Communications Manager

Badminton Horse Trials; Badminton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Badminton Horse Trials is seeking a professional to manage the broad spectrum of communications for our premier outdoor sporting event. You will oversee traditional PR, digital channels, social media, and media relations, engaging sponsors, competitors, owners and enthusiasts.

The role is customer facing with interaction across our website, social platforms, radio and digital TV channel, and requires the ability to own the communications function within our busy office team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in a communications function across multiple channels.
• Experience across traditional PR, digital, social and media relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with attention to detail.
• Understanding of equestrian sport is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Create cohesive communication strategies for all channels engaging audiences.
• Liaise with sponsors, competitors, owners, enthusiasts and press to plan campaigns.
• Manage diverse communications projects with aligned or conflicting priorities.
• Oversee external media contractors delivering the communications plan.
• Craft PR, social media and other campaigns.
• Ensure all channels reflect brand messaging of the event.
• Oversee media centre operations and communications during the event.

Skills

Communications strategy

Stakeholder liaison

Social media

Media relations

Team leadership

Project management

Written communication

Equestrian knowledge

Job description

Organisation Badminton Horse Trials Salary £40-45K Location Badminton, South Gloucestershire Contract type (Full time) Closing date 13 November 2026 Interview date 23 November 2026 Job Description

ABOUT BADMINTON

Badminton Horse Trials is a premier outdoor sporting event held every year in early May at the Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire. The event attracts a significant and diverse audience onsite ranging from the equestrian sports enthusiast through to the family day tripper. An ever growing audience, both domestic and international, also experiences the event remotely through various digital channels.

This newly created role is an exciting opportunity to play a significant part in the success of staging a prominent outdoor sporting event with an international audience.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The event is now seeking a professional & creative individual to manage the broad spectrum of communication needs of the event across all communication channels from traditional PR through to modern digital. Curiosity and creativity are key attributes needed for this role to maintain the progressive nature of the event’s organisation in delivering a world class experience to our various audiences.

This is a customer facing role where you will have direct contact with a variety of stakeholders from sponsors through to competitors, owners, enthusiasts and the press. Badminton thrives thanks to people who take ownership, but work as part of the wider office team. Badminton has a very busy website and social media presence all of which will fall under the control of this role. There will also be significant interaction with our event based radio and digital TV channel as well.

As Badminton is an annual event it is envisaged this role will be full time from October to May, including some weekend working, with flexibility during the summer months to reduce days as needed. The role will be office based with some flexibility for working remotely.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• - Creating cohesive and comprehensive communication strategies for all channels that engage our audiences.
• - Liaising with a variety of event stakeholders to produce tactical communication plans throughout the year to fulfil our objectives both commercially and aspirationally.
• - Manage and execute a diverse range of communications related projects, often with a mix of aligned or competing priorities, ensuring objectives are met.
• - Oversee, manage and mentor a range of external media contractors who contribute to the communications delivery.
• - Crafting PR, Social Media and other communication campaigns.
• - Ensuring all of our communications and digital channels reflect the messaging and brand image of a world class sporting event.
• - Overseeing the media centre operations and communications functions during the event.

WHAT YOU WILL NEEDING TO BRING TO THE ROLE

• - A modern, professional approach to communications, with the ability to work with a variety of individuals and stakeholders.
• - An excellent understanding of the modern technologies that drive and assist today’s communications function.
• - A growth mindset, curiosity, and the ability to use impartial analysis to review and improve the communications function and its effectiveness.
• - Creativity to drive continuous enthusiasm amongst our audiences and stakeholders.
• - A blend of self-sufficiency and team mentality. This role very much owns the communication function as part of a larger event management team.
• - Experience of managing a team.
• - Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an attention to detail.
• - Good project management skills with the ability to work effectively on your own but also seek advice and guidance where appropriate.
• - An understanding and appreciation of equestrian sport.
• - 5+ years experience working in a communications function with exposure across a mix of channels.