JOB DESCRIPTION: Media Relations and Communications Manager (12 month maternity cover)

Reports to Director of Business Development & Communications

Responsible for Media Relations Officer, Communications Officer, Digital Media & Publications Officer, Events Officer, Dispatch Clerk

Location Bristol or London (with regular travel between both)

Salary £34,949 to £38,442 based on NJC Scale Points 41 - 45 (plus ILW of £3,332 where appropriate)

Length of contract 37 hours a week over 12 months

MAIN PURPOSE OF POST

To use media and communications to establish Women’s Aid as the leading authority working to end violence against women and girls in their relationships.

Leading the Communications Team, this role is responsible for the management and coordination of marketing and communications to reach key target audiences, create positive change for survivors of abuse, increase understanding and decrease tolerance of domestic abuse and engage the public to support our work.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILTIES

Develop the Communications Strategy, supported by Director of Business Development & Communications.

Contribute to the overall strategic direction and management of Women’s Aid. Provide clear direction and support to a busy team to achieve organisational

objectives. Ensure effective working relations, integration and collaboration between the

Communications team and other departments across Women’s Aid. Manage and motivate the Communications team to perform to a high standard,

conducting appraisal meetings in line with organisational policy and agree and review progress towards individual targets on a regular basis.

Develop and implement the departmental communications plan ensuring that objectives are achieved and reporting quarterly on progress.

Ensure effective departmental financial management through monitoring of departmental budget spend and reporting on variances as required.

Provide timely progress reports against operational work plans to the Director of Business Development and Communications.

Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all Women’s Aid policies and procedures and keep informed of Women’s Aid activities

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2. MEDIA RELATIONS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

Be accountable for media and PR planning and for the consistent delivery of high-profile, high-impact media activity.

Provide clear direction and support for the team, and signing off communications for the charity.

Work in partnership with other organisations and writing protocol for joint media work.

Offer leadership and advice on appropriate media and PR strategies across the organisation.

Be the lead contact with external agencies for the development of public awareness campaigns.

Oversee relationships with Patrons, Ambassadors and other high profile supporters.

Advise media on domestic abuse content, including storyline development for TV, radio and film.

Play an active role in anticipating, preparing for and implementing responses to crisis situations, or other situations where there is risk of damage to our brand and/or reputation.

Develop a strategic overview of the external media environment and an understanding of how best to target our approach.

3. DIGITAL

Lead on the development and application of a digital strategy for the charity. Oversee Women’s Aid’s websites, social media channels and forums, growing

our online communities and improving our digital offer. Be responsible for the editing, coordination and dissemination of all

organisational newsletters, including the internal communications newsletter.

4. BRANDING, PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

Be responsible for Women’s Aid branding consistency across all activities and resources, and to ensure that staff have current guidelines and support.

Have overview of the costing, production, marketing and dissemination of publications and resources.

Monitor publications needs and requirements, in consultation with other staff, working across a range of projects.

Oversee stock control of publications and resources.

5. MARKETING AND EVENTS

Develop, implement and monitor marketing plans for all Women’s Aid publications, resources, services and activities, in consultation and liaison with relevant staff.

Ensure the development and implementation of effective marketing activities as required in order to maximise income and deliver desired results.

Oversee events and relevant budgets, and to drive income generation through events for the charity.

Represent Women’s Aid at external and key stakeholder events.

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6. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Carry out word-processing, filing, and administrative tasks necessary to comply with the job description.

Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

Oversee the work of volunteers or temporary support staff as required To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.

7. OTHER

The job description for this post will be reviewed annually to meet organisational priorities

This job involves occasional travel throughout England. Unsociable hours are also required for media cover (including evenings and weekends).

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PERSON SPECIFICATION:Media Relations and Communications Manager (12 month maternity cover)

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

Substantial experience of working in a busy media relations and communications environment.

Experience of brand management, copy-editing and production of publications and other resources.

Experience of developing, implementing and evaluating publicity and marketing strategies.

Experience of line management of staff.

Desirable:

Experience of developing and overseeing digital/social media strategies. Experience of writing press releases, press briefings, marketing resources and

production of resources.

SKILLS

Essential:

Persuasive and diplomatic verbal communication skills including networking and liaison at a variety of levels, and presentation skills.

Effective writing skills for a range of audiences including copy writing, copy editing, publicity materials, posters, and press releases.

Ability to deliver a proactive and persistent approach to all aspects of the role. Ability to organise media strategies and prioritise and manage media requests. Ability to identify and present key messages to appropriate target audiences

and settings. Ability to communicate sensitively and safely with survivors of domestic

violence to discuss case studies. Ability to research relevant information from internal and external stakeholders

to inform media and PR work. Ability to develop a wide-ranging understanding of key domestic abuse policy

and practice issues. Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team Ability to plan and prioritise work, work to tight deadlines and respond to urgent

unplanned demands. Proficient in IT preferably in a Windows based environment and in using email,

Internet, Twitter, Facebook and other social media.

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KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

A basic understanding of domestic abuse and the role of Women’s Aid (both nationally and locally).

An understanding of the feminist perspective of domestic abuse, inequality and violence against women more widely.

An understanding of the issues involved in publicising and presenting a sensitive subject like domestic abuse to the public and media.

An understanding of the principles of lobbying and campaigning at Government level for charities.

An understanding of the principles and practices of marketing.

OTHER

Essential:

Able to demonstrate a commitment and sensitivity of the aims and objectives of Women’s Aid;

Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities; Willingness to work occasional unsocial hours as required.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS

No formal qualifications required but evidence of continuing professional development.

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SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Terms of appointment: Confirmation of appointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period. This will normally be of six months. During this time an employee will be expected to establish their suitability for the post. During the probationary period employment may be terminated in writing, giving one week's notice by either party (this may be waived by mutual agreement). Only any statutory dismissal procedure will apply during the probationary period. There is no probationary period for contracts of under 3 months.

Salary: £34,949 - £38,442. (On an incremental scale guided by the NJC Local authority pay scale points 41-45) + benefits. Salary is paid in arrears through bank credit by the 25th of each month. Plus inner London weighting of £3,332 where appropriate

Working hours: The standard working hours for this post are 37 hours per week, based in Bristol or London; benefits include a generous bank holidays and annual leave package and contributory pension scheme.

Support and supervision: Women’s Aid has a commitment to providing regular supervision and support to staff with annual appraisals forming a key part of staff development. We have a training policy in place and encourage staff to take an active role in their career development plan. Pension: Women’s Aid is enrolled with the People’s Pension scheme. Women’s Aid normally contributes 7% of salary and the employee contributes 3% towards the group pension scheme. Eligible staff will be automatically enrolled on the scheme when they have successfully completed the 3 month interim probationary review. .

Annual Leave: Women’s Aid offers an annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year rising by one day per year until 30 days annual leave per year is reached. In addition, we offer 8 days public holidays plus 2 additional days in March and August. All leave entitlement is calculated pro-rata for part time employees.

Other leave: Employees have contractual rights to time off for reasons of sickness, maternity and other circumstances.

Period of notice: 3 months after your probationary period has been completed.

Union: You have a right to membership of a trade union. Women’s Aid recognises Unison.

Asylum and Immigration Act 1996: To comply with this Act, Women’s Aid will need to see the original of at least one document from a specified list. The list of specified documents will be sent to the first choice candidates if this Act applies to their employment with us.

Additional information is available on request.

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