Communications/PR Manager

Overview

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Hours of work: 5 days per week. There will occasionally be the need to work outside of normal office hours, and time will be given in lieu to recognise this.

Place of work: Home-based with catch ups in London, typically every 2-3 months. The Candidate will need to be UK based.

Holidays: 4 weeks per year plus regular bank holidays

Pension: Stakeholder pension with NEST

Bonus: Denford runs a bonus system for new retained clients, with a bonus payment from the first month’s retainer for staff who have created new business opportunities.

Probation period: 3 months

Notice period: 3 months

Introduction

We are looking to hire a talented Communications Manager to join our team at Denford Associates. This is an exciting role for an energetic and tenacious individual. You will be working across a range of clients, providing support to generate and place positive stories and comment pieces.

Denford is a specialist communications agency, providing a highly dynamic and creative environment in which to work. Everyone enjoys high levels of autonomy, and we pride ourselves on being a flexible place to work.

You will have considerable experience of working with a range of media outlets and feel comfortable dealing with both proactive and reactive PR. You will be a skilful writer and enjoy working to tight deadlines.

The role will also involve stakeholder communications, and the successful candidate is likely to have experience of dealing with complex stakeholder groups and be able to adjust messaging and tone accordingly.

FULL DETAIL

Overview

Working alongside Account Directors the Communications Manager role will provide support to a range of clients, including:

• Devising comms strategies and handling plans
• Proactive story generation both via press release and writing by-lined articles
• Briefing in stories to journalists
• Development of key messages and lines to take
• Prepping clients for media interviews
• Rapid response to emerging stories
• Drafting copy for clients’ internal audiences
• Advising on social media strategy
• Crisis management

There will also be the opportunity to pitch for new business in the education sector, and an associated bonus scheme.

You will have a high level of autonomy in the role and will regularly be in contact with senior leaders within client organisations, providing support and counsel.

Essential Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Evidence of delivering, either in-house or at an agency, high impact media and communications work
• Ability to write engaging copy that emulates the voice of different clients
• Ability to write compelling, accurate copy on and offline
• Good working knowledge of all communications disciplines, including social and digital media, and their use as part of an integrated communications strategy
• Exceptional interpersonal and networking skills
• Drawn towards working in fast-paced environments with multiple workstreams
• Enjoyment in producing high-quality accurate work within tight timescales
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and an ability to prioritise competing demands on time

Desirable Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• An active network of media contacts within the education sector and/or Westminster lobby
• Working knowledge of the education sector, covering Early Years, schools, FE and HE.
• Ability to produce high-quality video content to support comms collateral for clients

Application Details

Please send your CV, plus a short video (2 mins max) explaining why you would like to come and join the Denford team to [email protected]. We'd love to know all about you - both what you would bring professionally and what makes you tick!

In your CV, please include details of your current remuneration.

Website: http://www.denfordassociates.com/