Save the Children UK

The role of Save the Children UK’s Northern Ireland Senior Media Manager is exciting and impactful.

This role is based in Northern Ireland and is a part-time position – 3 days a week.

• Are you experienced as a news journalist or in media handling, and have a strong track record of success in obtaining media coverage in a variety of outlets?
• Have you developed and led media strategies to obtain significant and coverage that demonstratively meets organisational objectives?
• Do you have excellent working knowledge of the media environment in Northern Ireland and Ireland?
• Do you have experience shaping and implementing crisis and reputation management strategies?
• Do you have good contacts for generating news stories in Northern Irish and Irish outlets with news journalists, editors and wider media

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

About Us

Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

Job Purpose

Reporting directly to the Media Lead in Save the Children Scotland, you will be responsible for developing and leading on Save the Children’s media activity about our work in Northern Ireland, as well as achieving coverage for Save the Children’s wider work in the Northern Irish and Irish markets.

As a rights-based organisation, we are committed to anti-racism and actively opposed systemic oppression of any form. You will also support our commitment to celebrate diversity, challenge inequality, and build an inclusive environment for every one of our employees so we can better represent the children we protect.

Main Accountabilities

The NI Senior Media Manager’s key duties will be to:

• Develop and implement a media and communications plan for Northern Ireland and Ireland that will deliver proactive and reactive coverage in support of Save the Children’s fundraising and influencing objectives.
• Map, build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, commentators, opinion formers, bloggers and documentary makers in the Northern Irish and Irish markets.
• Generate ideas, develop partnerships and deliver public relations activity that maximise positive media coverage for our campaigns and fundraising appeals; including through the use of social and other digital platforms.
• Write compelling and hard-hitting media briefings and press releases focusing on Save the Children’s work in Northern Ireland, to influence policy makers and key stakeholders.
• Pitch stories and land coverage featuring Save the Children’s international work.
• Engage supporters and raise the profile of Save the Children in Northern Ireland by working with the rest of Save the Children, including Global Programmes, Humanitarian teams, Fundraising, Advocacy, and Media and Marketing departments.
• Cultivate and harness the skills and expertise of colleagues – especially programmes and policy teams in Northern Ireland – in our media and communications work, including by launching products like reports and coaching media spokespeople.
• Respond quickly to relevant breaking news in Northern Ireland to achieve cut through for policy calls.
• Produce high-quality copy for internal and external communication in Northern Ireland, and ensure brand compliance.
• Identify and support children and families to tell their stories in media and communications, ensuring that ethical standards and best practice are maintained at all times. This includes children and families supported by Save the Children in Northern Ireland, and those fundraising or campaigning for our work.
• Travel within the UK when required to meet, co-ordinate and plan with Save the Children colleagues
• Protect Save the Children’s reputation, developing and implementing crisis management media strategies and rebuttal as required.
• Advise on budget requirements and operate within the budget available.
• Perform such other tasks and responsibilities as may be required from time to time in order to ensure the smooth running of the team, cross departmental teams, the department and Save the Children.
• Act as a spokesperson for Save the Children when required.

Person Profile

You must have successful skills and experience in all of the following:

• Experience as a news journalist or in media handling
• A strong track record of success in obtaining media coverage in a variety of outlets. Experience should include strong examples of developing and leading media strategies to obtaining significant coverage that meets organistional objectives.
• Excellent working knowledge of the media environment in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
• Experience shaping and implementing crisis and reputation management strategies
• A sound grasp of what different media outlets want and an understanding of where to seek out news-worthy stories
• Good contacts for generating news stories with news journalists and wider media.
• Experience working to deadlines and working under pressure on a number of projects
• Experience of working within budget constraints.

Abilities

• Ability to operate within a predominantly administratively self-servicing environment.
• Ability to influence cross-organisationally to persuade others to a point of view.
• Ability to work fast, effectively and independently – including without immediate media and communications oversight.
• Ability to work at all levels of a large organisation, including with senior managers, children, young people and their families, and volunteers.
• Ability to summarise complex data (scientific, technical, economic) confidently and accessibly
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor to a range of audiences
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to set priorities and evaluate progress.

Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ways of Working:

Remote First – The majority of our roles can be performed remotely, however you may work from the office as often as you wish. Whilst you will be predominantly working from home, we may at times require you to come to your contracted office (up to 2-4 days per month or 6-8 days per quarter). Note: This will be agreed with your Line Manager and team. This is intended to be time spent on collaborating with colleagues and relationship building.

Flexible Working – We are happy to discuss flexible working options at interview.

Please note:

To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Save the Children UK