Senior Media Officer

Senior Media Officer

Contract: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract, Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary: £39,358 - £41,325 per annum with excellent benefits

Location: London, UK

Hybrid Working: A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in London office, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid.

About WaterAid:

WaterAid delivers proactive data-driven stories on the global water crisis, creates impactful media stunts and campaigns, and responds to breaking news such as flooding events and disease outbreaks. The role of a Senior Media Officer at WaterAid is varied and exciting. If you have sound news judgement, a creative approach to PR, excellent writing skills and are passionate about making a difference to people's lives across the globe, this could be the role for you.

This role will be pivotal in delivering high impact, high profile UK and global media coverage for upcoming priority advocacy moments and public engagement campaigns, as well as supporting the day to day running of a reactive press office function.

About the Team:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Press Officer to join our team on a 12 month contract. This role will involve close collaboration with our UK teams, country and regional offices, as well as managing relationships with external partners and stakeholders.

This is a full-time, Monday to Friday role. You will be expected to take part in our out of hours press office rota approx. every 8 weeks, and international travel may be required from time to time.

About the Role:

You will ideally have newsroom or busy press office or agency experience, work well under pressure, and be full of creative media ideas. As a news driven, creative and ambitious Senior Media Officer, you will lead on a wide range of media activities including timely statements, ground-breaking research reports, fundraising appeals and events, and key policy and advocacy moments.

You will also work on projects with celebrity ambassadors, corporate partners and staff from across WaterAid's global federation - all in support of WaterAid's mission to change normal for millions of people living without water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

You will drive, develop and implement proactive and reactive media strategies, use your warm media contacts and build new contacts to achieve organisational communications objectives, including increasing awareness of the global water and sanitation crisis as well as our work around the world and our policy, fundraising and campaigning activities.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Write audience centric media strategies for advocacy research and reports and campaigns.
• Build and ensure effective media relations by establishing and nurturing relationships with key journalists and media outlets.
• Ensure a responsive, agile news desk and respond to enquiries on key issues.
• Draft and distribute first class media materials, including press releases, media messages, statements, op-eds and thought leadership pieces.
• Integrate media activity across communications and the wider communications and fundraising directorate.
• Advise WaterAid staff up to the Chief Executive using your media expertise.
• Build on and maintain excellent relationships with teams across the organisation and in countries where we work.
• Help drive WaterAid's online media work and engage with bloggers, online journalists and social media influencers.
• Evaluate and report back on key campaigns to the team and rest of the organisation.
• Brief journalists on and off the record, arrange radio and TV interviews where necessary.
• Join the 24/7 on-call rota.

About You:

• Proven experience in media relations, working in a busy press office, agency or as a journalist.
• Experience of working in a large, matrix organisation.
• Experience of liaising with journalists of all levels.
• Strong understanding of the UK and global media landscape.
• Proven experience in launching policy and research reports.
• Proven experience on working on public engagement and supporter focused media.
• Excellent command of written English and editing skills.
• Experience in developing and executing media strategies.
• Initiative, deadline driven, strong project management skills.
• Willing to travel within and outside of the UK infrequently.
• Creativity and tenacity.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Although not essential, we also prefer you to have:

• Experience running events with media audiences.
• Experience of working on international issues.
• Good understanding of social media.
• Experience of working with corporate partners.

Closing date: Applications will close 23:59 on Wednesday 20th November, 2024.

How to Apply: Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format.

Pre-employment screening: In order to apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK. All our vacancies require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Our Benefits:

• 36 days' holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays).
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave.
• Generous pension plan with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Wide range of flexible and agile-working arrangements.
• Season Ticket Loan.
• Free annual eye tests.
• Pay as You Give charitable giving scheme.
• Enhanced Maternity and Adoption/Surrogacy pay.
• Sabbaticals.
• Volunteer Day.

Our Commitment:

WaterAid is committed to ensuring safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring work.

Equal opportunities: We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Safeguarding: We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust and take our responsibilities extremely seriously.