Press and PR Specialistjob Description

Press and PR SpecialistJob Description

Hours:Full time

Direct ReportsPress and Communications Officer and volunteers

Responsible to:Marketing Manager

Job Summary

To work with the Marketing Manager to ensure effective delivery of the charity’s communication plans to significantly raise the charity’s profile to drive income and achieve our fundraising targets. Your role is to advise and support the work of the fundraising team by working with local and regional media to generate increased coverage and raise awareness across the hospitals with staff and patients to grow key income streams and support.

Key Accountabilities

• Line manage the Press and Communications Officer ensuring they receive the support they need to fulfil their role and achieve agreed objectives.
• Support the Marketing Manager in the development of the Communications and Marketing Strategy and Action Plan.

PR & Media

• Devise and lead on the implementation of a press and public relations strategy to significantly increase Above & Beyond’s profile and brand awareness amongst existing and new target audiencesto support our strategic objectives.
• Develop effective contacts and build personal profile with key journalists to initiate news and feature coverage and develop strategic media partnerships.
• Act as an ambassador,and spokesperson, attending events and representing the charity to a range of audiences.
• Work with the fundraising team to ensure that publicity opportunities are maximised and empower volunteer fundraisers to generate their own media coverage through compilation of a tool kit.
• Develop and implement a celebrity engagement strategy.
• Identify popular national trends which can be adopted andtailored for use by the charity, particularly those which will engage new audiences.
• Identify staff and volunteer training needs and deliver effective support and training to ensure Above & Beyond is presented in a professional manner and colleagues are comfortable with the media and delivering presentations.
• Develop personal impact driven case studies to support fundraising activities and cases for support to attract support and engage key audiences.
• Set up media monitoring mechanisms to ensure effective measurement and evaluation, lead market research to inform work with target audiences and ensure marketing and brand activity is effectively evaluated.
• Devise and lead the Crisis Communications Plan and advise the Management Team as necessary.
• Work with the UHBristol Communications Team to ensure we significantly increase the charity’s profile with staff, patients and visitors particularly in relation to the hospital awareness project work which focuses on specific specialist services.
• Play a key role in the development and promotion of new ways of income generating activities including merchandising.

Marketing

• Lead the promotion and create marketing materials for the Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge, the Christmas Appeal and other high profile campaigns.
• Work with the Director of Income Generation on the NHS70 celebrations to maximise benefit from a national and local campaign.

Other

• Guideour internal communications to ensure A&B staff are engaged and understand the activities and direction of the charity.
• Provide content for speeches, presentations and executive materials.
• Work to continually improve internal processes to ensure they are effective and fit for purpose.
• To provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence and holiday.

General information

Due to the dynamic nature of the sector we work in, job descriptions are subject to review. Jobholders are expected to be flexible and may be required to undertake duties which are not described in those above. Reviews will be undertaken when necessary by line managers in consultation with post holders.

The charity’s normal working hours are 37 hours a week, but sometimes it will be necessary to be flexible due to specific deadlines or the nature of our fundraising activity.

The staff work as a team and, as a small team, we expect all our staff to support each other and have the flexibility to get involved in activities at weekends and evenings as and when it is needed and appropriate.

Health and safety

Under the provisions contained in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the duty of every employee to:

a)take reasonable care of themselves and for others at work

b)to co-operate with the Charity as far as is necessary to enable them to carry out their legal duty

c)not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with anything provided including personal protective equipment for Health and Safety or welfare at work.

The Working Time Regulations 1998

You are required to comply with the policy on implementation of the Working Time Regulations, including declaration of hours worked and breaks taken, completing written records if required, and reporting any instances where your pattern of working hours may constitute a health and safety risk to yourself, patients, the public and other employees. You have the right not to be subjected to any unlawful detriment by reporting any concerns under the Regulations.

Additional Work

You are required to disclose any additional work you undertake or are planning to undertake for another employer. The Charity will permit you to undertake this additional work providing the Trustees are satisfied that this does not conflict with the interests of the organisation, performance of your normal duties or with the requirements of the Working Time Regulations.

Person Specification

Essential
Skills, knowledge, education, experience / Track record of harnessing PR to raise the profile of an organisation to drive awareness showing use of creativity and new ideas.
Track record of developing and delivering marketing campaigns and materials.
Understanding and appreciation of the motivations of donors, supporters and volunteers.
Excellent written and language skills.
Ability to write for a range of diverse audiences across different communication mechanisms.
Behaviours / Ability to work on own initiative, self-directed and motivated.
Well organised, able to prioritise and manage time effectively and work to tight deadlines.
Ability to build relationships quickly and work as the creative element of a team.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Dynamic, innovative and adaptable approach to all tasks.
A flexible “can-do”, proactive, enthusiastic and approachable style.
Desirable / Experience of working in a health related organisation
Experience of working in the charity sector, ideally in a health based charity.
Relevant PR qualification.

Revised September 2017

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