Location
London with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy.

Hours
Fixed Term contract until end of March 2027, preferably starting 7th September 2026.

Salary
London Salary - c£42,262 pro rata per annum (more may be available for exceptional candidates) plus Civil Service Pension.

About the Role
The National Audit Office (NAO) supports Parliament in holding government to account and improving public services, focusing on driving long-term, sustainable performance. As an independent body, the NAO scrutinises public spending to ensure value for money for taxpayers and delivers recommendations that lead to financial savings and better service delivery across the public sector. We are seeking a skilled and proactive Press Officer to join our Press Team on a fixed-term contract. This role is responsible for publicising the work of the NAO to the media to protect and enhance our reputation. The post-holder will translate complex, technical information into simple, engaging messages for diverse audiences. They will manage proactive, planned press work and respond effectively to events and enquiries. Digital awareness and experience using a range of communication tools and channels are essential.

Main Responsibilities
- Promote the work of the NAO to external audiences via traditional and social media.
- Write press notices, pitches to journalists, op-eds and blog posts promoting value-for-money and financial audit reports.
- Draft social media posts and collaborate with the design team to develop multimedia content.
- Brief journalists across print and broadcast to secure accurate and positive media coverage.
- Organise and oversee press briefings and media interviews.
- Engage with stakeholders including Parliament, government departments, and audited bodies' press offices.
- Support audit teams and NAO spokespeople in external communications.
- Develop communications plans to achieve audit teams' impact and influence objectives.
- Prepare spokespeople for media interviews through practice sessions and support materials.
- Respond to time-sensitive, high-profile enquiries from journalists, drafting reactive lines and briefing spokespeople.
- Manage social media interactions related to NAO work.
- Build relationships with national, local, and trade press journalists.
- Participate in an out-of-hours press office rota.
- Support senior press officers with media coverage compilation and internal media training.
- Maintain media databases compliantly and compile internal reporting statistics.

Experience
- Demonstrable knowledge of the UK media landscape and strong news sense.
- Experience working as a journalist, or in a press office or communications team.
- Proficiency in traditional and social media monitoring.
- Experience using digital and print media and ability to learn new tools quickly.

About You
- Ability to translate complex and sensitive information into simple language.
- Strong writing skills with the ability to produce clear, accurate, and effective communications within agreed timescales.
- Excellent communication skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Able to work under pressure, respond to issues at short notice and out of hours.
- Effective team player with understanding of other communications disciplines.
- Interest in and understanding of how government works is desirable.

Qualifications
- UK nationals, nationals of Commonwealth countries with the right to work in the UK, or nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
- Please note, work visa sponsorship is not available.