Public Relations Lead

MDPI; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading open-access publisher in Manchester seeks an experienced Public Relations Lead to drive media engagement and elevate brand presence. The ideal candidate will have 5–8 years in PR, showcasing their skills in journalism or media relations. Responsibilities include identifying media opportunities, managing inquiries, and mentoring junior staff. The role demands a proactive attitude, keen eye for detail, and strong media connections. Applicants should have native English skills and a secondary European language is desirable.

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.
• Experience of managing media enquiries from tier 1 media.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and pursue media opportunities to showcase leadership in open-access.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and influencers.
• Support reactive PR efforts, ensuring timely responses to media inquiries.

Skills

Media relations

Journalism

Public Relations

Crisis management

Team working skills

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, position 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 andSkills

• 5–8 years in media relations, journalism, or PR (agency, in-house, or newsroom).
• 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