Press Officer

Confidential; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris Hill is seeking a Press Officer/Manager for an initial 3 to 6 month contract. The role involves leading the press office, crafting materials and handling media enquiries, with 1 day per week in the London office and 3–5 days per week in a hybrid setup.

You will manage media relationships, draft press releases, brief spokespeople, identify opportunities and monitor coverage, providing insights to internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a press officer or press manager role.
• Strong media relations skills with a track record of securing coverage.
• Excellent writing skills for press releases, statements and Q&As.
• Experience in media monitoring and reporting, with ability to interpret coverage.
• Confident in briefing spokespeople for interviews.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day press office activity and manage media enquiries.
• Draft, edit and distribute press releases, statements, Q&As and briefing materials.
• Identify media opportunities and pitch stories to journalists.
• Monitor media coverage and provide concise reports for stakeholders.
• Prepare spokespeople for interviews with key messages and questions.
• Coordinate press activity around campaigns and events with consistent messaging.
• Maintain and update media lists and press assets.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align with organisational objectives.

Skills

Media relations

Press materials writing

Briefing spokespeople

Campaign coordination

Media monitoring

Tools

Media monitoring tools

Job description

Harris Hill is seeking a Press Officer/Manager for 3 to 6 months, on a 3 to 5 day per week basis, with 1 day per week in the London office, starting immediately.

About the Role

You will lead and manage all day-to-day press office activity, ensuring timely, accurate and consistent communication with the media. Acting as a key point of contact for journalists, you will craft compelling press materials, manage incoming media enquiries, and support senior spokespeople. Your work will directly influence how the organisation is perceived, helping to manage reputation and ensure key messages land clearly and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the daily press office function, including handling media enquiries, responding to requests, and coordinating timely responses.
• Draft, edit and distribute press releases, statements, Q&As and briefing materials aligned to organisational priorities.
• Proactively identify media opportunities, pitch stories, and build relationships with key journalists and outlets.
• Monitor media coverage, track sentiment and themes, and produce concise media reports and insights for internal stakeholders.
• Brief and prepare spokespeople for media interviews, including developing key messages and anticipated questions.
• Coordinate and support press activity around campaigns, announcements and events, ensuring consistent messaging and delivery.
• Maintain and update media lists, press materials and related assets to ensure they are current and accurate.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure media activity is aligned with wider communications and organisational objectives.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in a press officer or press manager role within a busy press office or agency environment.
• Strong media relations skills with a track record of securing coverage and managing journalist relationships.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to produce clear, accurate and engaging press materials under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrable experience in media monitoring and reporting, including interpreting coverage and providing insight.
• Confident in briefing and supporting spokespeople for interviews and media engagements.
• Ability to manage multiple media requests and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable working in a hybrid model, including a minimum of 1 day per week in the London office.
• Availability to work on a temporary basis for 3 to 6 months, between 3 and 5 days per week.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working in or with complex organisations, such as public sector, not-for-profit or regulated industries.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and distribution tools.
• Crisis or issues management experience.
• Knowledge of digital and social media channels as part of wider communications activity.