PR and External Communications Manager

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Discounted childcare

Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks

Annual gala award evening

Discounts on retailers, groceries, and

Wellbeing resources

Job summary

Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschool is seeking a PR and External Communications Manager to lead proactive media relations and storytelling across earned, owned and social channels. The role connects national priorities with authentic stories, working with HR, marketing and operations to reach families, employers, clients and colleagues.

The position is hybrid, full-time, Monday to Friday (9-5:30). Travel to our Northampton HQ is required; other offices are in London and Manchester.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in an in-house or agency PR role at manager level.
• Proven record of generating positive coverage and delivering creative campaigns.
• Experience of integrated PR, social and content planning.
• Experience of managing agencies, budgets and multiple priorities with evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver an insight-led PR and external communications plan.
• Create a strong pipeline of positive stories for diverse media.
• Build relationships with journalists and secure high-quality coverage.
• Adapt local stories for media, social and owned channels.
• Raise the profile of Work & Life through employer partnerships and client stories.
• Coordinate with social media to maximize story impact across channels.
• Develop thought-leadership opportunities and spokesperson readiness.
• Collaborate with HR and Internal Communications to strengthen employer branding.
• Work with the Foundation to share impact and fundraising activities.
• Manage PR agencies, suppliers and budgets; measure value.
• Use media monitoring and insights to improve performance.
• Lead and develop PR team members and foster high performance.

Skills

In-house PR management

Agency management

Media relations

Integrated communications

Education

Degree in Marketing, PR or Communications

Membership of relevant trade bodies

Job description

Hybrid / Full Time / Monday to Friday / 9-530pm

Salary From: £60k per annum

Travel is required to our HO in Northampton, other offices are based in London and Manchester

Date: 13th November 2026 if may close sooner if the right candidate is hired. All applicants need to attach a full and relevant CV to be considered.

Purpose Of The Role

To build awareness, trust and positive engagement with Bright Horizons by finding, shaping and sharing compelling stories about our colleagues, nurseries, Work&Life services, expertise, partnerships and impact. The PR and External Communications Manager will lead proactive media relations and integrated storytelling across earned, owned and social channels, supporting both the nursery business and Work&Life and helping Bright Horizons reach families, employers, HR and benefits leaders, client employees, current and prospective colleagues, business influencers and local communities.

The role will connect national priorities with authentic stories, working closely with nursery operations, Work&Life marketing and commercial teams, HR, Talent Acquisition, Internal Communications and social media colleagues, adapting strong stories for local, childcare, education, workforce, trade, business, HR, benefits, national and social channels. It will also maintain effective media monitoring and proportionate readiness for reactive or sensitive communications.

What We Can Offer You

• Our benefits include, but are not limited to;
• Flexible working and holiday entitlements
• Discounted childcare
• Quarterly Employee Appreciation Weeks
• Annual gala award evening
• Fantastic range of discounts on high street retailers, grocery stores, cinema tickets, holidays and more
• Wide range of wellbeing resources, supporting our teams for the ups and downs of daily life

Why Bright Horizons?

Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 270+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver an insight-led PR and external communications plan supporting our nursery and Work&Life businesses.
• Create a strong pipeline of positive stories, research and campaigns for local, national, childcare, education, workforce, business, HR, benefits and workplace media.
• Build productive relationships with journalists, editors and sector influencers, pitching timely ideas and securing accurate, high-quality coverage.
• Work with nursery and operational teams to uncover authentic local stories and adapt them for traditional media, social and owned channels.
• Raise the profile of Work&Life through employer partnerships, approved client and client-employee stories, workplace insight and executive commentary.
• Work closely with social media and content colleagues to plan once and use stories effectively across earned, owned and social channels.
• Develop thought-leadership opportunities and support confident, credible spokespeople from across Bright Horizons.
• Partner with HR, Talent Acquisition and Internal Communications to strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice through authentic colleague, career and workplace stories.
• Work with the Bright Horizons Foundation to share appropriate stories about its impact, partnerships and fundraising activity across PR, social and owned channels.
• Manage PR agencies, specialist suppliers and budgets, ensuring activity delivers measurable value.
• Use media monitoring, social insight and evaluation to improve performance, and support reactive or sensitive communications when needed.
• Lead and develop PR team members, creating a collaborative, creative and high-performing function.

Essential Experience

• Strong experience in an in-house or agency PR, media or integrated communications role at manager level.
• A proven record of generating positive coverage and delivering creative campaigns across consumer, local, trade, national or business media.
• Experience of integrated PR, social and content planning and an understanding of how communications can support reputation, engagement, growth and employer brand.
• Experience of managing agencies, budgets and multiple priorities, and of using insight and evaluation to demonstrate impact.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in early years, education, care, HR, employee benefits or workplace communications would be an advantage.

Qualifications

• Degree in Marketing, PR or Communications related further qualification/s
• Membership of relevant trade bodies.

Why Bright Horizons?

Our support functions enable our nurseries to deliver the best possible care and education to over 10,000 children across the UK. Through this support, our nurseries can deliver excellence – with 98% of our 270+ portfolio being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

We’re on a mission to change the future for children, families, and the people we work with, and are committed to progressive working values like flexibility, work-life balance, and wellbeing

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

We look forward to receiving your application!