Senior Media Relations Lead, Mercer

Company: MMC Corporate

Description:

We are seeking a talented individual to join our UK External Affairs & Media Relations team at Marsh McLennan (MMC). This role will be based in London. This is a hybrid role that has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

Senior Media Relations Lead, Mercer

You will be responsible for developing and implementing media strategies across Mercer’s business in the UK, working in close collaboration with the marketing team to align all go-to-market activity with our key business priorities. You will be the lead point of contact for crisis communications for the business, acting as the spokesperson for Mercer to national media, and you will deputise for the Head of External Affairs and Media Relations as required.

Working with the UK marketing team and the UK CMO, you will build and deliver industry and theme specific media campaigns across the UK Marsh McLennan business, leading a team of PR experts across the firms to achieve this.

The ideal candidate for this position is a confident and proven adviser to the c-suite, with a strong network of relationships with senior journalists in the tier one and broadcast press. You should be a self-starter, with exceptional writing skills and a proven track record of creative campaigning. People management experience would also be an advantage.

We will count on you to:

1. Be the lead media adviser to the C-suite for Mercer’s UK business, developing long-term media relations plans aligned with commercial priorities. Provide strategic counsel to leadership on reputational issues and lead crisis communications as the firm’s spokesperson.
2. Collaborate with the UK marketing team and the UK CMO on go-to-market activities and build strong internal client relationships.
3. Determine public relations objectives, identify opportunities to enhance the business profile, and drive innovation within the team.
4. Deliver presentations for firm-wide meetings, write high-quality press materials, and manage relationships with key reporters.
5. Monitor news for relevant issues, ensure compliance with media relations policies, and coach colleagues for press interviews.
6. Lead communications strategies for UK M&A activity, vet speaking engagements, and analyze media coverage for leadership.
7. Prepare budgets and mentor junior staff. Deputise for the Head of External Affairs as needed.

What you need to have:

1. A passion for news and possess exemplary storytelling and messaging skills. A trusted advisor to leadership, enjoy leading teams, and be confident working both autonomously and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
2. Significant financial services experience, either in senior media relations or journalism, or a related role.
3. A wide existing network of relationships with senior journalists in the tier one and broadcast press, with direct relevance to Mercer and Marsh McLennan.
4. Ability to quickly grasp technical details and communicate them concisely for the media.
5. Effective prioritisation and multitasking skills in dynamic and challenging situations.
6. Ability to lead a cross functional team, collaborate effectively and take individual responsibility for outcomes.
7. Exceptional communication, presentation and writing skills and a proven track record of creative campaigning, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively across all levels of the business.
8. Proven experience in managing reputational risk and providing strategic advice.
9. Strong attention to detail.

What makes you stand out:

1. Proven adviser to the C-suite with people management experience.
2. Crisis communications and M&A experience.

Why join our team:

1. We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
2. We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
3. Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $23 billion and more than 85,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X. Marsh McLennan is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age background, civil partnership status, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments in accordance with applicable law to any candidate with a disability to allow them to fully participate in the recruitment process. If you have a disability that may require reasonable adjustments, please contact us at reasonableaccommodations@mmc.com. Marsh McLennan is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh McLennan colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.