Press Officer

CO-OP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday (32 with service)

Employer pension contributions

Onsite gym at Manchester HQ

Employee discounts

Job summary

Co-op in Manchester is seeking a Senior Press Officer to lead PR for Funeralcare, Legal Services and Insurance. You will craft campaigns, identify story angles and secure coverage with national and local media.

You will manage internal and external relationships, provide guidance on messaging, and support crisis or reputational issues while maintaining a proactive approach to uncovering opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy press office function.
• Strong media relations and journalist liaison skills.
• Excellent communications and PR editorial writing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Help create, develop and deliver agreed PR plans and campaigns.
• Identify news opportunities and land stories across Funeralcare, Legal Services and Insurance.
• Produce written copy including press releases, statements, and media briefings.
• Build and maintain journalist contacts and network with internal partners.
• Provide reputational oversight and crisis management as needed.
• Coordinate activity across the PR team and external agencies.

Skills

PR experience

News instincts

Media relations

Editorial writing

Press office management

Agency management

Internal stakeholder engagement

Creativity

Network building

Job description

• Help create, develop and deliver agreed PR plans and campaigns
• Use your news instincts to identify and land news story and create media opportunities across Co-op's Funeralcare, Legal Services and Insurance businesses
• Produce innovative and impactful written copy, including press releases, statements, and media briefings
• Build and maintain a strong network of relevant journalist contacts, and stay up to date with latest industry news and developments
• Build and maintain a strong network of internal contacts across the business areas to ensure PR is front of mind where relevant.
• Provide reputational oversight and management of key specific areas including planned and unplanned reputational and crisis management
• Support in the coordination of activity across the team We're looking for a Senior Press Officer to join us and help us share the word about the amazing things we do at Co-op, specifically across our Funeralcare, Legal Services and Insurance businesses. If you have strong PR experience, great communications skills and the creativity we're looking for, this could be the role for you., Excellent communication and PR editorial writing skills
• A strong sense of what makes news and an ability to create a PR hook for a story
• Experience of working in a busy press office function, managing a range of media enquiries and provide PR advice to help protect, promote and enhance the brand
• Strong media relations skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with journalists, agencies, and other external partners
• Experience of managing PR agencies and external partners
• Lots of creativity and the ability to proactively seek out PR opportunities
• Confidence to initiate contact with internal partners and build relationships with colleagues across the business At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• A place you'll belong We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.