JOB DESCRIPTION

PR and Communications Manager

CONTRACT LENGTH: 6 months (with potential extension to 9 months)

SALARY: £23,000 pro rota

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Contractors, occasional student placements and temporary members of staff KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Internal - Chief Executive, Marketing Manager, Finance Manager, Sales Executive and Marketing Assistant, Board of Directors External – journalists, bloggers, film crews, photographers, designers, copywriters, PR agencies, third party media and marketing companies, Cornwall tourism businesses, national and international tourism partners ABOUT VISIT CORNWALL Visit Cornwall is a Community Interest Company run by the tourism industry, for the tourism industry. It is the Tourist Board for Cornwall, lead body for destination marketing and champion of the tourism industry. Visit Cornwall directly contributes to increasing the tourism sector’s competitiveness, profitability and sustainability, and to improving the quality of tourism jobs and careers. THE ROLE The PR and Communications Manager is a passionate and articulate individual with responsibility for leading on all Visit Cornwall communications. The main output areas are:

- raise, maintain and support the projection of a positive image and profile for Cornwall (within chosen markets) as a leading, quality tourist destination

- assist tourism operators (private, public, and third sector) and partners to

increase the competitiveness and quality of the tourism offer/visitor experience and stimulate innovation to maintain Cornwall’s leading position

- strengthen Visit Cornwall’s profile as the lead destination marketing

organisation for Cornwall

- increase awareness of Visit Cornwall’s tourism industry services and activity

MAIN TASKS Destination PR

• Create, plan, cost and implement, a full public relations strategy to incorporate both proactive and reactive PR campaigns

• Assist with management of the PR budget

• Responsible for collating, evaluating and reporting on results and achieving PR targets in terms of coverage and activity outputs

• Build and nurture relationships with key journalists, film production companies,

partners, stakeholders and external agencies, including proactively creating and managing media lists

• Pitch media campaigns, stories and interviews to domestic and international

media

• Organisation and delivery of media events and press conferences

• Secure, facilitate and host media trips

• Devise, write and issue press releases and features to the local, regional, national and international media

• Undertake media interviews when appropriate and brief the Chief Executive,

Board of Directors and other related parties before their own media interviews

• Manage all aspects of the Visit Cornwall online media library, including license agreements, usage compliance and site development

• Liaise with and support the Marketing Manager on all digital and marketing

activity

• Establish and maintain good working relationships with tourism businesses to secure PR activity support

Corporate PR and industry communications • Work closely with the Chief Executive to develop an external communications

strategy which supports the delivery of the organisation’s strategic priorities

• Protect and develop the reputation of Visit Cornwall, drive awareness of the role Visit Cornwall plays and communicate the vision of the organisation

• Assist with management of the Industry Communications budget

• Responsible for member engagement targets

• Support service quality and member satisfaction targets

• Provide communications expertise, advice and support to colleagues

• Crisis management

• Initiate, research, write, edit and distribute news announcements, features and thought leadership articles

• Manage all of Visit Cornwall’s communications with tourism businesses,

including the Visit Cornwall industry website, social media channels and newsletters

• Act as a Visit Cornwall media spokesperson and manage/raise the Chief

Executive’s profile as spokesperson for tourism related issues

• Organisation and delivery of industry and trade events

• Oversee and disseminate the monthly performance and KPI reports for all Visit Cornwall departments

• Support the Visit Cornwall team and in particular the Sales Executive in

recruiting new Visit Cornwall members and maximising advertising sales General

• Understand the Visit Cornwall brand, the Cornwall brand and Visit Cornwall brand guidelines and house style, and in partnership with the Marketing Manager lead Visit Cornwall in maintaining

• Represent Visit Cornwall at meetings and events

• Act as part of a team and provide additional support for the Chief Executive and Marketing Manager

• Contribute to team performance targets

• Provide excellent customer service to all stake holders and customers

• Maintain and develop relevant industry knowledge and expertise in content, PR and communications

PERSON SPEFICATION To effectively deliver within this role the following skills and experience are required: Knowledge and experience

• Minimum 3 years experience in a busy press office/media relations/communications team, or a background in journalism

• A detailed knowledge and understanding of the domestic and international travel media environment

• Network of media contacts • Digital marketing experience and

expertise across social media platforms

• Thorough knowledge of the Cornwall tourism sector and an understanding of the issues facing the sector

• Experience of building effective relationships at all levels and

Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential

managing complex stakeholder relationships

Education and training • CIPR or CIM approved

qualification • Relevant degree • Knowledge of MailChimp • Excellent all round IT skills including

Microsoft outlook, Excel, Word etc • Adobe Photoshop and InDesign

experience • Experience of content

management systems

Desirable Desirable Desirable Essential Desirable Essential

Skills and abilities • Excellent communicator, both

verbally and in writing, with the ability to engage confidently with journalists and tourism businesses

• Creative flair • Excellent interpersonal and

negotiating skills • Ability to work effectively as part

of a high performing team • Strong stakeholder management • Ability to think strategically • Highly motivated, able to work

autonomously and successfully manage conflicting priorities

• Excellent attention to detail with an eye for design

• Strong decision making and problem solving skills

Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential

Personal style and behaviour • Passionate about Cornwall • Positive and proactive attitude • Articulate, dynamic, self-

motivated and enthusiastic • An effective and persuasive

communicator • The ability to work under pressure

and take initiative

Essential Essential Essential Essential Essential

38 hours per week based at the Visit Cornwall office at Beacon Place, Station Approach, Roche, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 8LG. In addition to normal hours of work additional hours necessary for the performance and duties of the role may be required. Some evening and weekend work required and occasional travel within the UK and internationally.