Public Relations Lead

MDPI; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MDPI seeks an experienced Public Relations Lead to drive media engagement, elevate our brand, and amplify open‑access research across Europe.

You will own the media relations programme, craft compelling narratives, mentor junior staff, and work with internal stakeholders to align external messaging with MDPI's strategy.

The ideal candidate has 5–8 years in journalism, agency, or in‑house PR, a proactive attitude, and a native English background with a European language being a plus.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years in media relations, journalism, or PR (agency, in-house, or newsroom).
• Proven track record of securing positive coverage in quality publications.
• Native English; secondary European language desirable.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and pursue media opportunities to showcase MDPI’s leadership in open-access and publishing.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers across publishing, science, academia, and education.
• Support reactive PR efforts, ensuring timely and authoritative responses to media inquiries and industry developments.
• Develop media materials: press releases, op-eds, positions statements, and spokesperson talking points.
• Support the External Affairs to integrate media engagement into broader advocacy, policy, and brand campaigns.
• Own media measurement and reporting
• Train and mentor junior team members in media writing, pitching, and relationship management.
• Streamline processes to improve responsiveness and alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage the media component of the MDPI website
• Support with agency management and content dissemination across appropriate regions

Skills

Media relations

English proficiency

Proactive attitude

Networking

Team mentorship

Job description

Role Overview

MDPI seeks an experienced Public Relations Lead to drive media engagement, elevate our brand presence, and amplify our mission of open-access research. The candidate will play a leading role in MDPI’s External Affairs team and broader strategy, working closely with internal stakeholder to manage media relations, enhance response quality, mentor junior team members. The ideal candidate will be a media-savvy professional with 5–8 years of experience in journalism, agency, or in-house PR. A keen eye for detail, proactive attitude, and adaptive approach to daily tasks are crucial. You will own MDPI’s media relations programme across the European media, craft compelling narratives, and ensure our voice stands out in global conversations about science, publishing, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and pursue media opportunities to showcase MDPI’s leadership in open-access and the broader publishing landscape.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers across publishing, science, academia, and education.
• Support reactive PR efforts, ensuring timely and authoritative responses to media inquiries and industry developments.
• Develop media materials: press releases, op-eds, positions statements, and spokesperson talking points.
• Support the External Affairs to integrate media engagement into broader advocacy, policy, and brand campaigns.
• Own media measurement and reporting
• Train and mentor junior team members in media writing, pitching, and relationship management.
• Streamline processes to improve responsiveness and alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage the media component of the MDPI website
• Support with agency management and content dissemination across appropriate regions

Experience And Skills

• 5–8 years in media relations, journalism, or PR (agency, in-house, or newsroom). Prior experience at a publishing house is preferred.
• Proven track record of securing positive coverage in quality publications
• Experience of managing media enquiries from tier 1 media
• Network of media contacts in science academia, publishing, or policy
• Native English; secondary European language is desirable
• Proactive attitude and good team working skills
• A keen eye for detail
• Crisis management desirable