Role Profile We re Breast Cancer Now, the UK s largest breast cancer charity and we re dedicated to funding research into this devastating disease. We believe that if we all act now, by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live and live well. Role title Directorate Reports to Direct reports Senior Press Officer (Charitable) Communications and Engagement PR Manager (Charitable) None Overview of directorate This role forms a part of the PR and Celebrity team, which sits in the Communications and Engagement Directorate. Purpose of the role As part of the PR and Celebrity team to raise the profile of Breast Cancer Now by engaging the press and the public in all aspects of our charitable work. To develop and lead PR activity to promote our scientific research, breast cancer health information and policy and campaigning work across all channels ensuring maximum cutthrough and exposure for the organisation and its charitable work. To put breast cancer, and the key issues affecting patients, high on the national news agenda. Key accountabilities Work closely with teams across Breast Cancer Now to propose, develop and deliver creative and ambitious media plans to support the charity s brand and activities. Write, co-ordinate and issue media releases/statements, briefing materials and features. Ensure that media materials and position statements are accurate and up to date. Develop a bank of media assets, including video and photography, to add texture to our stories and engage journalists and media contacts. Ensure PR is integrated across all channels, including social and digital, maximising reach and opportunities to engage the public and garner support. To identify and take opportunities to respond to the media and external environment. Respond to enquiries from journalists with speed and accuracy ensuring that every opportunity is fully maximised.
Contribute to the PR and Celebrity team s overall objectives and plans. Working with the Research Directorate and Policy and Campaigns Team, ensure all PR opportunities are taken to engage appropriate audiences with our charitable work, for example our scientific research, our campaigns for healthier lifestyles and our policy and campaigning. To identify, build and maintain relationships with journalists (international, national, consumer, regional, trade) and maximise media opportunities via regular briefings and meetings with them. To identify, build relationships with, and maintain an active and representative bank of media case studies, to help raise awareness of all key issues affecting breast cancer patients ensuring continued opportunities for their experiences to influence our PR and campaigning activities. Ensure, as part of a rota, the delivery of a 24/7 press office service to journalists. Support the development of spokespeople through delivery of a comprehensive training programme, advising and briefing staff. Act, where appropriate, as a spokesperson for Breast Cancer Now, ensuring accurate messages are delivered unambiguously to press, protecting the reputation of the organisation at all times. Evaluate media activity to share insight and drive improvements. Support the Press Officer (Charitable) when working on projects together. General responsibilities Keep up to date with the media environment, including latest developments, trends and campaigns to promote Breast Cancer Now. Support and deliver other projects and tasks, in line with your skills and experience that might occur within the Communications and Engagement Directorate, and contribute to our overall organisational objectives above and beyond your role. Represent Breast Cancer Now at relevant events, being an ambassador for the charity with our supporters. Any other duties as directed by and agreed with line manager.
Person Specification Experience We would like you to have the following experience: Educated to degree level or equivalent Of working in a fast-moving environment with the energy and drive to maximize proactive and reactive PR opportunities Of health and/or science PR Of developing and delivering successful integrated media relations plans effectively Of using social media channels to maximum effect Of acting as an effective communicator of an organisation s key messages Of managing work in pressurised situations; prioritising workload and multi-tasking without sacrificing quality of work; meeting deadlines Of issues/crisis management Ideally we would like you to have the following experience: A qualification in Science Communications Of working in the charity sector Skills We would like you to have the following skills: Outstanding written and verbal communications skills in particular, the ability to produce strong, succinct and engaging messaging Excellent attention to detail Strong organisational and administrative skills Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Attributes We would like you to have the following attributes: An excellent working knowledge of the UK s national, consumer, social and trade media (both on and offline) and a proven track record in securing publicity within them with strong media contacts A strong sense of what is newsworthy and a creative approach to bringing stories to life Clear understanding of the importance, synergy and opportunity available between traditional media channels and digital channels Ability to analyse scientific information accurately and distil into layman s terms to create newsworthy stories Ability to sell pitch and sell stories Ability to plan and deliver PR activity strategically Ability to work as part of a team, contributing to wider team objectives and supporting colleagues where appropriate Genuine commitment to the work of Breast Cancer Now and to the principle of medical research Preparedness to work outside of office hours on occasion
Role Information Key internal relationships Communications and Engagement Directorate Research Directorate Policy and Campaigns team Breast Cancer Now s Scotland office Key external relationships Journalists, including key national health and science editors and correspondents Scientists and research institutions Healthcare professionals, policy makers, breast cancer patients, supporters, agencies, other charities and best practice organisations Other information Number of colleagues in the directorate 51 Number of colleagues in the team 7 Budget/income targets (If applicable) Location of role Hours of work Contract type Appointment subject to Not applicable Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY 35 per week, Monday to Friday Permanent Two satisfactory references Medical clearance Six month s probationary period
Pension scheme Leave Benefits Other Working for Breast Cancer Now - What we do for you Group pension plan Contributions made via salary sacrifice Tiered employee/employer contributions Automatic enrolment in month three Option to opt-in earlier or to opt-out 25 days per leave year increasing by one day for each year of service to a maximum of 30 days Additional half day on Christmas Eve Additional three days between Christmas and the New Year Paid dependants and compassionate leave Sabbatical leave Time off in lieu Paid volunteering days Childcare vouchers Discounted gym membership for London based employees Employee assistance programme Health cash plan Season ticket loan scheme Bike loan scheme Life assurance at 4 x annual salary Contractual maternity, paternity and adoption leave Occupational sick pay Volunteering opportunities at local and national events with Breast Cancer Now Commitment to staff wellbeing and engagement June 2018