Senior Press Manager

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Press Manager to join us on a 12 month Fixed-Term contract from January 2025.

Glyndebourne is committed to delivering the highest quality proactive and reactive media communications to spotlight our seasonal priorities and play a crucial role in establishing Glyndebourne's long-term strategic positioning in the public sphere.

The Senior Press Manager is instrumental in achieving this vision by working as part of an integrated marketing and communications team. This role leads the planning, development, and execution of press and PR campaigns to generate impactful media coverage that aligns with our strategic, audience, and sales goals.

The successful candidate will excel at fostering strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and actively contributing to the overall effectiveness of the communications department.

Reporting to the Head of Marketing, the role includes leadership responsibility for two direct reports, guiding them in the effective execution of media campaigns.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategy and planning:

• Lead the strategic design and delivery of press and PR campaigns that effectively highlight Glyndebourne's brand and support audience development, sales growth, and overall strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the Head of Marketing to create comprehensive media plans, with clear objectives, timelines, and success metrics.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets for all press and PR campaigns, ensuring alignment with Glyndebourne's broader strategic vision.
• Identify innovative opportunities for media engagement, including new channels and audiences, to broaden the reach and impact of press activities.
• Develop tailored media strategies for different aspects of the company's work-performances, outreach, events, and digital content-to ensure a nuanced approach for each audience.
• Partner with the Director of Audiences to devise and implement a robust crisis communications strategy, ensuring readiness and responsiveness for any emerging situations.
• Conduct proactive horizon scanning of industry trends, and competitor activity within the wider opera and performing arts sector, and present recommendations to senior leadership for proactive positioning.
• Develop detailed risk assessment protocols for handling potentially sensitive stories, ensuring mitigation of negative impacts and proactive reputation management.
• Maintain and safeguard Glyndebourne's corporate image and brand integrity by engaging directly with media to correct inaccuracies, challenge misconceptions, and articulate consistent messaging.

Media relations:

• Cultivate and expand Glyndebourne's network of relationships with a diverse range of media contacts, including mainstream, specialist, national, and international outlets, as well as key digital influencers.
• Manage and strengthen relationships with established media partners, identifying areas for growth and joint initiatives that could extend Glyndebourne's media footprint.
• Oversee the daily running of a highly responsive, service-focused press office, ensuring all media enquiries are handled in a time-sensitive manner, with professionalism and attention to detail.
• Produce and oversee the creation and distribution of high-quality media materials, including press releases, thought leadership articles, case studies, Q&As, briefings, and other collateral, ensuring all outputs are on-message, creative, and timely.
• Spearhead proactive media pitching, from conceptualising story ideas to overseeing their execution, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Prepare, coach, and provide thorough media briefings to senior staff, and as appropriate, with artists and talent, ensuring effective delivery of key messages and media preparedness.
• Oversee the planning, organisation, and execution of press events-including conferences, previews, and exclusive media opportunities-to generate coverage and further stakeholder engagement.

Monitoring & evaluation:

• Develop and oversee comprehensive monitoring and evaluation processes for press campaigns, ensuring data-driven assessments that inform broader communication strategies.
• Lead the analysis of media coverage, providing detailed reports that assess campaign performance against KPIs, and draw insights to enhance future efforts.
• Stay informed on the latest tools, technology, and best practices in media monitoring and reporting, advising the communications department on how these can be integrated to improve effectiveness and transparency.

Department support:

• Act as a key connector between marketing, audience insight, and digital media teams, driving a fully integrated approach that aligns media efforts with overarching campaigns and decision-making processes.
• Participate actively in communications team activities, contributing to brainstorming sessions, planning meetings, budgeting and cross-functional initiatives.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and development support for direct reports, fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring they are equipped with the tools and skills to succeed.
• Offer additional coverage and support to the Head of Marketing and Director of Audiences, as well as junior team members, including deputising in meetings, project oversight, and other responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in developing and implementing press and PR campaigns across multiple channels, preferably within the arts & culture sector.
• Excellent knowledge of the media landscape, preferably with a strong network of media contacts relevant to Glyndebourne's work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including copywriting.
• Influencing skills, with the proven ability to work with stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent relationship management skills with the ability to manage partner relationships.
• Excellent planning & project management skills with good attention to detail and ability to prioritise and meet demanding deadlines.
• Experience and knowledge of campaign evaluation methods.
• Experience in managing a team.
• An interest in the Arts including Opera.

Hours of Work

The contractual hours of work are 35 hours per week 9:30am - 5:30pm Monday - Friday with a one hour lunch break. Due to the nature of this role you will be required to work out of hours and weekends, especially during the Festival period (May - August).

Salary and Benefits

We can offer a salary of up to £40,000 per annum dependent on experience.

We offer 33 days (6.6 weeks) holiday inclusive of bank holidays, per annum, pro rata.

We can offer a beautiful working environment and the opportunity to see world class opera. For those without their own transport we have a free minibus service to and from Lewes railway station.

We also offer:

• Free Pilates and Zumba classes, once a week
• An onsite Physiotherapist
• Subsidised electric car charging
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Subsidised dining at our onsite restaurants
• Free tea and coffee
• Discount at the Glyndebourne shop
• Free on-site parking
• Free minibus service to and from Lewes train station and Ringmer
• Discount at various highstreet retailers through the Glyndebourne benefits hub

How to Apply

Glyndebourne is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a Registered Charity. We promote equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply for vacancies, including ethnically diverse and disabled candidates, who are currently under-represented in our workforce.

To help us monitor the effectiveness of our commitment to diversity and inclusion and our supporting policies and procedures, we ask all job applicants to complete our anonymised and confidential Equal Opportunities monitoring form.

Please then apply by submitting your CV and covering letter.

The closing date for applications is Midday on Thursday 14 November, with first stage interviews to be held online on Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 20 November.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for our vacancies. If relevant to you, please inform us of this in your covering letter. If you have any questions in relation to this please contact a member of the HR team.

Glyndebourne commits to protecting your privacy. We will only use information about you in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and other relevant legislation and regulations. Please see more information in our Company Privacy Notice on our website.