Senior Media Relations Manager

Ellwood Atfield; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ellwood Atfield is assisting a well-established UK financial services business in London to appoint a Lead for media relations. This role is the primary liaison with journalists, editors and broadcasters and sits at the heart of a high-performing Corporate Affairs function, providing senior-level counsel on reputation and issues management.

You will lead the media relations strategy, manage day-to-day media interactions, and guide the organisation through crises with clear, proactive

Qualifications

• Proven experience in media relations with strong relationships across broadcast, national, regional, trade and specialist media.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation's media relations strategy and deliver a proactive media engagement plan.
• Provide senior counsel to leadership on media issues, reputational impact and mitigations.
• Oversee day-to-day media interactions with clear escalation processes for issues.
• Play a central role in crisis and issues management, advising on media response.
• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists and broadcasters.
• Manage third-party media agency relationships to support the media plan.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis management

Writing & editing

Media strategy

Journalist relationships

Job description

Our client is well established in the financial services sector and based in London.

The opportunity:

This is a rare opportunity to lead media relations for a well-known UK financial services business, acting as the organisation's primary point of contact with journalists, editors and broadcasters. You’ll be working at the heart of a high-performing Corporate Affairs function and providing senior-level counsel on reputation and issues management.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead the organisation's media relations strategy, developing and delivering a proactive media engagement plan.


• Provide senior counsel to leadership on media issues, reputational impact and mitigations.


• Lead the day-to-day management of media interactions, with clear escalation processes for organisational issues.


• Play a central role in the organisation's crisis and issues management process, advising on media response.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with key journalists, editors and broadcasters.


• Manage third-party media agency relationships to support delivery of the media plan.

Key skills and experience required:

• Proven experience in media relations, with established relationships across broadcast, national, regional, trade and specialist media.


• Experience planning, developing and executing media strategies, both proactively and reactively.


• Experience working in and with corporate communications, public affairs and marketing teams.


• Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly.


• Strong analytical and data literacy skills, able to turn information into clear, compelling media messages.


• Experience managing media during high-pressure or crisis situations.

We are an equal opportunities employer and promote diversity across our profession to ensure every individual has the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.