Role Profile We re Breast Cancer Now, the UK s largest breast cancer research charity. We re excited to announce that in April 2019, we re uniting with Breast Cancer Care to create one charity for everyone affected by breast cancer. From research to care, our new charity will have people affected by breast cancer at its heart providing support for today and hope for the future. United, we ll have the ability to carry out even more world-class research, provide even more life-changing support and campaign even more effectively for better services and care. Together, we believe that, by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live and receive the support they need to live well now. Role title Directorate Reports to Job title(s) of direct reports Senior Press Officer, Charitable Communications and Engagement Senior PR Manager, Charitable None Our three values Freethinking Affirming Bright Inventive, Open, Bold, Fearless and Ready to challenge Trusts and Respects, Supports, Inspires and Makes a positive impact Expert, Focused, Shows Passion, Energy and Leads the way Overview of directorate This is an exciting time to join Breast Cancer Now. We fund the brightest minds to discover how to prevent breast cancer, how to detect it earlier and how to treat it effectively at every stage. With over 55,000 women and around 350 men being diagnosed each year with breast cancer and over 11,500 women dying from the disease, we urgently need to raise more money to save lives. More information on our research can be found at www.breastcancernow.org. This role forms a part of the PR and Celebrity team, which sits in the Communications and Engagement directorate. Purpose of the role 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, its spokespeople and our key messages.
To put breast cancer, and the key issues affecting patients, high on the national news agenda while ensuring responsible and accurate reporting across all media. Key accountabilities PR and media relations support Work closely with teams across Breast Cancer Now to propose, develop and deliver creative media relations and PR plans to support the charity s research, policy and campaigning and public health work. Liaise with internal partners to ensure that media materials and position statements are up to date, appropriately worded and readily available. Evaluate media coverage achieved to compile reports for internal use and to identify strengths and areas for improvement in our future work. Write, co-ordinate and issue media releases and responsive statements, briefing materials and features. Ensure PR is integrated across all channels maximising reach and opportunities to engage the public and garner support. Proactive PR and media relations management Working with the Research and Policy and Campaigns teams, to ensure all PR opportunities are taken to engage key audiences with our charitable work, include our funded research projects, our campaigns for healthier lifestyles and our policy and campaigning. Working with the Digital team, to ensure owned and earned social and digital channels are used to maximum effect to connect our charitable work with our beneficiaries, our supporters and the specific audiences we aim to influence to affect positive change. Employ the voice of Breast Cancer Now to build empathy and authority. Capitalise on current news stories, identifying and taking opportunities for reactive work, such as placing the charity s spokespeople to speak in the media (broadcast or print), comment pieces and case studies. 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. Develop a bank of media assets, including video and photography, to add texture to our stories and engage journalists and media contacts. Build relationships with journalists across the industry (international, national, consumer, regional, trade) and maximise media opportunities via regular briefings and meetings with key journalists.
Reactive PR and media relations management Ensure, as part of a rota, the delivery of a 24/7 press office service to journalists. Respond to enquiries from journalists with speed and accuracy ensuring that every opportunity is fully maximised. Identify opportunities where Breast Cancer Now should comment or take action. Build, maintain and develop a strong network of media contacts across all relevant media channels. Developing spokespeople for Breast Cancer Now Support the development of spokespeople through delivery of a comprehensive training programme that ensures they are comfortable in all media situations, and can represent Breast Cancer Now with empathy, warmth, authority and credibility at all times. Advise/brief staff who are undertaking media interviews as a Breast Cancer Now spokesperson. Act, where appropriate, as a spokesperson for Breast Cancer Now, ensuring accurate messages are delivered unambiguously to press, and protecting the reputation of the organisation at all times. Supplier and people management Maintain relationships with all key suppliers including PR agencies. Manage all legal requirements for activities undertaken. Support the Press Officer (Charitable) when working on projects together. Ambassador Represent Breast Cancer Now at relevant events, being an ambassador for the charity with our supporters. 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. Develop and maintain accurate, up-to-date and organised records for all supporters using Breast Cancer Now s database. Ensure all partner information is managed and stored in-line with relevant regulations and polices. Planning, reporting and budgets Provide regular media activity and evaluation reports. Ensure effective horizon-scanning and maintain a watching brief for Breast Cancer Now. Keep up to date with the media environment, including latest developments, trends and campaigns and proactively identify opportunities to promote Breast Cancer Now. General responsibilities Any other duties as directed by and agreed with line manager
Person Specification Experience We would like you to have the following experience: Proven PR and media relations experience in a fast-moving environment with the energy and drive to maximize every proactive and reactive opportunity Demonstrable experience of health or science PR Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering successful integrated media relations plans that support fundraising and engagement opportunities Of delivering consistent messages with the media and acting as an effective communicator of an organisation s key messages Demonstrable experience of managing work in pressurised situations; prioritising workload and multi-tasking without sacrificing quality of work Of issues/crisis management It is desirable for you to have the following experience: Of working within the charity sector Of telling patient stories Of using social media channels to maximum effect Skills We would like you to have the following skills: Excellent written and verbal communications skills in particular, the ability to produce strong, succinct and engaging media messaging 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 Clear understanding of the importance, synergy and opportunity available between traditional media channels and digital channels Excellent attention to detail proofreading skills in particular Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including experience of working with press office administration systems such as media monitoring and evaluation Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Knowledge of how the media works Strong news sense It is desirable for you to have the following skills: Educated to degree level or equivalent, ideally in Science Communications or related Communications /PR/ NUJ qualifications (IPR affiliated) Attributes We would like you to have the following attributes: Ability to analyse scientific information accurately and distil into layman s terms to create newsworthy stories
Ability to sell pitch and sell stories a confident phone manner when speaking to the media Ability to build relationships with key contacts Ability to think strategically Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines 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 and Policy and Campaigns Directorates Breast Cancer Now s Scotland office Key external relationships Journalists, including key national health and science editors and correspondents Scientists Healthcare professionals, policy makers, breast cancer patients, supporters, agencies, other charities and best practice organisations Other information Number of colleagues in the directorate 57 Number of colleagues in the team 8 Budget/income targets (If applicable) Location of role Hours of work Contract type Appointment subject to Medical research Conflict of interests Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 Not applicable Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY 35 per week, Monday to Friday Permanent Two satisfactory references Medical clearance Six months probationary period We fund medical research of which some may involve the use of animals. Ultimately our aim is to save lives and our research using animals is only when there are no alternatives. Staff members are obliged to devote their full time, attention and ability to their duties at Breast Cancer Now. This means to not engage or participate in any other business opportunity, occupation or role (paid or non-paid) within or outside their contracted hours of work which could impair their ability to act in the best interests of Breast Cancer Now or prejudice the interests of the charity or the work undertaken. Staff members should not have any restrictions on their eligibility to indefinitely work in the UK
Working for Breast Cancer Now - What we do for you Group pension plan Contributions made via salary sacrifice Pension scheme Leave Benefits Other 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 or the Friday before Additional three days between Christmas and the New Year Paid dependants and compassionate leave Sabbatical leave Time off in lieu Paid volunteering days Employee assistance programme Health cash plan Season ticket loan scheme Bike loan scheme Life assurance at 4 x annual salary Contractual maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave Occupational sick pay Volunteering opportunities at local and national events with Breast Cancer Now Commitment to staff wellbeing and engagement December 2018