The Ideal Candidate

Job Overview

About the BMA

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the professional association and trade union for doctors in the UK.  We represent, support and negotiate on behalf of all UK doctors and medical students. 

Would you like to work for an organisation that champions the work and lives of doctors across the UK? In a busy press office where no two days are the same and with a highly professional and friendly team? If you have two or three years experience working in a press office for a large membership organisation or a healthcare or health policy body, we'd like to hear form you.

About the role

The Media Officer will support the media team in providing a timely, high-quality and professional media service to ensure that the BMA is represented in the media on key aspects of health policy and issues concerning the medical profession.  This role will include some specific responsibility for providing key administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the media team.   

There is also a requirement to provide out of hours media support and guidance on evenings and weekends on a rota basis and this attracts a generous on call-allowance and time off in lieu. 

As a Media Officer you will:

• Provide media and public relations advice and support to the BMA’s senior managers and departments, including developing and delivering media plans.
• Provide specialist media and public relations input to specific projects to launch and/or promote BMA benefits and services. This includes providing advice and leading on the development and delivery of media strands for specific projects.
• Write press releases and articles for publication, research and set up broadcast interviews  and promote these to the media.
• Assist the head of media and senior media officers with media activity including finding background information, setting up or supervising interviews or supporting on a specific story.

This is a fixed term contract position and is a hybrid role with a mix of working from home and from our Central London office (BMA House).

To be successful as a Media Officer you'll have:

• Demonstrable experience working in a busy national press office
• A good understanding awareness of how  media works
• A good understanding of health policy, trade union activities and the NHS 
• Excellent writing skills
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills 
• Good negotiation and communication skills
• Experience of working within a Membership organisation (desirable)

Why work for us?

We offer a wide range of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays and a BMA company day
• Double matching pension contributions up to 12% of salary
• Additional leave entitlement for volunteering or moving house (after completion of probationary period)
• Onsite gym and subsidised café at BMA House
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with free confidential counselling, a helpline and specialist support available
• BMA Law - discounted rates for employees requiring legal services such as will writing/conveyancing
• Multiple flexible benefits and discounts through our employee benefits platform
• Lots of Learning and Development/training opportunities via our internal learning hub
• Season ticket loan (up to £10,000) after completion of probationary period

Anonymous recruitment

The BMA endeavours to be an inclusive employer, ensuring fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for roles. To support our aims, we use specific software to remove all personal identifying information from CVs and applications.  Personal information such as name, date of birth, age and gender are anonymised and will only become visible to hiring managers if you are selected for interview.

Whether the role needs you to work at home, in an office or in a hybrid way, we`ll provide all the support you need.  

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please apply through our website. However,  if you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support at any point during the application process, please email recruitment@bma.org.uk.

Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring: 

Our ambition is to work together to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts everybody signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

BMA is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge as we recognise that diversity makes us stronger.

Please note, we are unable to provide sponsorship under the UK points-based immigration system and we do not hold a sponsorship licence.