Regional Communications Lead (North and East)

RNLI; Stockton-on-Tees; Remote; GBP 41,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity seeks a Regional Communications Lead to enhance its public image and manage stakeholder relations across the North and East region. This permanent, full-time role involves creating strategic communications plans, engaging with media, and delivering key messages about water safety and fundraising efforts. Applicants should have substantial PR/media experience, a valid driving license, and a commitment to safeguarding and diversity.

Qualifications

• Experience in PR or media is essential.
• Valid driving licence required.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide communications advice and support for the RNLI’s activities.
• Produce and deliver a plan for media relations and public affairs.
• Work outside normal hours for press activities.

Skills

PR

Media Relations

Stakeholder Management

Public Affairs

Job description

Regional Communications Lead (North and East)

Salary: £41,242 - £48,520 (dependent on experience)

Vehicle: A vehicle will be made available to carry out your duties

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Location description: Home Based (within the region)

Interview location: Via Teams

Interview date: 26 June

Closing Date: 15-06-2025

Reference: 19616

Communications at the RNLI is key to helping prevent drowning, manage the RNLI’s reputation and build support for our charity’s cause. We’re looking for an experienced PR or media professional in the North and East region who understands how to reach the right people with the right messages on the most effective channels.

Working alongside the RNLI’s Lifesaving and Engagement teams in the North and East, you’ll identify the risks and opportunities in the region and provide expert communications advice to support activity – whether it’s opening a new lifeboat station, mitigating risk to reputation or reaching key audiences with water safety and fundraising messages. You’ll produce and deliver a plan of activity that allows you to provide thoughtful, wide-ranging communications advice and support across media relations, internal and external stakeholder management and public affairs.

The RNLI is a 24/7 search and rescue organisation and you should be ready to work outside normal office hours. You will also be part of an out-of-hours duty press officer rota, which will require scheduled weekend and evening work.

You will be home-based with the ability to cover the region, which stretches from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Burnham-on-Crouch, including related inland areas, or work from the RNLI’s regional office in Thornaby-on-Tees. The ability to work independently and prioritise your work is essential. You will be expected to travel throughout the region.

Your reward will be seeing the RNLI’s reputation go from strength to strength as you help save lives at sea, raise awareness of our lifesaving work and inspire people to support us.

This post requires a valid driving licence.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.