Press Officer (FTC)

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS KEW; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading plant science institute in Westminster seeks an experienced Press Officer to support media coverage and influencer engagement. Responsibilities include driving awareness of Kew Gardens, managing sensitive communications, and handling media requests. The ideal candidate will possess proven PR experience, strong interpersonal skills, and a genuine passion for biodiversity. Benefits include flexible working, generous leave, and continuous learning opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexibility for work-life balance

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Competitive pension

Qualifications

• Experience in media relations and press office roles.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Motivated, highly organized, and able to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Drive media coverage and influencer engagement for Kew Gardens.
• Support media and external profile, and advise colleagues.
• Attend events and travel as necessary for core communications.

Skills

Proven PR experience

Media pitching

Crisis communications

Interpersonal skills

Job description

A challenging and exciting role for an experienced press officer with a passion for environmental conservation, nature and the importance of addressing the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

As part of the Communications team, the press officer plays an important role in driving media coverage and influencer engagement for Kew Gardens as a leading visitor attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site, working across creative programming, commercial events and retail. Whether it's Christmas at Kew, half-term and summer family fun or large-scale artist showcases, driving awareness and promoting visits to Kew Gardens is vital for generating income for Kew's vital work.

Reporting directly to the Head of PR and working with a wide range of stakeholders, the role supports the media and external profile of Kew, identifying media opportunities and earned influencer content, through proactive and reactive requests, supporting and advising a wide range of colleagues across Kew, and handling sensitive issues.

The role requires the post holder to attend events and travel to support core communications activity in the UK and take part in a press on-call rota. This is an exciting time to join the Communications team as we prepare for a bumper year of creative programming including Henry Moore: Monumental Nature, the world's largest outdoor exhibition of 30 sculptures by this acclaimed artist.

To succeed in this role, the candidate will have proven PR experience as a professional, gained either in house or with an agency ideally working in a visitor attraction. They will have a track record of supporting on high impact PR campaigns from pitching and negotiating with the media, to setting up interviews and guiding filming, as well as working with influencers on an earned basis. The candidate will be confident in managing sensitive issues and supporting on crisis communications where required.

The ideal candidate will be a motivated, a self-starter, highly organised and comfortable with juggling multiple projects and deadlines. Strong presentation and interpersonal skills will allow the role holder to represent the Communications team with credibility, including delivering clear, engaging presentations in marcomms working groups.

Just as importantly, the ideal candidate will bring a genuine appreciation for biodiversity and a sound understanding of today's environmental challenges, along with how Kew's mission fits within the global response to the climate and biodiversity crises.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world's plants and fungi.

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.