Head of Media Relations

at  Cancer Research UK

HEAD OF MEDIA RELATIONS

Salary : £75,000 - £83,000 depending on experience
Reports to : Director of Communications
Department : Policy, Information and Communications
Contract : Permanent
Hours : Full time 35 hours per week (other flexible-working requests will also be considered if it meets business needs)
Location: Stratford, London with high flexibility (we would expect you to be in the office 1-2 days per week)
Closing date : Sunday 11 August 2024, 23:55. This vacancy may close earlier if a high number of applications are received or once a suitable candidate is found, so please do not delay submitting your application to avoid any disappointment.
Interview date: First stage w/c 2 September, second stage TBC
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.
This is an exciting opportunity to take on a key leadership role in CRUK’s group communications team.
Reporting to the Director of Communications, this role has responsibility for leading and managing an integrated press and media team, providing high quality advice and media relations support across CRUK’s different directorates and organisations.
The Head of Media Relations works closely with the Director of Communications, the Chief Executive and Executive Board and other members of CRUK’s leadership group. They provide expert communications advice on the benefits and presentational risks of decisions and policies and use strong judgement to shape handling for announcements and breaking news. During incidents, the role leads the media team to provide an expert crisis communications function.
This is a challenging role. The holder is expected to lead the team using a range of media channels to deliver complex policy and operational communications strategy. The work ranges from promoting the impact of CRUK’s research and discovery science to applying pressure on national and devolved governments to keep cancer as a political priority.
The role provides strong, visible, internal leadership and experience of managing change and driving forward a team. The role is responsible for transforming the CRUK press office into a single proactive news operation covering national, regional, devolved, and international media – creating a united high-performing team culture.

WHAT SKILLS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Essential:

• A senior media professional with excellent news judgement, a digital understanding and with extensive experience in a news-related role at a senior level in a complex, fast-moving environment.
• An inspiring, confident and empowering leader who can provide visible, strong leadership that can motivate, engage and get the best out of people, including through a significant programme of change
• Evidence of building credibility and relationships at a senior/board level to provide strategic communications and reputation advice based on professional expertise.
• Excellent political and news awareness demonstrated through sound judgement and the ability to drive communications approaches from the overall organisational priorities.
• Evidence of leading a team including under pressure, managing competing priorities and changing deadlines while supporting the team.
• Experience of setting a team direction (functional leadership) – ensuring team strategy, capability and collaboration develop at required rate.
• Experience of running a high quality, proactive and reactive media management and news planning service, monitoring news across all platforms on behalf of the charity.
• Ability to respond rapidly to fast-moving events when these do occur and providing senior cover in an out-of-hours duty rota.
• Evidence of good decision making and seeing the bigger picture – making key decisions with a good understanding of when issues require consultation of senior leaders including executive board.
• Experience of providing an expert crisis communications function during incidents.

Desirable:

• Experience of managing communications within a complex delivery network.
• Experience of managing high-profile campaigns.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.
Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
Human : Act to have a positive impact on people
Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

• Provide expert advice to senior leaders across the organisation on news management – from tactical media handling to ensuring the charity priorities are delivered and enhanced through proactive and strategic use of media channels.
• Close and proactive working with the Director of Communications and relevant directors across CRUK’s directorates to ensure the Executive Board receive the best possible media handling advice.
• Work alongside the Head of Strategic Comms and Campaigns to lead on crisis and issues management, protecting the charity’s reputation and ensuring lines-to-take and handling plans are kept up to date.
• Work with the Director of Communications to design and implement a single news function combining national, devolved, regional and international media.
• Implement comprehensive media strategies that maximise public awareness of the charity’s research impact and brand recognition. Delivery of high-quality press releases and statements, creative content, opinion editorials and media briefings.
• Drive forward CRUK commentary and opinion editorials – positioning CRUK as a thought leader and authoritative health and science brand, maximising opportunities to reach UK and international audiences.
• Maintain and build relationships with key journalists covering the work of CRUK and with counterparts in key external organisations
• Work closely with the Communications Department leadership team to ensure effective short- and long-term planning, scheduling content strategically so that it aligns with cross department and cross-directorate priorities and is evaluated robustly.
• Support the development and implementation of the CRUK annual communications plan, maintaining external media communications on a proactive footing, and attending weekly meetings with relevant leadership, policy and research groups.
• Represent CRUK communications at relevant leadership forums, steering groups and committees.
• Act as a visible leader and advocate of CRUK communications – embodying CRUK’s values and behaviours, and building on the diversity, talent and skills of team members.