ideas - press & media GCS - Implementation - press & media GCS - Impact- press & media We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:A separate 250-word statement on the GCS Competence - Implementation - Press & Media. BenefitsAlongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.Family friendly policies.Personal support.Coaching and development.To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil ServiceThings you need to knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.How to ApplyAfter submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:A name-blind CV including your job history and key achievements.A 500-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the essential criteria and person specification outlined in the advert.A separate 250-word statement on the GCS Competence - Implementation - Press & Media.Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.SiftIn the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the CV.At full sift your CV, your Personal Statement and your technical statement, will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.InterviewDuring the panel interview, you will be asked questions about the four GCS Technical Skills. GCS - Insight - press & media GCS - Ideas - press & media GCS - Implementation - press & media GCS - Impact- press & media Additionally, you will be required to carry out a written exercise, details of which will be provided at the interview. There is no preparation necessary. Further information about level appropriate skills that will be assessed can be found in the GCS Competency Framework: https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/.Interviews will take place face to face at our Cardiff, Stratford - Greater London, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow or Belfast offices. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.EligibilityPlease take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - (insert vacancy ref) & vacancy closing date (insert date)'.To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.The HMRC app can help you with your applicationThe HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store. If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.Reserve ListA reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.Merit ListAfter interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.Criminal Record CheckApplications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.Hybrid working at HMRCHMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).Reasonable AdjustmentsWe want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.Additional Security InformationPlease note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post. From 1 April 2026, applicants will be required to meet updated nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If this affects you, we will give you more information at the appropriate time.Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.Terms and Conditions Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process. Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis 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 ServiceThe 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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
