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Job Title:PR Man ager
Fixed term contract (until 30November 2014)
Based in:Isis Education Centre, at the LookOut, Hyde Park
Salary:£34,000-36,000 per year pro rata (according to experience)
25 days leave per annum pro rata, plus Public Holidays
Reporting to:Head of Major Events, Royal Parks Foundation
Royal Parks Foundation - Who we are:
The Royal Parks Foundation is the registered charity (no.1097545) that helps support the magic of London’s eight amazing Royal Parks for everyone to enjoy.
Established in 2003, the charity has helped raise more than £10m towards a wide variety of projects from wildlife conservation and heritage restoration, to community sport, education and the creative arts. Its projects include funding and building a £2.2m environmental education centre in Hyde Park, which opened in September 2011.
The small, energetic team of 17 people is based in the Isis Education Centre and works closely with The Royal Parks Agency, the government body responsible for the day-to-day management of the Parks. The charity is supported by an active Chairman and Board of 12 Trustees.
The Royal Parks Foundation and its Trustees are committed to:
- Help protect, support and enhance the past, present and future of London’s eight Royal Parks and their rare and special assets
- Reach out to make the Parks more of people’s lives
- Help improve the Parks’ financial future
The charity’s objectives are to:
- Repair, restore, conserve and improve the Parks’ natural and built environment
- Promote broader public access to and enjoyment of the Royal Parks
- Educate, engage and inform the public about the past, present and future heritage of the Royal Parks and their role and value to society
- Encourage the protection of wildlife and support and increase biodiversity and promote sustainability
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Major Events, and working with the Communications team, the PR Manager will lead the Foundation’s media strategy and activities, handling enquiries and working proactively to promote our major sporting events, our yearly programmes and single projects,announcing initiatives and partnerships, and securing event and profile led pieces. You will also work internally to help sharpen up our messages and ensure the Foundation is able to respond tothe news agenda.
Your areas of work will be two-fold:
-lead PR for major sporting events the Royal Parks Foundation’s Half Marathon and Ultra, where you will have limited support from an external PR agency at key points of the PR campaign, and
-lead PR for the rest of the Foundation’s activities: education and community engagement, single projects and initiatives, fundraising and corporate partnerships
This will require:
- Strategic thinking
- Hands-on management (in house, and working with external agencies)
- Sensitive liaison with external partners
- Lots of multi-tasking
- Some ‘roll your sleeves up’ action
- Keeping everyone informed of progress
- Good plain English – no fluff and no jargon!
Strategic Objectives of the post:
The PR Manager will raise the media profile and brand reputation of the Royal Parks Foundation. To achieve this, s/he will:
i)Work with the Head of Major Events and the Communications team to develop and implement a PR strategy for the Foundation
ii)Lead an outstanding PR campaign for the Royal Parks FoundationHalf Marathon andUltrarunning events, managing media and celebrity runners
iii)Provide outstanding media coverage to the education and community engagement programme,fundraising events(i.e. Team Squirrel)andto single projects(i.e. Deckchair Dreams), working with the Head of Programmes, Education and Projects team
iv)Raise the profile of the Foundation and its CEO, as well as promote key corporate and individual funding partnerships, working with the Head of Development and the Senior Management Team
v)Manage working relationships with key partners, media and stakeholders,acting as an ambassador of the Foundation at all times
Key Responsibilities:
Strategy:
- Work with the Communications team and the SMT to develop, implement and refine a communications strategy, providing expertise and leadership in all PR matters
Evaluation:
- Regularly evaluate all PR activity to understand the ROI and assess the effectiveness of each communications campaign
Internal Communications:
- With the Communications team and the SMT, develop the role and function of internal communications within the Foundation
Approvals
- Ensure all campaigns have formal approval of those involved before release
The Foundation running events(~3 days per week)
- Ensure key dates are publicised and support marketing campaigns with press listings, announcements, and wider stories (see table below)
- Work closely with media partners to generate high-value coverage of major campaigns and messages
- Develop and place features in targeted specialist and generalist titles, spread through the year, by linking the events to bigger stories & themes (including sponsor, partner and charity partner content whenever possible)
- Develop the races’ identities and build the status of these events: the most beautiful city runs in the world, excellent, innovative, inclusive, caring…
- Identify and place features using case studies from charity partners and those found through other external registration/fundraising sites (i.e. Virgin Money Giving)
- Encourage more local people from specific postcodes to participate in races and Festival
- Develop a role for celebrity supporters:
-Secure 2-3 celebrities who will support actively through the year, manage relationships, agents and media
-Secure media runners to help maximise media coverage of the race
-Manage start line celebrity photo call and interview requests
- Coordinate the race day media team, managing celebrities, mascots, press photographers, journalists, and media runners
- Raise the profile of Royal Parks Foundation in relation to these events, in particular its charitable programmes and its fundraising efforts in support of the Royal Parks
- Ensure stakeholders are informed of key dates and can support marketing campaigns
- Manage a small budget and evaluate all PR campaigns, providing reports when required.
