Media & Communications Adviser
Salary: Band 8, £36,066 - £41,028 (Please note it is Northumbria Police policy to appoint at the beginning of the band)
Location: Agile, Middle Engine Lane (Expected to move to Cobalt Business Park Summer 2027) and homeworking
Hours/Contract: 12 Months Secondment/FTC (Maternity Cover)
Working for #TeamNP
Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.
As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.
Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.
Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.
Learn about our full benefits package
The role
Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively. Think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Communications and Engagement Department as a Media and Communications Adviser.
Providing a communications service to one of the largest police forces in the country, you’ll relish the opportunity to work in a fast-paced and diverse environment.
You’ll enhance the trust and confidence in Northumbria Police, by producing high quality content across a range of platforms.
One day, you could be joining officers as they tackle crime – and the next you could be supporting a victim tell their story.
From supporting a high-profile investigation to showcasing the amazing work of our officers, staff and volunteers – you’ll be on the front line of delivering communications which make a real difference to the fantastic communities we are privileged to serve.
If you think you have what it takes to help us make that difference, we want to hear from you.
What you’ll do
We are looking for a truly proactive multimedia adviser. You will have the confidence to advise and influence senior officers about the best course of action when dealing with communications activities. Working as part of a team and using your own initiative, you will:
- Offer advice and support the delivery of proactive and reactive communications, ensuring policing matters are effectively communicated in an accurate and timely manner.
- Develop, design, plan and monitor this content as part of communications activity to drive engagement.
- Build strong internal relationships to generate a range of positive creative content for our channels and external media organisations. You will also establish strong relationships with external stakeholders.
- Effectively handle media enquiries from local, regional and national outlets to maintain and enhance public confidence.
- Organise and run media interviews, press conferences/briefings and co-ordinate the media on operational activities.
- Lead, create and implement communications plans and tactics for serious crime investigations and major/critical incidents. Advising and influencing senior leaders over the best course of action to take and developing key messaging.
Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description.
What you’ll bring
- Previous experience of delivering communication activity and plans, able to create creative and engaging content for a range of channels including digital.
- You’ll have an understanding and working knowledge of media law and platforms of external engagement, social networks and the ability to create materials for each.
- Excellent communication skills - written, oral, presentational and interpersonal. Ensuring that all communications are clear and concise.
- Excellent computer literacy and IT skills and the ability to learn new IT systems.
- Resilient and able to remain calm while under pressure and working in a fast-paced environment.
- You will be able to work as part of a team as well as on your own, prioritising your workload when required.
- A proactive, flexible and collaborative approach, able to work independently and as part of a team, share ideas, self‑learn new platforms and tools, respond positively to challenging situations, participating in on‑call out‑of‑hours/weekend rota.
- Commitment to professionalism and inclusion, demonstrating resilience, an understanding of diversity, equality and inclusion, and the ability to travel across the Force area as required to fulfil the needs of the role.
Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Stephen Stray, Media & Communications Manager by email at stephen.stray@northumbria.police.uk or Chris Knight, Senior Media Adviser by email at Chris.Knight@northumbria.police.uk.
We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.
What we offer
- 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
- NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
- Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
- Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
- Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
- Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
- Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
- Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
- We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
- Access to gyms in some stations
- Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
- Cycle to work scheme
- Opportunity to volunteer in local community
Just so you know
Internal candidates with priority status will be given precedence for this role over other applicants.
We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connection are key. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams.
Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of Media and Communications Adviser with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.
The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face-to-face interview and exercise. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.
We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Leader, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.
If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.
Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.
If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.
Terms of appointment
This is a fixed term role subject to a six-month probationary period.
If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.
Please note if you are interested in applying for this secondment opportunity, please discuss this with your Line Manager and gain agreement prior to applying.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.