Head of Media and PR

Page Personnel; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health research charity based in London is seeking a Communications Manager to drive their media strategy and manage press relationships. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in senior press office roles, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. This position offers a hybrid work model, competitive benefits including 31 days of leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

31 days of leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid working model

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Private health insurance

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in press office roles and relationship building with journalists.
• Strong crisis communication and reputation management skills.
• Experience working with high-profile stakeholders in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead media strategy and manage press activities.
• Cultivate relationships with journalists across various media.
• Prepare press materials and oversee interviews.

Skills

Senior press office experience

Crisis communications

Stakeholder engagement

Media strategy development

Understanding of life sciences

Project budget management

Media training

Flexible problem-solving

Job description

Overview

Health Research Charity Permanent Position About Our Client Life Sciences Organisations

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the media strategy, managing the organisation's media function and all press activity
• Act as the main point of contact for journalists, cultivating strong relationships across national, trade, broadcast, and online media
• Prepare messaging, media briefings, and press materials to support external storytelling and organisational visibility
• Identify and shape compelling narratives by collaborating with internal teams and senior leaders across the organisation
• Oversee interviews and media opportunities involving spokespeople, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals
• Manage external PR agencies and ensure delivery of media activity in line with agreed objectives and tone of voice
• Lead on crisis communication plans and responses to protect and strengthen the organisation's reputation
• Develop and maintain external communications templates, policies, and processes to support consistent, high-quality outputs

The Successful Applicant (Qualifications)

• Extensive senior press office experience, with a proven ability to build strong relationships with key journalists and generate high-impact proactive media coverage
• Strong background in crisis communications and reputation management, with sound judgement under pressure
• Confident working with high-profile stakeholders and leading external-facing media engagements
• Proven track record of developing and evaluating media strategies that drive audience engagement across a range of channels
• Deep understanding of the life sciences sector, underpinned by experience in science, healthcare or innovation-focused organisations
• Skilled in managing external agencies and project budgets to deliver communications outcomes to brief and on time
• Experience in providing media training to senior spokespeople or overseeing this through external partners
• Comfortable operating within fast-paced creative teams, managing competing priorities with a flexible and solution-focused approach

What’s on Offer (Benefits)

• 31 days PLUS bank holidays
• Hybrid working model - 3 days in the office
• Pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%
• Private Health Insurance