Media and PR Officer
Full time, 35 hours per week
Permanent
Girlguiding Scotland
Introduction to Girlguiding Scotland
Thank you for your interest in the role of Media and PR Officer.
Please note that the information given in this pack is for information purposes only and does not form part of the terms or conditions of employment.
We are Scotland’s leading charity for girls and young women, with 50,000 young members. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun.
Our Scottish Headquarters are based at 16 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AH. We have retail operations in Edinburgh and Glasgow and an online shop, and a Training and Activity Centre in the Borders, Netherurd.
Media and PR OfficerGirlguiding Scotland is recruiting for the role of full time Media and PR Officer to join our team at Girlguiding Scotland’s Headquarters in Edinburgh’s West End.
We are looking for a confident and persuasive communicator with solid experience in a busy media relations or PR role. The chosen candidate will help Girlguiding Scotland maintain its position as the leading charity for girls and young women by devising and implementing creative and effective media campaigns and publicity tactics.
You will be an excellent writer with a flair for creative publicity tactics and the drive and ability to help us make a real impact.
In return, you’ll get the chance to work in a vibrant youth charity with 50,000 young members across Scotland.
We offer a pension scheme, childcare vouchers and a friendly team of staff and volunteers.
Applications: The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 24 January 2016. Please complete the application form and return it by email to Alison Pringle ().
Only fully completed application forms will be considered - we do not require a copy of your CV. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their application form. Those who are successful at this stage of the process will then be invited to attend an interview. Unfortunately, we are unable to give feedback to those who are not shortlisted. However we are happy to provide feedback on request to those who have attended an interview.
Interviews: We are planning to hold interviews on Thursday 11 February 2016 at our Scottish Headquarters, 16 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AH.
Please note that Girlguiding Scotland does not reimburse applicants for travel expenses incurred by attending interview.
Job Description and Person SpecificationJOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: Media and PR Officer
Reports to: Marketing and Communications Manager
BASIC JOB DETAILS
Job title: Media and PR Officer
Reporting to: Marketing and Communications Manager
Department: Marketing and Communications
Salary: £20,000
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Overall purpose of job· To work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders – in particular the Guiding Development, Membership Development and Business Management and Finance teams, our volunteers and members, and Girlguiding – to devise and implement media and PR campaigns to generate positive profile for Girlguiding Scotland.
· To prepare and deliver a variety of high quality, effective media and PR tools and content – including news releases, statements, features, opinion pieces, photo opportunities, research, videos, events, case studies, celebrity supporters and spokespeople – to communicate the charity’s key messages.
· To proactively monitor the media and social media to consistently spot and maximise opportunities to promote Girlguiding Scotland’s work in the media and with relevant audiences.
· To respond to inquiries from journalists and prepare and clear verbal and/or written statements and brief and prepare spokespeople as appropriate.
· To develop and maintain good relationships with a broad range of journalists in print, digital and broadcast media.
Main areas of responsibility
· To proactively research newsworthy stories, case studies and events within Girlguiding Scotland and work with them to generate media coverage and profile across a wide range of channels.
· To identify and respond to relevant news stories as they break. To issue statements, letters to editors and comments and sell in and prepare articles, blogs, case studies and spokespeople.
· To write integrated media and PR plans and evaluate coverage and impact against objectives.
· To identify and engage online influencers to help generate online conversation about Girlguiding Scotland.
· To brief spokespeople for interviews or public speaking engagements.
· To support staff and volunteers/members to develop their media and PR skills through expert guidance or training.
· To write compelling, appropriate and on-brand media and publicity materials and digital copy.
· To commission and project manage Girlguiding Scotland publications and marketing materials as required.
· To make recommendations for the continuous improvement of Girlguiding Scotland’s media and PR activity and implement any agreed developments.
· To participate in the out-of-hours media call rota.
· To be responsible for team administration tasks as directed by the Marketing and Communications Manager including logging coverage and maintaining up-to-date media contact lists.
Additional information
· To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required to fulfil the duties of this post.
· To work evenings and weekends when required, for which time off in lieu will be granted.
· No budgetary or line management responsibility.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Criteria / Assessment(Application, Interview or Test) / Essential or Desirable
Necessary competencies
Strong media relations and/or PR experience and a good track record either in an agency or in-house. / A, I / E
Knowledge and experience of devising and running effective media and PR campaigns using a variety of tactics. / A, I, T / E
An excellent working knowledge of national, local and specialist media in Scotland and relevant UK-wide media, and experience of approaching a wide range of media outlets. / A, I, T / E
Excellent working knowledge of social media platforms. / A, I / E
Excellent writing skills, with the ability to tailor materials to a wide range of audiences. / A, T / E
Excellent attention to detail and experience of proof-reading and/or sub-editing. / A, T / E
Ability to show excellent judgement about the message, tone and content of all Girlguiding Scotland’s communications. / T / E
Experience of briefing and/or training media spokespeople. / A, I / E
Ability to train and develop staff and volunteers as required to improve their communications skillsets. / A, I / E
An up-to-date knowledge of media relations and communications best practice and a commitment to personal development and self-study on these topics. / A, I,T / E
Knowledge of website content management systems. / A / E
Computer literate with a good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. / A / E
Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, highlighting conflicting deadlines as they arise. / A, I / E
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and constructively with others and work as a team. / I / E
Ability to identify problems and suggest solutions to them. / I / E
Openness to feedback, flexibility and willingness to take on challenges. / I / E
An understanding of and commitment to the aims of Girlguiding Scotland and a desire to champion our brand. / A, I / E
Knowledge and experience of using InDesign or similar and Photoshop or similar to create new or modify existing marketing, media and digital materials. / A / D
Knowledge and experience of the voluntary sector. / A, I / D
Experience of handling communications around sensitive or risk issues. / A, I / D
Terms & Conditions
Contract type: This is a permanent post.
Salary: £20,000 per annum.
Location: You will be based at Girlguiding Scotland, 16 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AH.
Working hours: Working hours are hours are 35 hours per week. Working pattern to be agreed with line manager. This role may require occasional evening and weekend work. Advance notice and time off in lieu will be provided where this is the case.
Probationary period: The post will be subject to a probationary period of three months.
Holidays: 28 days’ paid holiday per annum plus bank holidays.
Notice period: The notice period required by both parties during the three-month probationary period is one week.
Following the minimum three month probationary period, the notice period is either four weeks or one week for each complete year (up to a maximum of 12 weeks), whichever is the greater.
Benefits: We offer a pension scheme and childcare vouchers.
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