Media and PR Officer

NHS Blood and Transplant; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to saving lives through blood and organ donation. As a Media & PR Officer, you will play a vital role in promoting our mission and engaging the public. This dynamic position involves crafting impactful communications, managing media relations, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. You will have the opportunity to influence the success of our initiatives and make a real difference in communities across the UK. With a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, this role is perfect for someone passionate about communication and making a positive impact.

Benefits

Flexible Working Opportunities

27 Days Annual Leave

NHS Pension Scheme

Continuous Learning Culture

Thrive Program for Development

Qualifications

• Experience in media handling and developing communication strategies.
• Knowledge of social media and internal communication effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Support the Communications team in delivering effective media coverage.
• Build relationships with influencers to encourage donor recruitment.

Skills

Media Handling

Social Media

Internal Communications

Marketing Knowledge

Communication Plans

IT Skills (Microsoft Office)

Education

Degree in Marketing/Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Media & PR Officer (Band 5)

Job Summary

Do you want a role where you can see a real impact from the media coverage you and your colleagues secure? By promoting blood, plasma, organ, stem cell and tissue donation you’ll be encouraging ordinary people to do something extraordinary – to give life to others.

There are lots of exciting scientific and medical services and developments too – so you hopefully enjoy getting to grips with new medical areas and promoting how an organisation like ours is striving to find new and even better ways to help patients.

NHS Blood and Transplant is an ambitious organisation that wants to be the best organisation of its type in the world. We’re looking for a Media and PR officer who cares about making a difference, is comfortable working with colleagues at all levels of the organisation, stakeholders and people with a personal story to share and enjoys working in a busy press office. Your influence and skills will contribute to the organisation’s success and the lives we save and improve on a daily basis.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be responsible for supporting the Communications team to deliver high quality, evaluated communications primarily focussed on recruiting new donors and showcasing the work of NHSBT. Your responsibilities will include:

1. To deliver proactive media handling - national and local announcements, ethnic minority focussed media and consumer media coverage.
2. Reactive media handling – call handling / rebuttal and media monitoring.
3. To use free media and no cost/low cost PR to recruit new donors.
4. To work with colleagues across the organisation to source stories and information and with colleagues across the communications mix to deliver joined up and effective communications plans.
5. To build relationships with case studies, influencers and media who can encourage the public to become blood and organ donors.

You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

1. Knowledge and experience of techniques and systems for evaluating the effectiveness of internal communications.
2. Knowledge and use of social media.
3. Experience of developing and delivering internal communications programmes using a wide range of channels and media.
4. Understanding of and respect for donor/patient confidentiality.
5. Demonstrable experience of producing high quality communications plans.
6. Demonstrable specialist knowledge of marketing.
7. Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).

Qualifications and Training

1. Degree in marketing/communication or equivalent experience to degree level.
2. Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.

Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.

You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

1. NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
2. 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
3. NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions.
4. We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 5^th January 2025. Interviews date(s) to be confirmed.

For informal enquiries please contact – Suzi Browne, Media and PR Manager via email at [e-mail]