Media Officer
Wigan Council
Salary: Grade 8, £35,235 - £39,513 per annum.
Locations: Wigan Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN
37 hours per week
Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance
Job reference: 001793
Closing date: 3 August 2025
We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.
We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!
Your role:
As part of the media team, you will be responsible for the day-to-day activity of the media relations function, ensuring press enquiries are answered appropriately and senior officers/elected members are kept up to date with ongoing issues.
You will help to develop the team’s role as storytellers and reputation guardians, under the guidance of the senior media officer.
Working directly with service areas you will proactively seek out opportunities to promote the work of the council and support the development of the council’s brand and identity.
You will help to support the development of the council’s social media channels and will be expected to produce content in a range of formats.
About you:
The ideal candidate needs a successful track record in establishing positive working relationships and relevant experience of working in a press office / local government or equivalent environment.
They must be confident dealing with reactive enquiries and advising senior colleagues. They should have an excellent understanding of how the media works and be politically astute.
About us:
Wigan Council has been voted ‘Overall Council of the Year’ at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards. We are signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment ensuring that your service will be continuous or 'unbroken' between the supporting organisations.
The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them.
The role is in the council’s award-winning Public Relations team which is responsible for communicating with more than 300,000 residents through both traditional and digital channels, ensuring content is relevant, timely and targeted.
Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan.
To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Prove your right to work to an employer
For further information, please contact James Illingworth, Media Manager - James.illingworth@wigan.gov.uk
Interview date: Week commencing Monday 4th August 2025
