Department Summary

The Communications team is responsible for the fame and reputation of UKTV, looking after the network consumer publicity, corporate communications and internal communications. The team devises innovative and compelling communications strategies for the network and its ten channels, to support UKTV business strategy and maintain strong and transparent relationships between UKTV, the media and its stakeholders. With the support of the Communications team ambitious campaigns, UKTV is now regularly recognised for innovation, scale and creativity in the broadcasting industry.

Purpose

We are looking for a lively and tenacious publicist with a track record of exciting and innovative publicity campaigns for our challenger brand network, UKTV, and its portfolio of channel brands. The Publicist role is to devise, implement and manage creative programme publicity campaigns that drive fame and awareness of UKTV’s programmes and channel brands. Publicists work across all UKTV Originals and acquired content. The role focusses on Drama and Alibi, and supporting campaigns and events on W, Dave, Gold, UKTV Play and Really. From headline- grabbing stunts through to high profile talent campaigns, scripted dramas to immersive events - There is the potential to work across a wide variety of programming genres and publicity tactics.

Key Responsibilities

• Think creatively about how to launch shows, build channel brands and bring audiences to our programming. Build strong, positive and enduring relationships with targeted media and influencers on behalf of UKTV and our channels.
• Liaise with national, regional, digital, radio and TV media proactively and reactively to
• promote programming, channels and multiplatform initiatives.
• Research, write and implement creative communications strategies for channel brands and programmes to include digital/social media PR strategies.
• Manage and nurture talent, agent and producer relationships on behalf of UKTV.
• Liaise with agents to implement profile-building strategies with relevant talent.
• Be proactive in publicising UKTV’s priorities through official UKTV social media channels.
• Be responsible for the evaluation of the effectiveness of your own work.
• Present the results and meaningful learnings of your campaigns internally.
• Liaise with Commissioning, Acquisitions, channel teams and external production companies and suppliers to coordinate all publicity activity.
• Liaise with the programme information team to produce high quality photography and media support materials.
• Follow UKTV’s financial procedures ensuring all supplier agreements and payments are processed within company guidelines.
• Live the UKTV values: be creative, learn, influence, challenge and collaborate to ensure UKTV reaches its fullest potential.

Complexity Problem Solving:

• Develop new and creative solutions to business and departmental challenges.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently requiring excellent organisation.

Managing Relationships:

• Harness team spirit across UKTV and collaborate with colleagues across the business to deliver successful projects and campaigns.
• Build successful and positive business relationships and contacts.
• Work closely with the team to manage external agency campaigns.
• Work closely with relevant marketers to ensure coordinated cross-department communication campaigns.
• Work with all UKTV departments to foster a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.
• Act as an ambassador for the UKTV network.

Commercial Impact:

• Responsible for relationship building – manage and nurture media, influencer, talent, agent and producer relationships.
• Be an ambassador for UKTV and maintain excellent media relations.
• Take a smart approach to making the most of UKTV’s budgets and resources.

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Demonstrable experience as a creative and highly proactive publicist.
• Keep ahead of communications trends and ensure campaigns are of an innovative standard.
• Be active on social media across all platforms and have an understanding as to how social media influences our viewers.
• Take a proactive and flexible approach to work and be comfortable with a dynamic environment with constantly changing priorities.
• To understand the TV landscape and where UKTV sits within.
• Excellent negotiator, presenter, influencer and relationship manager.
• Able to write clean, crisp, copy from press releases through to programme highlights.
• Personable and a real team player.
• Strong IT skills.
• Previous experience of working with media brands or TV.
• A genuine passion for TV.