Press Officer

Our client, is a public distance learning and Research University, and one of the biggest universities in the UK for undergraduate education.

The staff are committed to putting their students first and to supporting them to realise their potential. Study with the OU is more than just education - it is life changing learning, do you want to be part of this team?

They are looking to recruit an experienced Press Officer to join their Marcomms team, starting asap for 3 months, working 37hrs a week and paying £20.35ph, which equates to £39,152.00pa. This role will work from home and equipment will be supplied.

Our vision is to tell the OU's story to the world and inspire more people to benefit from life-changing learning. We need somebody who can craft narratives and key messages on a wealth of different stories and projects. Whilst this role requires you to deliver high impact external coverage for the OU, we are looking for somebody that can work across multiple channels delivering stories and content.

You can spot the story, working with others to extract the information, evidence and human stories to create powerful narratives and key messaging.

You will be responsible for delivering high impact and high value earned media coverage for the OU with our government and external affairs team, our business development unit, boosting leadership comms and showcasing philanthropic work amongst some of the required areas of comms support.

Skills and Experience required

Experience of a press office or journalistic environment. Generating stories, media handling processes and tactically placing stories with journalists and the media.

Can demonstrate a track record of turning around different and varied communications quickly across a range of channels.

Evidence of strong spoken and written interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to work quickly and accurately to tight deadlines producing written material which requires minimal input from senior colleagues.

Can navigate a complex organisation, prioritise and deliver with multiple stakeholders that have different objectives.

Experience of supporting senior leaders and spokespersons with briefings and tactics on handling the media so that key messages are prominent and landed in media coverage.

Demonstrate how relationships with the media and journalists have been crucial to land stories.

Can use industry recognised media monitoring platforms for evaluation, planning tools to find story hooks and journalist databases.

If this is the ideal role for you, please apply online or call Sophie Holmes or Angela Hoxley on 01908 246715 to discuss further and to receive the full job spec.