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Head of PR – Distribution
Location: hybrid working, minimum one day in the office per week (main locations Tunbridge Wells, Peterborough, Manchester and Portsmouth).
Role Purpose:
Having enjoyed a period of sustained growth, to support business demands we have a newly created senior role. Reporting to the Head of External Group Communications, the candidate will lead on the consumer PR activities, our insurance broker brands which include classic car, motorbike, motor, pet and motorhome.
This is a unique opportunity to be an integral part of an in-house communications team. No two days will be the same and the role benefits from considerable variation. The candidate will have autonomy to make the role their own. We are seeking an innovative, proactive, and creative team member, with excellent attention to detail and driven to succeed.
You will be supporting senior leaders and must be comfortable with all aspects of PR. This includes creating, developing and implementing strategic PR plans across the division, representing brands at journalist meetings, compiling media lists, writing press copy, briefing on journalist interviews and assisting in reactive communications and media complaints.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Lead on the consumer PR activities across the division, working with other team members in the Group External Communications team. You will be responsible for the creation and implementation of strategic PR plans that align with wider marketing and business objectives.
- Provide counsel and guidance to the leadership team on consumer PR activities.
- Secure online and print coverage in top tier and specialist consumer media for applicable brands. This can include:
1) Draft press releases and copy to promote and support business activity.
2) Write editorials, thought leadership articles and comments.
3) Pitch interviews with key personnel from the business, finding the right angle and ensuring the interviewee is briefed.
- Manage and strengthen consumer press relations advantageously with regular touchpoints and meetings with key journalists.
- Develop creative PR (one-off and campaigns) to support business activity and targets, including product launches, thought leadership articles and profile building.
- Proactively find stories within the business with regular touchpoints with key personnel.
- Be part of the External Communications team press office rota and have responsibility for actioning requests, including media complaints, on designated days.
- Research and evaluate new opportunities.
- Collaborate with the MI team to identify key customer trends as the basis of news releases and campaigns.
- Be ‘in the know’ regarding the current news agenda and put forward relevant, topical and proactive comment opportunities/angles to create positive media coverage. This can include planned relevant awareness days and news hijacking opportunities.
Key Skills and Knowledge:
- Multiple years of progressively more responsible positions in communications, with a consumer PR background.
- Experience in using media monitoring and press distribution platforms, such as Roxhill and Hype factors.
- Bachelors Degree in Communications or a related field required.
Essential Skills:
- Be an exceptional creative thinker; able to demonstrate being a hands-on communications expert who thrives on the creative process and written word.
- Strategic thinker; have a holistic approach about how other disciplines would complement PR plans.
- Ability to work flexibly and to tight deadlines when required.
- Strong and effective communicator – written and verbal.
- Demonstrate 100% attention to detail.
- Highly developed teamwork skills, enjoy working closely with other managers and team members within marketing and communications department, and across the group.
- Familiarity and skill with communications tools including written communications, marketing material, press and social media, and events.
- Ability to tailor communications to different audiences based on each brand.
