Media %26 Public Affairs Manager

AXA; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA is seeking a Media & Public Affairs Manager responsible for managing media engagement and public affairs strategies to shape the company's reputation. The role demands strong communication skills, media judgement, and the ability to advise senior leaders, all while aligning with AXA's business strategy.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years’ experience in communications, media relations, or public affairs.
• In-house communications experience preferred.
• Experience managing PR agency relationships and communications budgets desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead external media relations and public affairs strategy.
• Draft press releases and media statements.
• Monitor public policy and reputational developments.

Skills

Media judgement

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Third level qualification (degree)

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity as a Media & Public Affairs Manager here at AXA Ireland.

This is a senior role within the Communications & Brand team, responsible for shaping AXA’s reputation, managing media engagement, delivering thought leadership, and supporting public affairs activity that positions AXA as a trusted leader in insurance.

This role requires excellent media judgement, a strong news sense, and the confidence to advise senior leaders. You will be a skilled communicator and relationship builder, with the ability to turn complex business messages into clear, compelling stories that cut through.

Critically, you will work closely with our Marketing team to amplify campaigns, identify thought leadership opportunities, and bring proactive storytelling ideas to life across earned and owned media channels.

At AXA, we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team, and our customers. You'll work at least 40% of your week away from home, moving to the majority of your working week from September 2025. "Away from home" means either attendance at one of our head office locations, visiting clients, or attending industry events.

What you’ll be doing:

1. Lead the simplification and digitisation of customer services, delivering good customer outcomes and interactions, leveraging data to understand customer behaviour, friction points, and frustrations, shaping solutions that deliver better experiences and priorities.
2. Lead AXA Ireland’s external media relations and public affairs strategy across all lines of business.
3. Build and maintain strong relationships with national, business, and trade media.
4. Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on media engagement, profile building, and reputation management.
5. Identify proactive media opportunities and manage media risks with strong judgement and agility.
6. Lead reactive media handling and issues management as required.
7. Shape and deliver thought leadership content and campaigns for AXA Ireland — aligned with business strategy and reputation priorities, across our lines in health, retail, and commercial insurance.
8. Work closely with Marketing to amplify campaigns, identify news angles, and thought leadership opportunities.
9. Draft high-quality press releases, media statements, briefing notes, speeches, and opinion pieces.
10. Prepare and brief senior spokespeople for media engagement and speaking opportunities.
11. Collaborate with AXA Group and European Communications teams to localise and amplify global campaigns.
12. Lead AXA’s engagement with key external stakeholders including industry bodies, regulators, government, and business forums.
13. Monitor public policy, regulatory, and reputational developments impacting AXA’s business.
14. Manage AXA Ireland’s retained PR agency relationship, setting SLAs, managing deliverables, and evaluating performance.
15. Lead on budget management for external communications, ensuring spend is aligned with priorities and delivers ROI.

Minimum 5-7 years’ experience in communications, media relations, and/or public affairs (essential).

Third level qualification (degree) or equivalent experience (essential).

In-house communications experience (desirable).

Experience managing PR agency relationships and communications budgets (desirable).

PPRI or MII membership (desirable).

This campaign supports permanent, temporary, and/or extension for similar upcoming positions.

As a precondition of employment, you must be eligible and authorized to work in Ireland and/or the UK.