Senior Media and External Communications Manager

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a positive difference with a global organisation? The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, is seeking a talented Senior Media and External Communications Manager to join the UK media team.

Working as part of the British Council’s global Corporate Communications team, you’ll help deliver our media and external communications strategy, and take a lead role in promoting our reputation through the UK media. You’ll lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of media and PR campaigns and work closely with our colleagues in digital and marketing to contribute multimedia content to our website and social media channels. You will also build positive relationships with journalists, handle press enquiries and provide expert professional advice and support to colleagues on media and communications.

We’re seeking a hardworking and talented individual with experience of working with the media, and a desire to succeed in a fast-paced environment. You will bring excellent organisational skills and a proactive, creative approach to PR and media engagement.

What you will do:

• Lead the development, delivery, and evaluation of proactive UK media campaigns in support of our external communications strategy
• Shape the planning and co-ordination of UK media relations activities as part of integrated corporate communications
• Build and maintain positive relationships with journalists across national, regional and sector media, including arts editors, correspondents, and reporters, ensuring press enquiries are managed effectively
• Play a lead role in building and maintaining the organisation’s reputation, providing professional advice and expert guidance to colleagues on opportunities and risks
• Participate in out-of-hours press office as part of rota system (with ‘on call’ allowance)
• Proactively pursue professional development opportunities to deepen expertise
• This role is responsible for line management of one post (Media Manager)

What you should have:

• Demonstrable experience of creating, delivering, and evaluating media relations activities as part of integrated campaigns to support business objectives
• Experience of developing relationships with senior journalists across print, broadcast and online media and working with them to deliver impactful media coverage
• Experience of collaborating with colleagues, stakeholders and partner organisations on media and PR activity in support of announcements, campaigns, and projects to ensure we achieve our shared communications objectives
• A track record of identifying and managing reputational risks
• Experience of supporting senior colleagues with media engagement and interviews

Further information

In addition to a competitive salary and excellent pension contributions, the British Council offers:

• 
  32 days annual leave plus statutory public holidays and half day privilege Christmas leave
• Non-contractual discretionary annual performance bonus
• Extensive and generous family friendly benefits
• Extensive range of voluntary benefit options
• Outstanding defined benefit career average Civil Service Pension Scheme which includes life cover and pensions for eligible dependants, e.g., Spouse, civil partner, partner, dependent children

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Job contact :

Name :
askHR
Email :
askhr@britishcouncil.org

Recruitment team :

Email :
askHR@britishcouncil.org