Senior Public Relations Manager

About the job

The EFL are currently hiring for a Senior Communications Manager - PR.

About the EFL:

The English Football League (EFL) is the largest single body of professional clubs in European football and is responsible for administering and regulating the Sky Bet EFL, Sky Bet Play-Offs, Carabao Cup and Papa Johns Trophy competitions.

The impact of EFL clubs goes far beyond and is more important than football and 90 minutes on a match day. EFL clubs actively engage 365 days a year with the communities that surround and support them. Working collaboratively with all our colleagues at Clubs and their Community Organisations through our charitable arm, the EFL Trust, we remain firmly embedded in towns and cities across England and Wales, fostering a strong sense of local pride and providing life-changing opportunities that leave a lasting legacy.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Communications Manager – PR will assist in the activation of the annual strategic plan for the EFL, inputting the overall communication strategy and be responsible for all internal and external corporate PR communications for the EFL.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working with the Head of Media & PR, to be responsible for the day-to-day narrative and publicising the ongoing story of the EFL, its Member Clubs and the CCOs by securing coverage across football and non-football broadcast, digital and print media (regionally, nationally and internationally)
• To have a strong focus on the commercial side of the organisation by developing and supporting all PR, media and Communications activity
• To take the lead on developing and delivering PR activations in conjunction with colleagues from the Commercial Team, partners and their agencies across all the EFL’s finals, playoffs, season launch, Week of Action and award ceremonies with on-message PR activity
• Working with external agencies (communications, PR and talent based), writing briefs and roving support as appropriate
• To liaise with, and be present to, all Member Clubs to make sure that they are fully briefed on all corporate and commercial PR and campaign activity
• To manage the PR Team across corporate and community– managing budgets, allocating resources and bringing to life the principles of the EFL
• To identify targets and objectives for news and sport coverage in regional, national and international media making sure that this coverage is monitored
• To provide comprehensive reports that include key metrics and campaign results
• To create, develop and maintain effective working relationships with journalists at all levels, including those outside of the football and sporting environment
• To effectively communicate and manage stakeholders in respect of the EFL’s PR activity
• To develop and plan PR events that showcase the EFL in a positive manner
• To contribute to internal communications action plan to make sure all departments are updated on corporate and commercial PR activity

Person Specification:

• A successful track record of working in a similar role at a senior level in a high-profile business where there are multiple stakeholders
• Commercially focused – ideally with some PR agency experience at relevant Account Director (or similar) level.
• Experience securing media coverage
• Experience activating sponsors/partners would be beneficial for this role.
• Must be able to make an early impact and take the lead
• Developed a network of media contacts
• Great communication skills
• Knowledge of football and the EFL would be advantageous
• Ability to think strategically
• Strong people management skills

Due to the nature of the football industry, you will be expected to occasionally work weekends. Therefore a flexible approach to working is required for this position.

The EFL is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants fulfilling the criteria will be considered in a meritocratic way and without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief (s), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, martial status, disability, age or with regards to pregnancy or maternity.

This role is a 12-15 month contract and can be based out of the EFL’s London or Preston office. The successful candidate would ideally be able to start in August.

If this role is of interest, then please email your CV to [email protected].

The Executives in Sport Group are retained on behalf of the EFL appoint a Senior Communications Manager – PR. All direct applications and CV's will be forwarded to The Executives in Sport Group.

We ask that applicants complete our diversity monitoring form. You are not obliged to answer any of these questions but the more information you supply, the more effective our monitoring will be.

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Please note that due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide specific feedback on unsuccessful applications.