Press Officer

About the role:
The postholder will contribute to the development and implementation of communication strategies working closely with the Head of News and Senior Communications colleagues, securing positive coverage for the British Museum in line with its strategic objectives.

Key areas of responsibility:
• Lead on individual proactive communications projects to secure positive coverage for the British Museum. These include – but are not limited to – the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), objects loans, the latest British Museum research or archaeological finds from international digs.
• Manage general press enquiries including drafting official spokesperson statements, spotting potential issues, preparing lines against enquiry and correcting media copy.
• Work with press colleagues to develop and maintain positive relationships with key journalists across all media in the UK, European and international.
• Research and write briefing material for senior British Museum staff ahead of media interviews, speeches, and other public events, including helping them to prepare.
• Support the press team in the organisation of events including – but not limited to – press launches, press views, Directorial engagements, and filming requests.
• Monitor developments in the media landscape to enable the Museum to promote its activity in all arenas.
• Support the Public Programmes team to promote events and develop ways to identify target interested audiences.

About you:
• Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience working in communications ideally for a major UK public institution – e.g. the museum/arts sector, UK Government, UK broadcaster or equivalent agency or journalistic background.
• Strong writing and organisation skills – ensuring work is properly planned and contributes to the communications team planner and online enquiry logging system.
• Experience of responding to media enquiries and the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Educated to degree level – or can demonstrate relevant equivalent professional experience.
• Knowledge of and contacts within the arts media is desirable but not essential.

About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is one of the leading visitor attractions and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Admonitions Scroll, and the Amaravati sculptures.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections.
• Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
The interviews are expected to take place week commencing 13 May.
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of in order to support you with your application, please provide details to [email protected].

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.

Museum Website: https://bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com//templates/CIPHR/jobdetail_5805.aspx