Senior Manager, Public Relations

Job DescriptionJob Title: Senior Manager, Public RelationsReporting to (Job Title): Managing Director, Corporate AffairsObjective of role: To develop and execute a high-impact, high-profile and targeted media engagement programme for TheCityUKDirect Reports: Public Relations ExecutiveKey Activities & ResponsibilitiesThis is a fast-paced externally-facing role working directly with senior internal and external colleagues and members. Working closely with the Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, the Senior Manager, PR is responsible for developing a high-profile, highly effective media relations and social media programme and manging its effective delivery. The programme should build awareness of TheCityUK, its priorities and expertise and enhance and protect its reputation.This role requires close engagement with the wider corporate communications team, other colleagues across the business and external stakeholders to ensure a timely and integrated approach to communications and the ongoing development and distribution through the media of relevant and current key messages.With oversight and support from the Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, develop and execute a PR programme for the organisation that aligns with its strategic goals and enhances/protects its reputation.Effectively manage the media relations programme and the press office function – forging and maintaining strong relationships with target media; proactively identifying opportunities to generate positive news, managing rapid response to incoming enquiries and relevant external announcements to ensure continued timely and positive coverage in target outlets.Build good relationships and ensure ongoing engagement with senior internal colleagues to develop and deploy messaging, in particular the Executive Committee and Senior Management Group - ensure awareness and understanding of business activities and the policy agenda to inform PR activity – and vice versa, ensure the wider business is aware of the PR strategy and ongoing media activity.Respond to enquiries from media promptly and with accuracy.Work in collaboration with the Senior Marketing Manager to further develop and execute an enhanced social media programme, using all relevant channels effectively, identifying and delivering opportunities for content generation, and ensuring we are promoting key business activities, initiatives and related news in the most engaging and timely manner and reaching relevant target audiences.Manage the day-to-day relationship with our PR agency and other relevant third-party suppliers – ensuring they are properly briefed and their work is effectively delivered to time, to high standards and within budget.Forge and manage relationships with key stakeholders at the City of London Corporation, major sector trade associations and other key groups, relevant government departments communications teams, and members (particularly PR representatives) to ensure effective delivery of activity and shared knowledge and mutual support as appropriate.Work closely and build good relationships with colleagues across the organisation.Support key spokespeople across the organisation to represent TheCityUK through the media by providing detailed briefings, attending interviews as required and ensuring the delivery of media training when required.Research, write, seek approval for and manage the distribution of media materials to targeted media. Content should be prepared to a high level.Deliver a strong, consistent programme of senior media dinner roundtable events in London, across the UK and overseas as appropriate.Effectively line manage the Communications Executive, ensuring they have clear objectives, an appropriate and diverse range of activities in line with their JD and are well supported and integrated into the PR programme, across the corporate communications team and wider organisation.Contribute to the drafting of ad-hoc materials such as internal communications, blogs, papers, web copy etc. as required.Attend TheCityUK events and those where TheCityUK spokespeople are appearing as appropriate to manage media-related activities (i.e. attending journalists, social media etc.).Support Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, and wider Leadership Team in managing associated PR for any crisis situation.Ensure the timely reporting of media coverage.Live and proactively endorse the organisation’s goals and values.Be available to address urgent media enquiries out of hours if and as required.Undertake other duties which may reasonably be requested and are commensurate with the post.Key Relationships & InterfacesInternal:Senior colleagues across TheCityUK, including the CEO, Executive Committee, Senior Management Group and project leads on relevant projectsCorporate Communication team colleaguesExternalJournalists and producers etc. from across the spectrum of target media outlets: print, online and broadcastExternal suppliers – including PR agency, research partners etc.PR contacts at member organisations as appropriate, counterparts at the major trade bodies (UK Finance, ABI, AFME, IA), the City of London Corporation and other relevant industry groups as appropriate etc.Counterparts and other relevant contacts at government departments, i.e. HMT, DBT, FCDO, MoJ etc.Person SpecificationStrong experience in a PR role in-house or agency, preferably in financial or professional services or within a trade/membership body.Experience in building and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholdersGood business and finance media contacts.Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills.Ability to identify news angles and be across the evolving news agenda.Experience in developing, managing and delivering effective social media activities – in particular through Twitter and LinkedIn.Line management experience would be helpful.Calm under pressure, personable, confident, diplomatic, respectful and quick to learn.Confident in dealing with stakeholders at all levels.Educated to degree level and/or relevant industry experience.Values at TheCityUKThese core set of values are essential for effective performance in our company and provides a common purpose as to how we deliver our work on a daily basis.RigourImpactAgilityRespectTeamworkTo find out more about our values and the standards of behaviour, please visit Our people and values | TheCityUKTo find out about our benefits, please visit Benefits | TheCityUKAbout TheCityUKTheCityUK is the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services. We champion and support the success of the ecosystem, and thereby our members, promoting policies in the UK and internationally that drive competitiveness, support job creation and enable long-term economic growth. The industry contributes 12% of the UK’s total economic output and employs over 2.4 million people – with two thirds of these jobs outside London across the country’s regions and nations. It pays more corporation tax than any other sector and is the largest net exporting industry. The industry plays an important role in enabling the transition to net zero and driving economic growth across the wider economy through its provision of capital, investment, professional advice and insurance. It also makes a real difference to people in their daily lives, helping them save for the future, buy a home, invest in a business and manage risk.To view our other current opportunities, please visit Careers | TheCityUKEqual OpportunityTheCityUK is committed to equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender.We are proud to be a disability confident committed employer and, as such, all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job as set out in the job description and person specification will be guaranteed an interview. Please advise at application stage or discuss in more detail at #####