Would you like a career like no other? If so… Join Us
South Wales Police brings together thousands of people with the same aim – to keep South Wales safe.
We want to be the best at understanding and responding to our community’s needs. To do this we need the very best candidates from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to become part of our policing family.
We are looking for someone to #JoinUs as a News Manager in our Communications and Media Team. Could you be who we are looking for?
About the team/Department you will be joining:
We are looking for an experienced and confident News Manager to join our Communications and Media team, based at our Headquarters in Bridgend.
The role has responsibility for overseeing a 24/7 news response capability, ensuring resilience, consistency and professionalism during critical incidents. You will also act as Deputy to the Assistant Director of Communications, representing the department at senior levels across the organisation.
About the role and your key responsibilities:
To provide strategic leadership of the force’s news and media function, delivering timely, accurate and trusted communications in high‑pressure and high‑risk environments.
You will be the senior advisor to Chief Officers, including the Chief Constable on media issues, ensuring communications activity improves public confidence, supports operational priorities, and withstands legal and ethical scrutiny and complies with national and local media policies.
The role is responsible for managing communications for major incidents, critical events and sensitive matters and overseeing a 24/7 news response capability, ensuring resilience, consistency and professionalism during critical incidents.
You will act as a deputy to the Assistant Director of Communications, representing the department at the highest levels of the organisation.
The role will also be responsible for managing communications officers from other areas of the communications team such as the social media team or marketing team as required.
What skills and experience do we need you to bring to the role:
- Significant leadership experience within news / media role, with an understanding of how effective communication can improve public trust and confidence.
- Proven experience of leading communications during high‑profile, sensitive and critical incidents, operating at pace and providing trusted strategic advice and guidance.
- Demonstrates the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure, maintaining sound judgment in high‑risk environments.
- Confidence and professional authority to challenge senior officers and stakeholders constructively where required, in the interests of integrity, media legality and public confidence.
- A strong ethical compass, with a clear understanding of transparency, accountability and policing / public‑sector values.
- Substantial experience working with national and local media, including broadcast, print and digital outlets.
- A sound understanding of policing / public‑sector accountability, including governance, scrutiny and public expectations.
- Clear pride in public service and commitment to serving the communities of South Wales through trusted and timely communication.
- A strong appreciation of the scale, influence and responsibility of the role within a policing environment.
- A genuine motivation to shape public understanding of policing, supporting legitimacy, confidence and community trust.
- Expertise in social media, including strategic use during incidents, risk management, and responding to misinformation.
- Excellent, verbal and written communications skills including significant experience in drafting statements, press releases, scripts and briefings.
- Demonstrate the ability to represent the Force at the highest levels in line with our values.
- Strong management and leadership skills, manging and developing the news team and wider communications team.
The successful Candidate must be willing to undergo vetting to MV/SC Vetting.
Please note, if you are an internal candidate and subject to an ongoing PSD investigation, your appointment or placement in the role may be delayed pending an outcome. Whether the role is held open will be considered on a case-by-case basis
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. However, as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates are currently underrepresented within the Force, we would particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse candidates.
To support the ambition of a diverse workforce, South Wales Place is able to offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). The GIS is available for people living with a disability or identify as ethnically diverse.
If you are an applicant who is living with a disability or from an ethnically diverse background (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and would like to be considered under the GIS, you must meet the essential minimum criteria for the role as outlined in the advert and role profile. You should take time to evidence that you meet each of the essential criteria in your application form and/or personal statement and CV.
There are numerous benefits to working for South Wales Police, from learning and development opportunities to schemes which aim to improve your lifestyle and wellbeing, as well as generous Local Government Pension Scheme / Police Pension Schemes, paid annual leave, flexible working and family friendly policies and many more, click here for more information.
If you would like any more information about the role, please contact: Catherine Llewellyn, Assistant Director of Communications: catherine.llewellyn@south-wales.police.uk
First time applying for a role with South Wales Police? Be sure to read our application guidance for some hints and tips around the application form and what to expect, click here for more information. Please note the successful candidate must be willing to undergo vetting to the required level.
