Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead on proactive press releases and draft reactive media comment relating to key government announcements, economic statistics and BCC research
• Develop proactive media plans as part of the broader communications strategy and campaign work
• Promote BCC policy positions and proactive outputs to media and key external stakeholders
• Organise broadcast opportunities and prepare briefs to support BCC spokespeople
• Develop digital content for external and internal purposes, aligned to our presswork, including filming videos, creating engaging social media content and updating the website
• Keeping on top of the news agenda and maintaining relationships with media contacts, to monitor upcoming announcements and areas for comment
• Work with colleagues at all levels internally across the Chamber Network to support them in media efforts, provide toolkits around proactive BCC messaging, share best practice, and field case study requests
• Identify, pitch and develop thought-leadership opportunities and draft opinion articles and letters to the editor from key spokespeople
• Compile and proof-read internal and external communications
• Flexible to be on-call for media relations outside of normal hours

Person Specification:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate to a wide variety of audiences
• Able to build strong, existing relationships with media contacts
• Digital skills and a strong social media interest
• Ability to make sound judgements, and understanding of what makes a good news story
• Knowledge of, or ability to develop knowledge of, important business-related issues across a range of policy areas
• Strong organisational and planning skills, and demonstrable experience of multi-tasking and prioritising work to fit with tight deadlines
• Attention to detail, good proof-reading skills and ability to adapt writing styles for different channels