Overall Purpose of the Job

JOB TITLE / PR & Digital Communications Officer
LOCATION OF JOB / Harbourside House, Leith
DEPARTMENT/REGION / Public Affairs
REPORTING TO / Marketing & Communications Manager

Overall Purpose of the Job

To ensure that the Scottish Wildlife Trust achieves the highest possible positive public profile in the media and through wider digital communications

Main Duties

Strategy
·  Contribute at a strategic level to PR & Communications planning for the Trust’s activities
·  Provide regular management reports for PR and Communications
Media relations
·  Take responsibility, operationally, for handling all media work (consulting as necessary with relevant colleagues and partner organisations)
·  Maintain a strategic calendar of media and PR activity
·  Maintain an up-to-date and well targeted press contacts database
·  Draft press releases and briefings, including for partnership projects such as Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels and the Coigach – Assynt Living Landscape
·  Ensure effective use of the Trust’s press cuttings and news wire services
·  Develop issue / crisis management strategies as required
Social media
·  Work with the Marketing & Communications Manager to develop the organisation’s social media strategy and take responsibility for its delivery, playing a lead role in implementation
·  Manage the development of the Trust’s production of multimedia content for use within social media and other outlets
Publications
·  Act as the News Editor for Scottish Wildlife magazine (3 issues per annum), responsible for sourcing and writing news items and project updates
·  Source images in support of media activities
Digital content
·  Work proactively to develop the creation, collation and dissemination of digital content across all the Trust’s activities
·  Take responsibility for the news pages on the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s website and assist the Marketing & Communications Manager in keeping the website up-to-date
·  Support maintenance of project microsites and web pages, with operational assistance from the Marketing & Communications Team Administrator and/or the Marketing & Communications Manager and relevant project officers
·  Work with other teams within the Trust, including the Fundraising Team, to develop appropriate digital campaigns
Events
·  Support media work and PR for all major events
General
·  Contribute to the wider work of the Public Affairs Team, and the Trust as a whole, as appropriate

Key Internal and External Contacts

Internal
·  Staff and Trustees at all levels throughout the organisation
External
·  Representatives of the media - at all levels
·  SEPA, SNH and other Scottish and UK Environmental NGOs
·  Partner organisations
·  The Wildlife Trusts UK National Office

Personal Specification

Essential Qualifications
·  Relevant degree or equivalent experience
Essential Experience
·  At least 2 years in a media & PR-related role
·  Demonstrable track record of proactively generating print, broadcast and online media coverage on a range of topics
·  Experience of handling media enquiries
·  Experience of managing social media
·  Experience of producing press releases for approval by multiple contributors
·  Experience of prioritising a busy workload
·  Experience of working to deadlines
Desirable Experience
·  Public Affairs experience
·  Campaign planning experience
·  Experience of working within the voluntary sector
·  Experience of managing PR for partnership projects
·  Use of website content management systems
Essential Skills and Abilities
·  Thorough knowledge of the Scottish media
·  Sound knowledge of the Scottish political landscape
·  Strong verbal and written communication skills
·  Ability to think creatively
·  Ability to deal effectively with potentially controversial or sensitive issues
·  Proofreading skills and strong attention to detail
·  A positive attitude
·  A strong team player
·  Empathy with the conservation of Scotland’s natural environment
·  Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications
Desirable Skills and Abilities
·  Knowledge and understanding of nature conservation
·  Copywriting
·  Filming and/or video editing expertise
·  Full, clean driving licence
Date / January 2016
Author / Jo Pike
Position / Director of Public Affairs