The Foundation programmes and other initiatives (~2 days per week)
- With the Communications Manager and Digital Projects Manager identify priority communications times in the year and the most appropriate activities to support key PR campaigns
- Manage media campaigns and promotions for the Foundation’s programmes,single projects and other initiatives, including:
-Education activities (e.g. Inside Outside secondary schools science programme)
-Community engagement activities (e.g. bulb planting, Pictures in the Park)
-Single initiatives (e.g. Deckchair Dreams and Hedgehog research project)
-Team Squirrel and Corporate Volunteering
- Maintain accurate and well-organised budgets with prior approval for all major expenditure on each project
- Help support individual and corporate donors, fundraising campaigns and merchandise opportunities by identifying and securing high profile media coverage
- Identify editorial opportunities across a range of national, broadcast and regional press for the Foundation’s CEO
- Identify appropriate awards to enter to help build a reputation as leaders and innovators
- Build, strengthen and maintain on-going relationships with key media, developing positive media partnerships and maintaining an up-to-date media database
- Developand manage strong and productive relationships with celebrity supporters, sponsors and key stakeholders
- Represent the Foundation at meetings, external events and seminars as required, and act as an ambassador of the Foundation at all times
- Support and contribute to Foundation events as and when required
Person specification
The Royal Parks Foundation core values define the principles and ethos that are central to the way we operate as an organisation and the way we treat those with whom we come into contact. They inform what we do and how we do it; we expect every member of the team to commit to creating value for our supporters, partners and the communities we engage.
Every member of the team should live up to the following values:
- Responsibility
- Enjoy creativity
- High quality
- Can – do attitude
- Supportiveness
- Ambition
- Enjoyment
- Resourcefulness
- Dedication
- Flexibility
In practice this means that every member of our team show a willingness to be flexible, to support other colleagues, who may be under pressure, and to have a cheerful, optimistic outlook.
In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have the skills / expertise in the person specification shown overleaf.
Person Specification / Criteria *Qualifications
- A relevant degree or qualification in PR / Communications, OR equivalent knowledge acquired through relevant work experience
- Evidence of recent and continuing professional development in your professional field and its relevance to the post’s requirements
Experience
- Minimum five years solid PR or press experience with a proven success in developing editorial campaigns and appeals
- Experience in writing fantastic and innovative stories for on and offline channels
- Experience of engaging with UK press and media, and selling in features with a broad network of current media contacts
- Strong celebrity liaison experience
- Project management experience with a track record for delivering PR campaigns on time and on budget
- Understanding of integrated communications programmes including PR, media relations, advertising, marketing, social media and sales promotions
- Experience in developing PR campaigns for charities or social enterprises; in particular developing and delivering PR campaigns for sports, wellbeing, wildlife, conservation and education
Skills
- Excellent written/verbal communication skills in person and on the phone
- Proven skills for identifying a good story, copywriting and proof reading
- A spotless attention to detail, with an accurate and methodical approach to work
- Target-driven, pro-active and resilient
- Ability to communicate at every level and build strong collaborative relationships across a variety of stakeholders
- Excellent interpersonal skills including problem solving, negotiating, team working and a firm commitment to delivering exceptional customer care
- Ability to prioritise a heavy workload, manage tasks simultaneously and perform effectively under pressure
- A lateral thinker, with a creative and flexible approach to work
- Willingness to “muck in” and be hands-on, even with the most tedious tasks
- Computer literate with excellent operational use of Microsoft Office suite
- Passionate about and committed to the environment, heritage and culture, as well as health/fitness, especially relating to the outdoors
* E: Essential. D: Desirable
Outline of Terms & Conditions:
Job title:PR Manager
Fixed term contract (until 30 November 2014)
Hours:40 hours per week plus 1 hour unpaid lunch worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday. Core hours of business are 10:00 to 16:00 with remaining working hours to be allocated before and or after this period based on the needs of the Foundation.
Due to the nature of the work of the Royal Parks Foundation, members of the team support each other in the delivery of events and activities when needed and, if required, provide cover for evening and / or weekend work. Please note the Royal Parks Foundation applies a “time off in lieu” policy.
Salary:£34-36,000per year pro rata, paid monthly
Probationary period:1 month
Notice period: 1 week during probationary period, 1 month thereafter
Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays pro rata
Pension:Eligible to join pension arrangements after 3 months
How to apply:
Please apply with CV and cover letter, linking your experience and skills to the Job Description and Person Specification, and explain why you want to work for the Royal Parks Foundation. Please email your application to:
Deadline for applications: midnight, Sunday 26thJanuary 2014
The Royal Parks Foundation is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer