Press Officer (Research)

British Heart Foundation; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

British Heart Foundation (BHF) is seeking a Press Officer (Research) to bring groundbreaking cardiovascular research to life through engaging media coverage. You will work with researchers, journalists and colleagues to ensure discoveries reach the public while maintaining scientific accuracy.

In this hybrid London-based role, you will craft press materials, pitch stories and support coverage at major conferences, while participating in an on-call rota with an annual allowance.

Qualifications

• Experience communicating science or health topics to non-specialist audiences.
• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape and what makes a compelling news story.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and confidence working with researchers, journalists and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong influencing, presentation and communication skills.
• A proactive and positive approach, with the curiosity and initiative to spot opportunities and develop ideas.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop compelling stories from BHF-funded research that increase public understanding of cardiovascular disease and the impact of our work.
• Build strong relationships with researchers, journalists and colleagues across the charity to maximise media opportunities and profile.
• Create engaging communications including press releases, media pitches, website content and briefing materials.
• Support the promotion of research presented at major national and international cardiovascular conferences.
• Be part of our reactive press office, responding to media enquiries and helping ensure accurate heart health information reaches the public.

Skills

Science communication

Press relations

Writing skills

Stakeholder engagement

Time management

Public speaking

Job description

Be the voice behind the breakthroughs. Join British Heart Foundation (BHF) and help bring life-changing cardiovascular research from the laboratory to the headlines.

About the role

As our Press Officer (Research), you'll bring ground breaking cardiovascular research to life through compelling media coverage. Working with researchers, journalists and colleagues across BHF, you'll help ensure discoveries that could save and improve lives reach the people who need them most.

You'll contribute to high-profile media campaigns, promote research from major scientific conferences and play an important role in ensuring people affected by heart and circulatory diseases receive accurate, trusted information through the media.

Key responsibilities

• Identify and develop compelling stories from BHF-funded research that increase public understanding of cardiovascular disease and the impact of our work.
• Build strong relationships with researchers, journalists and colleagues across the charity to maximise media opportunities and profile.
• Create engaging communications including press releases, media pitches, website content and briefing materials.
• Support the promotion of research presented at major national and international cardiovascular conferences.
• Be part of our reactive press office, responding to media enquiries and helping ensure accurate heart health information reaches the public.

You’ll play a key role in our fast-paced press office, spotting opportunities, and responding to media enquiries. You'll participate in our out of hours service on a rotational shift basis.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you'll have experience communicating science, health or medical research in an engaging and accessible way. You'll be able to take complex information and turn it into compelling stories that resonate with public audiences while maintaining scientific accuracy.

You’ll bring strong writing skills alongside experience creating content for a range of channels, such as media stories, blogs, web content or press materials.

• Experience communicating science or health-related topics to non-specialist audiences.
• A strong understanding of the UK media landscape and what makes a compelling news story.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and confidence working with researchers, journalists and senior stakeholders.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong influencing, presentation and communication skills.
• A proactive and positive approach, with the curiosity and initiative to spot opportunities and develop ideas

You’ll thrive in this role if you're naturally curious, enjoy working collaboratively and have a flair for translating complex science into engaging stories that make a difference.

Working arrangements

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week in our London office. This may vary from time to time so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

The role will also involve travel across the UK for meetings, shoots and campaigns.

Standard working hours are 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday. After probation, you will also take part in an on-call rota on a rotational basis for which you will receive an on-call allowance of £1,000 per annum (pro rata for part-time colleagues).

Belonging at BHF

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive. Embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and helps us make a greater impact together.

To hear from our people, explore Belonging at BHF.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. For over six decades, we’ve funded ground breaking research that has helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together.

Benefits and development

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and professional growth.

To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages.

Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.

Please note that we are unlikely to be able to sponsor applicants in respect of this role due to the role not meeting the minimum salary criteria.

Please note the internal job title for this role is Research Communications Officer.