PR & Communications Manager At ShelterBox

Role purpose:

Work closely with colleagues across the charity to lead powerful communications activities, raising awareness of the needs of people who have lost their home to disaster and supporting fundraising.

We need to ensure ShelterBox’s reputation is enhanced and protected in order to:

· raise awareness of ShelterBox’s vital work

· encourage audiences to support our work and

· position ShelterBox as a prominent expert in emergency shelter and international development.

Who are we looking for?

An experienced PR professional with an interest in international humanitarian issues.

You develop news stories, work with media and create headlines. You understand how stories are adapted for owned channels and have delivered strong integrated campaigns. You are also skilled at working with colleagues to develop organisational messaging.

Experience of working in a charity environment and supporting fundraising is desirable although not essential – it’s more important that you understand the elements that create a great story for media and have worked to secure coverage on a range of topics. You’ve worked on projects dealing with serious issues as well as lighter, inspiring stories.

You write well and can produce comments and thought pieces in reaction to the news agenda. You are able to take complex issues and create short, impactful, and easy to understand messaging in line with organisational tone of voice.

Disasters often strike with little notice, so you need to enjoy sometimes working in a very fast pace environment, manging multiple priorities against tight deadlines. Occasional out-of-hour flexibility will be needed during these times.

You are a natural collaborator, embracing accountability and professionalism.

Occasional travel to the countries we work in may be possible when travel restrictions allow.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

PR Lead

• Lead a wide variety of communications and PR projects to raise awareness of the needs of people who have lost their homes to disaster.
• Be a role model of excellence in delivering quality output and integrated working across the Communications & PR team, Brand & Content team, Fundraising and teams across the organisation.
• Be comms and PR subject matter expert and focal point for fundraising and response projects, supporting the organisation with messaging, guidance and advice.
• Optional occasional travel with a response team to countries were ShelterBox works, to find and manage media opportunities and coach spokespeople. Additional training will be provided.

Project planning, delivery, evaluation

• Develop, manage and deliver PR and communications activities to create news and engage and grow audiences across owned and earned channels.
• Offer creative ideas and lead the creative planning process for communications activities – for both fundraising and our operational work.
• Work with communications colleagues (social, web, digital marketing, artist liaison, brand and content) to deliver integrated campaigns.
• Ensure resources are ready to roll-out when major disasters happen – including comms plans, media lists, trained spokespeople, quotes and other resources.
• Produce excellent written materials, plans and copy, ensuring messaging is consistent and powerful.
• Work and manage external agencies, holding them to account on results – from sourcing and organising agency pitches, through to day-to-day management.
• Ensure PR and communications activity is evaluated to determine success and improve performance.

Media management

• Identify, develop and maximise media opportunities for ShelterBox across national and regional, print, digital, and broadcast media, resulting in positive coverage for ShelterBox.
• Ensure messaging is consistent and opportunities are maximised.
• Sell-in stories and respond to media enquiries.
• Prepare and use a variety of high quality, effective PR tolls including press releases, quotes and comments, features, blogs and photo opportunities.
• Prepare messaging and briefings for spokespeople for interviews and events.
• Work closely with the Head of Global PR & Communications, Directors of Fundraising and Communications, and the Executive Team on issues and crisis comms.

Relationships management and development

• Identify, develop and maintain great relationships with relevant journalists.
• Develop strong working relationships with people within the organisation, within Fundraising, the Operations team and our International Affiliate network.
• Develop strong working relationships with supporting agencies and freelance support.