Media & Communications Lead

Freelancingforgood; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in the UK is seeking a Media & Communications Lead to enhance its external voice and reputation. The role involves securing positive media coverage, managing media inquiries, and building relationships with key media contacts. The ideal candidate will have media discipline expertise and strong communication skills, coupled with experience in a high-paced media team. This position offers a full-time, hybrid working model with a salary range of £32,811 – £44,304 annually.

Qualifications

• Professional expertise or equivalent professional qualification gained in a media discipline.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Experience engaging with the media, and proven success in achieving coverage.

Responsibilities

• Secure positive media coverage for Barnardo’s across various platforms.
• Build and maintain relationships with key media outlets.
• Respond to media queries promptly and accurately.

Skills

Proactive initiative

Team working

Media relations

Oral and written communication skills

Education

Professional qualification in a media discipline

Understanding of media landscape

Tools

Digital media

Social media

Job description

Barnardo’s is looking for a Media & Communications Lead.

Overview:

• Full-time role
• Language: English
• Location: Remote in the UK (Hybrid)
• Salary: £32,811 – £44,304 per year
• Applications closing: 5th February

Job Description

Our Media and Communications team have the primary responsibility for managing Barnardo’s external voice and reputation. It is their job to drive up the charity’s share of voice in the media – both national and regional – as well as managing relationships with journalists, handling reputational risk and responding to media queries.

The Media and Communications Leads are a key part of driving change in attitudes towards childhood, working closely with partners and supporters – be that through telling the lived experiences of children and families, inspiring people to take action (whether joining our community, shopping, donating, advocacy or something else) or raising awareness of important issues.

Each Lead will be responsible for responding to media queries in a timely manner, as well as being responsible for key areas of focus – be that a particular topic or geographical area. Together as a team, they will come together to work on key campaigns and media moments, sharing knowledge and best practice to strive for excellence.

Responsibilities

• Securing positive coverage for Barnardo’s across broadcast, print and online media outlets – both nationally and regionally – ensuring you’re keeping abreast of the news agenda and changes in the media and wider sector.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key media outlets and contacts, to bring about positive coverage for the charity and further our priorities as outlined in our Strategy and our theory of change.
• Horizon scanning on behalf of Barnardo’s, both in traditional media and on social media, to ensure the charity is in the best possible position to respond quickly to the news agenda and any reactive opportunities, as well as advising on matters of potential reputational risk.
• Offering sound media advice to colleagues, both in the department and across the charity, as well as making sure all communications channels are considered at all times. This includes leading integrated working groups for key moments throughout the year.

Key activities:

• Acting as the first port of call for all media enquiries to Barnardo’s – making sure journalist enquiries are being answered accurately and in a timely manner.
• Finding the best ways to tell the stories that are of importance to Barnardo’s – be that supporting a family to talk to the media about their experiences or helping colleagues find new ways to talk to their target audiences.
• Writing media collateral (including press releases, statements, comments, blogs, opinion pieces, Q&A and social media copy) in line with our writing guide and tone of voice guidance.
• Participating in the press office duty rota, acting as the first port of call for media enquiries out-of-hours.
• Establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with Barnardo’s spokespeople and key colleagues across the UK.
• Assist colleagues in mitigating against and assessing risks to Barnardo’s and ensuring we are responding to risks in an open and transparent manner.
• Ensure equality, diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do – both through our work and as a colleague.
• Contributing to media training colleagues across the charity where appropriate, to ensure we have the right spokespeople.
• Contributing to and attending team meetings, planning days, etc. remotely and in person as required.
• Helping strengthen relationships with other communications teams at the charity, including Internal Comms, Social Media and Web teams, ensuring they’re considering communications in the round whenever planning.
• Along with the rest the team, ensuring the voices of children and young people are at the forefront of everything we do.

Role Requirements

Education/Knowledge

• Professional expertise or equivalent professional qualification gained in a media discipline.
• Expertise in, and working knowledge of, media relations, including social media.
• Sound working knowledge of the national news, charity trade and consumer media landscape.

Experience

• Experience engaging with the media, and proven success in achieving positive coverage in a range of relevant media.
• Experience of working and delivering success in a high profile, fast-paced media team, newsroom or press office.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive, confidential issues.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Experience of successfully working with social media.

Skills/Abilities

• Empowered working/initiative: Proactive in linking in with subject matter experts at Barnardo’s to generate ideas and angles for gaining media coverage, taking the initiative in exploring and proposing new avenues. Demonstrable strengths in anticipating the needs of situations and proposing solutions without being asked. Thinking ahead of the present to act on future needs and opportunities.
• Team Working: Strong interpersonal skills. Working collaboratively and sharing information within and across Barnardo’s to contribute to the effective delivery of Barnardo’s services. Building and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues to foster team spirit, commitment, and the achievement of shared goals.
• Knowledge: Having the right professional and technical qualifications for the job – including strong understanding and skill in working with digital channels and digital and social media. Continually and proactively updating and expanding this skill base without prompting.
• Concern for Accuracy: Acting to minimise errors and inaccuracies, maintaining high standards of accuracy and correctness in dealing with information and data. Adopting an orderly and precise approach to work paying careful attention to following standard procedures and ways of working.
• Striving for Excellence: Desires to improve performance, do a task better (faster, more effectively or at lower cost) by committing self in accomplishing challenging objectives/targets or competing against more stretching self-defined standards of excellence.

How to apply?

To apply for this role, please fill in the application form.