PR Manager

First Bus; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Public Relations Manager to enhance its communication strategies and build its reputation within the community. This role involves planning and executing PR campaigns, managing media relations, and ensuring consistent messaging across various platforms. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in external communications, excellent writing skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Join a company that values innovation and collaboration, and make a meaningful impact in the public transport sector while supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Health-promotion initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven experience in external communications in large organizations.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to create compelling content.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage public relations campaigns at the local level.
• Develop relationships with local media and stakeholders.

Skills

External Communications Campaigns

Crisis Communication

Writing and Editing Skills

Stakeholder Communication

Public Relations Strategy

Social Media Management

Education

Degree in relevant field

Membership of a relevant professional body

Tools

CMS Platforms

Job description

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Direct message the job poster from First Bus

Location - Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire

Contract Type - Full-Time, 6 months FTC

About Us

At First Bus, we are one of the UK's largest bus operators, playing a vital role in connecting people, businesses, and communities. Every day, we help millions of customers get to where they need to go, whether it's for work, education, or leisure. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, we're driving forward greener, smarter, and more efficient ways of travel.

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and accessible transport solutions that enhance the lives of our customers. We're not just about buses; we're about people—our dedicated team members and the communities we serve.

As part of the wider FirstGroup, we're proud to be a business that values inclusion, collaboration, and professional development. At First Bus, you'll find a workplace that thrives on innovation, supports career growth, and makes a real difference to people's lives.

Position Summary

The Public Relations Manager is responsible for developing, planning, implementing and measuring the Local Business Unit (LBU) ‘s PR and media strategy; building its reputation and ensuring effective media coverage. Reporting to the Commercial Director, the post holder will support the LBU with their communications priorities, aligned with the First Bus-wide external communication objectives, seeking out opportunities to maximise positive exposure across all relevant communication channels on a regional and national scale.

The Public Relations Manager will maintain a matrix-relationship with the External Communications Manager for First Bus and will work collaboratively with them and other PR Managers across the UK bus operations. This will ensure that local messaging is aligned with the overall goals of the First Bus communications strategy and that First Bus content is delivered with a consistent voice across the regions. The post holder will be the first point of contact for media enquiries at an LBU level and will directly handle the PR response to ‘crisis' situations to protect the reputation of the LBU and the wider organisation.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Plan, implement and manage all public relations campaigns at a LBU level.
• Plan and budget for LBU PR events, programmes and initiatives
• Working in collaboration with LBU marketing teams, ensure the marketing strategy and plan aligns with the PR plan
• Create, design and review the content in press releases and media announcements and media kits at LBU level
• Monitor corporate image frequently and ensure local compliance with the wider organisation brand.
• Check and manage content produced for LBU websites and social media channels
• Measure and provide reports on each PR campaign
• Develop and build long-term relationships with all relevant stakeholders, such as local (or devolved national) government, media contacts, elected representatives, and their advisers, etc.
• Produce content to support the LBU Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) when they are required to represent First Bus when delivering speeches, hosting events, awards ceremonies, or hearings.
• Foster close working relationships with HR colleagues in the LBU to ensure alignment and consistency of external and internal LBU communications.
• Work closely with the marketing team to develop an understanding of the local landscape in relation to awards, chambers of commerce or local authority events relevant to the public transport industry.
• Collaborate with LBU marketing colleagues and the SLT to create compelling award submissions for both local awards and work in partnership with the First Bus External Communications Manager to gather material and nominations for relevant national awards.
• Develop and implement crisis communications advice and media strategy, as required.

Skills, Experience and Leadership behaviours required:

• The Public Relations Manager will act with integrity and role model First Bus values and behaviours (‘our way') across their business unit and the broader business
• Proven experience in the development and delivery of external communications campaigns in a large, complex organisation from planning/ideas stage to execution and measurement.
• Experience in high-pressure communications and campaign management. Excellent writing and editing skills and the ability to write accurate compelling copy
• Excellent at communicating with and influencing all levels of colleagues and stakeholders and challenging the ‘status-quo' appropriately.
• Strong speaking and presentation skills and the ability to organise and plan PR strategies
• Experience of content creation for a variety of audiences and channels, including video and writing for online platform and a confident user of CMS platform.
• Experience of briefing agencies and working with suppliers to obtain best value and outcome for events and campaigns.
• Have a full understanding of media needs and be able to establish relationships and contacts across the local media landscape.
• Experience working with busy media desks, selling in pitches and ideas to help secure coverage and widespread interest in campaign content.
• Be proactive, reliable, responsible and accurate with an attention to detail.
• The ability to keep sensitive information confidential.
• Tactical understanding of all primary social media platforms.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure and ever-changing environment.
• Self-motivated, customer focused individual who embraces challenge and change.
• Resilient with a determination to deliver, even when obstacles present themselves.
• Ideally, degree educated or equivalent, with membership of a relevant professional body.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to Continuous Professional Development.
• Previous experience of working in the transport sector is advantageous, but not essential.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Creation and on-going development of an effective public relations plan for the LBU.
• Sustainable positive relationships developed with local media and relevant stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Accountable for local LBU PR Gloo metrics and reporting

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

Please apply now. We look forward to receiving your application.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Public Relations