Senior Communications & Media Officer
GMCA
Senior Communications and Media Officer Closing date: Sunday 1st November 2026 Interview date to be confirmed Department: GMCA Communications & Engagement (News and Media team) Location:GMCA Hours Per Week:36.25 Salary: £35,570 - £39,481 Help shape how Greater Manchester’s story is told across social media, news and beyond. We’re looking for a creative, politically aware and digitally confident communications professional to join our Communications and Engagement team. Alongside traditional news and media, social media will be central to the role. You’ll help communicate the work of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Deputy Mayor, GMCA and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in ways that are clear, timely and relevant to different audiences. Working across news, media and social, you’ll contribute to integrated communications on major announcements, events and emerging issues, helping to build understanding, encourage engagement and protect the reputation of Greater Manchester’s organisations and leaders. It’s a varied, high-profile role in a fast-moving environment, offering the chance to work with senior stakeholders, colleagues and partners across Greater Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to use strong communications instincts and a passion for digital storytelling to make a visible difference to people and places across the city-region. You’ll help plan and deliver integrated communications that build understanding, encourage engagement and protect the reputation of Greater Manchester’s organisations and leaders. In this role, you will: Create timely, high-quality social media content across video, photography and written formats for the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, GMCA and GMFRS. Turn complex policies, announcements and sensitive issues into clear, accessible and compelling content. Spot opportunities in the news agenda and develop strong social media hooks that reach and engage different audiences. Film and edit content at events, major announcements and other key moments, producing high-quality work at pace. Support proactive and responsive media activity with regional and national outlets. Respond quickly and accurately to breaking news, emerging issues and misinformation. Work with senior stakeholders, colleagues and partners across Greater Manchester to plan and deliver integrated communications. Use audience insight, platform knowledge and media judgement to improve reach, engagement and impact. You’ll work with creativity, sound judgement and confidence in a high-profile, fast-paced and politically sensitive environment. Experience creating and producing engaging social media content across video, photography and written formats, including filming and editing at pace. A strong understanding of social platforms, audience behaviour and emerging digital trends. Excellent writing skills and the ability to make complex subjects clear and compelling. Good news judgement and an understanding of how social and traditional media work together. Confidence operating in a high-profile, fast-paced and politically sensitive environment. Creativity, collaboration and a strong focus on impact. If you can spot the story, find the right format and create content that gets Greater Manchester talking, we’d like to hear from you. At GMCA, you’ll help deliver our shared vision of a thriving city-region where everyone can live a good life. You’ll work on stories that matterfrom major policy announcements and public information to the work taking place in communities across Greater Manchester. Your content will help millions of people understand the work of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, GMCA, GMFRS and our partners. You’ll also join a supportive and ambitious Communications and Engagement service that values creativity, innovation, wellbeing and professional development. Ready to bring Greater Manchester’s story to life? If you’re an experienced content creator looking for a high-profile role where your work can make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you. As an employer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of a number of key Greater Manchester strategic functions and service providers, including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS); Waste and Resources; Environment; Work and Skills; Research; Public Service Reform; Police, Crime and Criminal Justice; Homelessness; the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub; and the Commissioning Hub. We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce that reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, trans status and non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants. To find out more about working for us, please visit: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/ Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register, the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome. For this opportunity, you must be able to prove that you have the right to work in the UK. Please note that we are not a licensed sponsor. This is a politically restricted post. Occasional evening and weekend working and travel may be required to meet operational needs. This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. Our flexible approach combines attendance at our Manchester city-centre office with remote working, typically from home. The location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: do what is right for you and the business on that day. If appointed, you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.What you’ll be doing
What you’ll bring
Why join us?
About us
Mandatory information
Privacy notice
Hybrid working
Ready to apply?
Location
Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU, United Kingdom
Job ID
1399
Supporting You Through Every Step of Your Journey
We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.
This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to understanding how to use AI responsibly.
You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.
Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester
Local authorities across Greater Manchester are proud to be part of a shared commitment to widening access to employment and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
These commitments span a number of long‑standing schemes and initiatives designed to open doors, remove barriers and ensure all applicants feel valued and respected throughout their employment journey.
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Your Pay, Your Benefits, Your Future
Explore easy‑to‑use tools that help you understand your take‑home pay and how different employment situations may affect the financial support available to you and your household.
Calculate Your Take‑Home Pay
Use this salary calculator to estimate your net pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
Estimate your Income Tax for the current year (Gov.uk)
Check Your Benefits Entitlement
See how changes in employment, hours or salary may affect your benefits and household income.
Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach
Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.
To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice.
Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.
This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.
What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?
AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.
We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.
When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.
This means:
A trained hiring manager reads every application
Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job
Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role
All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms
AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.
Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.
Using AI in Your Application
When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team.
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.
We’re looking forward to hearing your story.
How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly
Your application is your chance to show us:
Who you are
What you can bring
The values you hold
Why you want to make a difference
AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.
AI is most helpful when used to:
Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria
Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors
Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something
But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process
Do:
Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement
Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure
Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice
Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience
Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself
Don’t:
Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application
Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have
Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements
Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice
Stay Safe When Applying
To protect yourself from recruitment scams, please only apply for roles through the official greater.jobs website and associated recruitment systems. We will never ask for your personal information outside of this process.
