Job Description

Job Title: / Media and PR officer
Job Family: / External Relations
Responsible to: / Media & marketing manager
Overall purpose: /

To ensure that Mencap’s work, messages, priorities and corporate image are reflected in positive targeted PR and media coverage,

Location: / Mencap National Centre, 123 Golden Lane, LondonEC1Y ORT
Hours: / 37.5 hours per week

Overall Purpose of Job

Mencap is the voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

We're looking for a talented and ambitious media and PR officer to join Mencap's busy media office and help put Mencap's work and learning disability issues at the forefront of people's minds.

With a nose for a good story and experience at building relationships with key media, you'll have a proven track record in securing on-message national and regional coverage. Calm under pressure, you'll work on a diverse portfolio primarily focussing on national policy, political and campaign issues alongside Mencap's fundraising work.

A confident communicator, you'll be able to maximise opportunities in the news agenda, write attention-grabbing copy to tight deadlines, successfully pitch stories and provide PR advice to colleagues at every level.

Principal Accountabilities

1 / Undertake specific PR projects (focussing on campaigns, policy and awareness) including project planning, press release/material development, sell in and evaluation
2 / Assist with ongoing reviews and evaluation of whether Mencap is reaching the right audiences and achieving communications goals
3 / Work with Mencap’s campaigns and policy teams and other teams to promote Mencap initiatives
4 / Develop contacts with key journalists
5 / Initiate and place news, case study and feature stories on learning disability issues and Mencap activities
6 / Respond quickly to all media enquiries
7 / Brief national, regional and local broadcast and print and electronic media on Mencap and learning disability issues
8 / Liaise with colleaguesto implement damage limitation/issues or crisis management plans
9 / Give advice, training and support on media handling to Mencap’s staff, members, and local societies and undertake broadcast/print interviews on learning disability issues (where appropriate)
10 / Staff an out of hours contact service for journalists, on a rota basis
11 / Ensure that media projects are evaluated and reports are speedily disseminated
12 / Ensure that all media work reflects Mencap's values and equal opportunities policy
13 / Working as part of the media and marketing team, take on any other work as directed by the media and marketing manager

Person specification

Media and public relations officer

E = Essential, D = Desirable

Knowledge

An understanding of broadcast, print and electronic media / E
An understanding of public relations / E
An understanding of the application of equal opportunities and anti discriminatory practice / E
An understanding and knowledge of the needs and rights of people with a learning disability, their families and carers / D
An understanding of the workings of national and local government / D
An understanding of a variety of communication and marketing methods / D

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills / E
Ability to think and write creatively on any issue / E
Ability to think strategically and understand organisational goals / E
Ability to work under pressure and observe strict deadlines / E
Ability to develop strong relationships with key contacts / E
Ability to set and prioritise objectives and monitor and evaluate the achievement of targets / E
PC literate / E

Experience

Experience working as a press officer/account executive or journalist / E
Experience of organising media events and photocalls / E
PR crisis management experience / D
Experience of working within the voluntary sector / D
Experience of working in a large, geographically diverse organisation / D

Personal Qualities

Commitment to and interest in Mencap's work with people with a learning disability and their families / E
Ability to work in a team and to participate in its development / E
Highly motivated with a can-do positive approach / E
Willingness to take responsibility / E

Qualifications

Qualification in PR or communications related discipline / D

October 20091/3