News and Media Lead

News and Media Lead

Initial 4-month contract

London (Hybrid)

Your responsibilities will include:

• Manage the Agency's profile and reputation on high profile, sensitive and day-to-day news and issues affecting the organisation and its remit confidently with the media and social media, responding to media enquiries as well as promoting, explaining and justifying its scientific expertise and wider contribution to public health and science nationally and globally.
• Manage, implement and deliver effective news and issues management strategies at pace, developing and nurturing media and social media contacts, responding quickly and accurately to breaking or negative news stories to limit potentially damaging coverage and drive the Agency's reputation, evaluating outcomes and results.
• Initiate, develop, lead and implement news and issues management strategies that supports the business priorities and culture change set out in the agency's corporate and business plan and play an active part in the communications account management work.
• Anticipate the emerging news agenda, handle high-profile and sensitive media issues and respond quickly and accurately to breaking or negative stories to limit potentially damaging media and social media coverage.
• Produce and oversee high-quality handling plans that include reactive lines to take, press notices, potential risks, core scripts, briefings and Q&As and considers the use of shareable social media content, ensuring work aligns and integrates with strategic communications priorities and narratives. Write, edit and publish content to style for our websites, using a content management system.
• Develop, build and nurture professional relationships with journalists and social media influencers based on honesty, authority and credibility and stay up to date on media/social media trends. Work closely with others in the Communications and Engagement group and with senior managers across the Agency to advise on media handling and to develop appropriate plans.
• Act as an Agency spokesperson, displaying authoritative, clear and sensitive briefing to the media on Agency-related issues. Participate in a 24-hour media on-call rota.

Skills required:

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a busy media and communications environment in a large, complex, expert organisation, and leading on the response to fast-breaking, high-profile news stories, to deliver business objectives and enhance reputation.
• Experience of evaluating traditional media content to assess performance and inform business decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral, with a proven understanding of what makes a good news story and interesting, accessible content.
• Ability to develop good working relationships and influence journalists and senior managers, dealing with conflict and challenge in a calm, measured way.

If you are a News and Media Lead seeking a new opportunity, please apply now.

Reference: 72677

Hafsa Akram