Press & PR Officer

Smart Works; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Smart Works is seeking a Press & PR Officer to lead the day-to-day press office delivery, generating impactful media coverage to support our income generation and organisational priorities.

You will collaborate with the Director of Communications and Marketing to identify opportunities, build journalist relationships, and plan PR for campaigns and events, while handling occasional out-of-hours media inquiries with flexibility and commitment.

Job description

We are seeking a Press & PR Officer to join our ambitious team.

We know that incredible work takes place across our organisation every day, and that our services have a meaningful impact on the people and communities we support. We need someone who can ensure those stories, achievements and insights reach the audiences that matter most.

This role is focused on leading the day-to-day delivery of our press office function and generating impactful media coverage that supports our organisational objectives. Working closely with the Director of Communications and Marketing, you will drive proactive and reactive media relations activity, identify opportunities for coverage, build strong journalist relationships and deliver PR activity that supports income generating initiatives, organisational priorities and our profile as a leading voice as a women’s employability charity.

The role combines hands-on press office delivery with responsibility for developing PR proposals and media approaches for specific campaigns, fundraising initiatives and organisational projects. Strategic communications direction, organisational thought leadership strategy and reputation management remain the responsibility of the Director of Communications and Marketing.

Your work will help raise awareness of our impact, support income generation and strengthen our reputation with supporters, partners, policymakers and the wider public.

The successful candidate will report to the Director of Communications and Marketing and will work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to maximise media opportunities and ensure our external profile continues to grow.

This role is primarily focused on press office establishment and management, media relations and PR delivery. There may be instances where the post holder will be involved in supporting storytelling on our owned channels and with our corporate partners, especially if there is an intersection with media stakeholders.

Whilst this role is part-time, as is the nature of news, media relations activity may not always fall within standard working hours. On occasion, urgent media enquiries may arise outside normal working hours and the postholder will be expected to provide reasonable support alongside the Director of Communications and Marketing.

The role will also occasionally require attendance at events, launches, media opportunities outside contracted working hours. Where additional hours are worked and agreed in advance, time off in lieu (TOIL) will be provided in accordance with organisational policy.