Media Relations Manager

Looking for a new challenge and thrive on delivering fast, impactful work? To help tell our story, we need communications that showcase the positive impact Newham Council is making in one of London’s most diverse boroughs, to Building a Fairer Newham.

As a Media Relations Manager within our newly restructured Communications, Policy and Impact directorate, you will be responsible for protecting, building, and enhancing the reputation of Newham Council by providing strategic communications advice, liaising with the media, and providing a proactive and reactive media relations service for the Council.

You should have excellent communication skills, a strong news sense, and excellent judgment – and the ability to keep a cool head when working under pressure. This role requires a minimum of two days per week in our main London office and is very much not a 9 to 5 role. Some travel will be required, and you will manage the communications input to and be part of the Council’s out of hours emergency planning rota.

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

About Us: The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with bus, tube, and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens, it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport, which serves major European cities, is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.