Senior Communications Officer

An opportunity for a sports and adventure loving Senior Communications Officer to join the busy Clipper Round the World Yacht Race team and directly influence the success of its unique and highly inspirational global media campaigns.

We’re looking for candidates with a minimum of five years Public Relations or Journalism experience within a relevant media organisation or brand. A keen news sense is essential as storytelling is a key part of the role. We are looking for a candidate with excellent writing skills, the ability to work quickly under pressure, and to tight deadlines, along with up to the minute practical experience of digital and social media.

This is an all purpose role. The successful candidate will manage external PR campaigns and work as an in-house reporter, writing news for our website.

Knowledge and experience of sailing is not essential; however the ability to learn the industry quickly is vital for this role.

The Communications Team works closely with a video production company on the creation of documentaries and short form content. Our ideal candidate will have basic video editing skills of their own but this is not essential. Previous experience working on digital projects involving both short and long form content is desirable.

The nature of the Clipper Race and our business is diverse. We need demonstrable experience of landing widespread and quality news, lifestyle, sport and business stories. And the ability to write and proof creative and engaging copy is paramount. The Clipper Race Communications Team works globally so experience of far reaching campaigns is strongly desired.

Along with telling the story of the Clipper Race, the Communications Team works together with Race Partners and therefore the candidate should be able to manage a wide variety of campaigns simultaneously. Experience of working with sponsors is extremely desirable.

Candidates must be motivated to work using their initiative. During the race year, the role will involve travelling overseas for extended periods, plus extensive out of hours working when back in the UK, which can at times make this role an endurance challenge in its own right. Only candidates with a lifestyle able to support the nature of this role should apply.

When not travelling, the role is based in the Clipper Race HQ in Gosport with the occasional option to work from home. The successful candidate must live within a commutable distance of this office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Communications Officer reports to the Head of Global Communications. Duties include but are not limited to the following key roles and responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Head of Global Communications to advise and support on the overall Communications strategy.
• Write effective copy on a wide range of Clipper Race aspects from press releases, web stories and daily race reports.
• Uncover the stories of our 700+ Race Crew to promote the unique nature of the Clipper Race.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key media and influencers.
• Manage specific sponsorship campaigns, for example Host Port and Team Partners, Fleet Partners and Official Suppliers.
• Manage social media content development, feeds and response.
• Respond swiftly to enquiries from external media.
• Manage photography and video shoots, acting as reporter for video and audio features, along with leading press calls and broadcast features.
• Produce and update content for the Race Press Pack and 360 magazine.
• Extensive travel and work oversees at agreed race stopovers to manage race arrivals and departures communications (including: Facebook Live, photography, interviews with Race Crew, Skippers and key Clipper Race spokespeople) along with managing stopover campaigns and media events.
• Provide UK office-based support for other members of the Communications Team while they are travelling and working in stopovers.
• Be ready to respond and support in the event of an incident and follow the Incident Management Plan alongside the Head of Communications and other departments.
• Provide timely and concise communication to all Clipper Race staff on internal and external announcements.
• Work out of hours, due to the nature of the Clipper Race.

ABOUT YOU

• You can think on your feet and use initiative.
• You enjoy learning new things and can quickly adapt when things change.
• You have a can-do, positive, dynamic attitude, hungry to achieve in an organisation where every day is different.
• You’re a natural at building rapport with just about anyone at any level in an organisation.
• You pay attention to the detail, you stay focused and nothing gets missed.
• You thrive on working on multiple projects at any one time.
• You enjoy solving problems and finding creative solutions to challenges.
• You are patient, level headed and cool under pressure.
• You are a real team player.
• You lead a flexible lifestyle which allows you to travel and work away for some extended periods.
• You currently live, or are willing to relocate to, within a commutable distance to our Gosport, Hampshire HQ.
• Have sufficient visas to be able to work in the UK.

PROCESS

To apply, please email your CV along with a covering letter. In your cover letter please include

• Why specifically you'd like to join the Clipper Race team.
• Why you are the best candidate to take on this out-of-the-ordinary communications role.
• What date you can start work/notice period.

Applications should be sent to Karla Graves, Head of Global Communications at [email protected].

Please note, only applications with a covering letter answering the questions above will be considered for interview.

The application deadline is 25 February 2022.

Interviews will be on application meeting job requirements and applications will be open until position filled, so please apply early.

• Round 1 - Phone/online interview on application review
• Round 2 - In person [Dates TBC]

Salary £34 000 to £40 000k, depending on experience of candidate.

Role to start as soon as possible, dependent on notice period.