Senior Media Relations Lead - Strategic PR & Crisis

Placements24; George; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonuses

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Senior Media Relations Manager to lead PR efforts in George, Western Cape. The role demands strategic leadership, managing high-stakes media interactions, and shaping corporate narratives to support business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have 8+ years in media relations, including 3+ years in management, a Master’s in a related field, and an extensive national media network.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Communications, PR, Journalism, or related field.
• 8+ years in media relations/PR with at least 3 in management.
• Proven ability to develop and execute complex PR strategies for large organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong public speaking skills.
• Extensive network of national media contacts.
• Experience in crisis communications and high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic media relations plans aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee creation and dissemination of press releases, statements, and communications.
• Build and maintain relationships with key media contacts nationally and internationally.
• Identify media opportunities and manage reactive inquiries with professionalism.
• Serve as primary spokesperson when required; ensure consistent messaging.
• Develop crisis communication protocols and act as point person during crises.
• Monitor media coverage and provide strategic leadership recommendations.
• Lead and mentor PR team to high performance.
• Collaborate with marketing, legal and executive teams to align PR with business strategy.
• Ensure brand messaging consistency across all public communications.

Skills

Media relations

Leadership

Crisis comms

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder mgmt

Public speaking

Education

Master's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Senior Media Relations Manager to lead PR efforts in George, Western Cape. The role demands strategic leadership, managing high-stakes media interactions, and shaping corporate narratives to support business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have 8+ years in media relations, including 3+ years in management, a Master’s in a related field, and an extensive national media network.