Job Title: Senior Press Officer (Campaigns)

Job description

Job title: Senior Press Officer (Campaigns)

Location: Head Office - Southwark

Department: Marketing & Communications

Responsible to: PR Manager

Contract Length: 3 month contract

Primary job purpose

The Senior Press Officer (Campaigns and Policy) will be responsible for supporting the work of colleagues across the Marketing & Communications team through delivering national, regional and trade media coverage. They will take ownership of the execution of report launches, issue-led media campaigns and promoting Muscular Dystrophy UK’s lobbying and influencing work.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Media Relations

· Work with the Campaigns and Policy team, with the support of the PR Manager, to secure consistent national and regional media coverage for the charity’s campaigns and policy work.

· Plan and execute media launches and photocalls for reports produced by the Campaigns and Policy team, on health and care issues affecting our supporters.

· Develop contacts within relevant sector press, securing opportunities for comment and blogs, and delivering regional media campaigns.

· Work with the Muscular Dystrophy UK Trailblazers team to launch reports on social issues affecting young disabled people. Keep up momentum on our key campaign issues through seeking out comment, blog and feature opportunities.

· Highlight the work of our All Party and Cross Party groups in each of the four UK Parliaments. Deliver media coverage through strong, ongoing relationships with key regional journalists.

· Work with the PR Manager to identify and interview media case studies with sensitivity, drafting stories for use across all communications channels, in particular across policy and campaigns work, in line with Muscular Dystrophy UK’s case study policy.

· Monitor the media agenda daily, keeping senior team informed of key issues and stories relevant to the charities work. Where relevant, work with colleagues to respond swiftly with comments.

· Keep up-to-date with charity campaigns including channels and tools used in lobbying activity both on and off line.

Day to day tasks of the Press Office

· Contribute to monitoring and analysing charity media coverage, overseeing daily and monthly staff updates, and ensuring coverage is correctly categorised and filed. Produce evaluations for media campaigns, and coverage books as required

· Build and maintain charity media list to a high standard, ensuring all contact is recorded and all lists are accurate

· Administrate social media output for Press Office, including planned and reactive Twitter and Facebook content

· Support the PR manager with administrative tasks as necessary, including helping with preparation for events and photocalls, booking meetings and training, and liaising with suppliers

Initiative/Analysis

· Communicate effectively with colleagues across the charity to identify strong media stories from among our supporter-base.

· Show initiative in identifying and developing useful contacts, including journalists, commentators, high profile people and professionals, both for own team and others. Build and maintain relationships with our regular media contacts.

· Demonstrate awareness of the position of the charity on key issues and knowledge of when advice on communications should be sought from senior staff

· Demonstrate ability to work independently and take ownership of projects, with appropriate support from managers in the department.

· Show willingness to share advice and ideas with colleagues, taking part in creative brainstorms as required.

· Fulfil required tasks for digital media including social and web.

Other

· To behave in a manner that reflects the charity’s values.

· To contribute to the overall development of the charity.

· To ensure all actions undertaken comply with the Data Protection Acts.

· To contribute towards regular reviews of risks and take steps to reduce them.

· To be aware of health and safety issues and obligations.

· To represent the charity as and when required.

· To undertake general administration for the team as required.

· To undertake other such tasks as required by line manager.

· To take part in the Out Of Hours rota as required, in return for Time Off In Lieu.

Person Specification

1 Education and qualifications

Degree and/or relevant professional qualification / Essential

2 Experience

Experience working in a busy national press office, preferably in the third sector, or as a journalist / Essential

Proven success in securing national and regional media coverage, across print, broadcast and online, on an issues based subject.

/ Desirable
Experience of working with case studies or vulnerable people and preparing them for use in the media / Desirable

Experience of writing articles for publication, setting up media interviews and planning campaigns

/ Essential
Understanding of issues relating to disability / Desirable

3 Personal qualities and knowledge

Excellent IT skills / Essential
Communication - The ability to represent Muscular Dystrophy UK effectively and professionally. Produces clear and effective communications appropriate to the audience, utilising the most appropriate channel and in keeping with brand guidelines. Maintaining a calm outlook when meeting tight deadlines and when under pressure. / Essential
Planning - The ability to develop and implement clear and robust plans. Ability to lead teams and project manage campaigns. / Essential
Organisational skills - The ability to manage own time and tasks effectively. Taking an approach that is results orientated and systematic making you personally effective in managing own workload complying with set (ie. in-house policies, legislations, etc). Must be able to react quickly to meet deadlines and cope with changing demands on workload, / Essential
Volunteers and supporters - The ability to work effectively with volunteers and supporters to deliver business goals. Recognises the value and contribution of volunteers and supporters – empowers others through provision of support, coaching and training. / Essential
Self Development - The ability to constantly challenge and improve self and others demonstrating ambition for self and charity to achieve goals. / Essential
Leadership - The ability to set instructions whilst empowering others to accomplish tasks. Demonstrates flexibility by adopting a management style to the given situation. / Essential