Full time, Permanent

Grade EL, Salary £35,063 per annum

Location: London

Close date: 11.59pm on 20 April 2021

Interview date: week commencing 26 April 2021

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the ‘voice’ of general practice. As the professional membership body for family doctors we represent GPs on the issues that matter most to them – and their patients. We have an exceptionally high media profile, particularly at the moment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are looking to recruit a highly-motivated colleague to join our PR and Corporate Communications Team to help us build on our success and take the College’s reputation to the next level, right across the UK. 

As Press and PR Officer you will be a part of the RCGP’s small but incredibly busy 24/7 Press Office, dealing with multiple queries from national and local journalists daily. You will use high levels of judgement to balance risk, raise the profile of the College across the UK and protect the reputation of both the College and the GP profession.

You will develop proactive media and social media strategies at both a local and national level – sourcing stories, pitching them to journalists and providing strategic advice to College spokespeople ahead of interviews. You will also source, write and produce articles for the College’s membership magazine GP Frontline.

The successful candidate will share our corporate values. In return, the College offers excellent terms and conditions.

To apply, please upload your CV and cover letter via the RCGP Vacancies page, https://www.rcgp.org.uk/work-at-rcgp/rcgp-vacancies.aspx

The Royal College of General Practitioners is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

~ Putting members at the heart of everything we do ~

JOB PURPOSE

To further raise the profile of the RCGP and increase national and regional media coverage across print, broadcast, online and social channels, in line with College campaign and policy priorities, to influence decision-makers and opinion-formers

To pro-actively promote the work of the RCGP and respond quickly and sensitively to negative or critical news stories, using astute judgement to manage risk and limit potential damage to the reputation of the College at both a national and local level

To draft high-quality media statements and press releases across a wide variety of complex clinical and policy issues

To identify potential storylines about the work the College does regionally that can be developed into positive, pro-active media stories or articles for College publications in order to raise the RCGP’s profile at a local level

To write and edit material for internal and external audiences, including the RCGP Chair’s weekly e-bulletin to members and the College’s quarterly membership magazine GP Frontline

To provide strategic advice and briefings to senior spokespeople identifying and promoting key College policies, highlighting risks and ensuring that the RCGP communicates consistent messages

To work with the Digital Team to further develop the RCGP’s social media strategy ensure that traditional and social media activities are joined up

To provide a 24/7 out of hours media rota, including weekends and public holidays, with other colleagues in the team

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

Education

A Level English

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Previous experience in journalism, press office or media environment

Demonstrable track record in writing and editing newspapers or magazines (portfolio required)

Proven experience of running proactive public relations campaigns and crisis management

Experience of working in a national membership organisation, charity or similar organisation

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills (evidence of published work - articles, speeches, reports and other material aimed at a wide range of target audiences)

Ability to work authoritatively, knowledgeably and confidently with journalists and senior College spokespeople and College members

Excellent news sense and ability to identify pro-active stories

Demonstrable experience of crisis management 

Resilience and ability to use own initiative, manage competing demands, prioritise workload and meet deadlines

Creativity and ability to manage projects from ideas stage to implementation

Good team player

Excellent attention to detail

Thorough understanding of current affairs and health agenda

Pleasant and approachable manner and ability to deal with people at all levels

Conscientious and reliable