Manager, Media Communications

McLaren Racing; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A high-performance automotive brand in the UK is seeking a creative individual to lead media strategies and manage the press office. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in luxury automotive media relations, demonstrating success in handling narratives that satisfy ultra-high-net-worth individuals. This role involves collaborating across departments and designing bespoke media experiences that elevate the brand's prestige.

Benefits

Structured career development

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• 7+ years leading media relations for luxury automotive sectors.
• Demonstrable success landing tier-one global coverage.
• Deep understanding of UHNWI expectations.

Responsibilities

• Build global earned media strategy for brand moments.
• Own media relationship management across sectors.
• Design media strategies for launches and brand moments.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis management

Creative thinking

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft 365

Adobe CC

Power BI

Job description

Reporting to Head of Brand Marketing & Communications, this is an exciting opportunity for a proactive, dynamic and creative individual to join the Global Brand & Client Department at McLaren Automotive. Lead McLaren Automotive's global earned narrative and reputation. You will run the press office end‑to‑end‑building deep relationships with tier‑one automotive, business and lifestyle media; orchestrating product reviews and media experiences; shaping executive visibility; and safeguarding the brand through issues and crisis management. Working within Brand Marketing & Communications, you will integrate closely with Product, Racing, MSO & Services and Campaigns to ensure every earned moment is on‑brand, culturally resonant, and commercially effective. This role is the heartbeat of our earned storytelling—turning product truth, racing pedigree, and modern luxury values into international headlines that drive consideration and demand. You’ll design and deliver media strategies for launches and brand moments, from embargo planning to first‑drive programs, reviews and long‑lead features. You will also be the first line of defense on reputation: anticipating risk, equipping leaders with compelling message maps, and responding with pace and precision. The standard is ultra‑luxury: discrete, meticulously crafted media experiences that feel rare and elevate McLaren's desirability among UHNWIs and our broader audiences.

Responsibilities

• Global earned media strategy & planning: Build multi‑wave PR plans for brand and product moments (announce deep‑dive review ownership stories), aligned to the annual marketing plan and market seasonality. Define tiering (A/B/C outlets), angles, and exclusives strategy.
• Press office leadership: Own day‑to‑day media relationship management across automotive, business and lifestyle; maintain a proactive pitch calendar; serve as trusted point of contact for editors, reviewers, presenters and opinion leaders.
• Reviews & embargo orchestration: Plan allocations, routes and venues (track/road), safety and insurance protocols, logistics, content capture windows, and embargo timings; ensure all review assets and Q&As are ready and compliant. Co‑own the embargo calendar and approval workflow.
• Executive profiling & thought leadership: Position McLaren leaders with high‑credibility narratives (technology, sustainability, design, performance, customer experience). Prepare briefs, message maps, op‑eds and interview prep; coordinate podium moments around global auto shows and major races.
• Issues & crisis management: Run the playbook for risk detection, holding statements, stakeholder alignment (Legal, Quality, Safety), and timely media responses. Conduct scenario planning and media training for spokespeople. Maintain incident logs and post‑mortems.
• Racing integration: Leverage F1, WEC and other motorsport moments, driver access and technical stories to amplify product credibility and heritage storytelling—without diluting model‑specific messages. Coordinate with Marketing Integration Racing.
• Content & newsroom: Lead the creation of press kits, media sites, b‑roll, stills, tech sheets, executive quotes and infographics; enforce craft and brand guardrails across every asset and caption. Ensure accessibility and inclusivity in language and imagery.
• UHNW media experience design: Curate by‑invitation media immersions that reflect ultra‑luxury codes (privacy, concierge precision, rarity), often in partnership with MSO, lifestyle collaborators or private venues. Measure impact beyond volume‑quality and influence first.
• Market enablement: Provide local teams and distributors with PR playbooks, localized press materials, media lists and training. Track adoption and execution quality versus the global plan; intervene to fix gaps fast.
• Agency & budget stewardship: Brief and manage world‑class PR agencies and production/editorial partners against clear outcomes; optimize cost‑to‑impact and maintain high craft.
• Measurement & reporting: With Client Insights & Customer Journey, define earned‑impact metrics—tier‑one quality score, sentiment, share‑of‑voice in target sets, review impact on consideration, test‑drive requests and orders—and publish post‑campaign readouts with optimisation actions.
• Approve global press materials and message maps for brand and product topics within established brand guardrails.
• Co‑own embargo and review program decisions (titles, timing, allocations) with the Head of Brand Marketing & Communications.
• Trigger issues/crisis protocols and designate spokespersons in alignment with Legal and the HOD.
• Select and performance‑manage PR agencies within approved rosters and budget envelopes.

Qualifications & Experience

• 7+ years leading media relations/press office for luxury, performance automotive or adjacent ultra‑luxury sectors (watchmaking, private aviation, yachting, couture).
• Demonstrable success landing tier‑one global coverage and managing high‑stakes issues.
• Calm under scrutiny, editorially sharp, relationship‑led and commercially aware.
• Precision in craft, pace in delivery, inclusive collaborator who elevates cross‑functional partners.
• Deep understanding of UHNWI expectations—discretion, trust, authenticity—and the ability to translate them into press experiences and narratives that feel rare and personal.
• Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 (stakeholder/relationship tracking), Power BI (dashboards), newsroom/CMS, DAM, social listening/monitoring, media database tools, embargo management workflows, Adobe CC for press assets.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic, creative and dynamic thinker who can operate under pressure.
• Inspirational speaker and communicator.
• Comfortable handling, presenting and inspiring all levels of the organization.
• Extremely high level of attention to detail.
• Out of the box thinking to bring the McLaren Brand and Products to life.
• Confident in dealing with challenging situations and relationships.
• Able to adapt in a fast‑paced, high‑pressured, ever‑changing environment.
• Ability to manage own workload with ownership, be proactive in seeking support and guidance where needed.
• Resilient, energetic, passionate and enthusiastic.
• A natural implementer and highly focused, process oriented.
• Strong understanding and experience shaping & delivering media strategies and managing media relationships.
• Effective at working and collaborating within large teams.
• Able to engage and maintain frequent and constructive communication with intercultural teams and audiences.
• Capacity to multitask and work on projects with varied lead‑times.
• A clear understanding of, and passion for the McLaren Brand and products is a key requirement.
• Knowledge of McLaren's racing and road car heritage is a key requirement.
• High computer literacy and editorial/writing skills.

No restraints. No limitations. We don't simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath‑taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.

Benefits

• Structured career development framework.
• 25 days' holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days.
• Enhanced company pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual bonus award.
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan.
• Life assurance benefit.
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years' service.
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
• Generous parental leave policies.
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice.