Media and PR Manager

About the role

The Motability Foundation is looking for a confident, driven media and PR professional to join the Communications team and lead our media and PR activity.

This a really exciting time to be joining the Foundation as we embark on our new strategy in 2025. With a recently refreshed new brand, our vision is clear, we want to help disabled people make the journeys they choose. This role will play a crucial part in our work to raise awareness of the work of the Motability Foundation and amplify the voices of disabled people across the media.

This role will take a lead on all media and PR activities. With a strong news sense, you’ll help develop and execute forward-thinking PR plans and strategies for the organisation, manage our external profile and raise awareness of the work we do, aligned to our vision.

If you are a proactive and motivated media and PR individual looking for an exciting new challenge within a friendly, flexible, and supportive team, then this could be the role for you!

What you’ll be doing

• Implement and manage a comprehensive and proactive PR activity schedule for the Foundation, crafting compelling content to entice journalists and the media to support our work.
• Act as the main point of contract for all media and press activity. You’ll oversee the day-to-day running of the Motability Foundation press office, providing an efficient service that makes the most of reactive and proactive media opportunities and builds our reputation with the media.
• Develop and foster strong relationships with key media outlets in the sector and journalists, broadcasters and editors to secure coverage that helps to influence key decision makers and engage our audiences in our work.
• Scan effectively for breaking news stories relevant to our areas of work.
• Produce press releases, and secure coverage using media surveys/polls.
• Working with colleagues in public affairs and our Performance and Innovation team, take a lead on proactive media activity around our policy, campaigns and research activity.
• You will work closely with our Case Study Executive to ensure we have the right stories for use in media work.
• Scan for areas of reputational risk and support the Senior Press and PR Manager with preparing for and handling reputational risk.
• Lead on crisis media enquiries and messaging, implementing the necessary checks and actions to protect the Foundation’s reputation and brand.
• Brief and train key spokespeople, developing key messaging and Q&As.
• Analyse and report on media activity for internal teams, external partners and our board, including leading on relevant reports to committees.
• Manage the press and PR budget.
• While this role doesn’t have any line management responsibilities currently, you will nevertheless be expected to support other members of the team on an informal basis.

What will make you great in this role?

You will have a strong track record of securing high profile media coverage, ideally for a national charity dealing in disability, health or social issues. You will have a great news sense and can confidently identify stories and make them work for different media outlets. You will have a flair for writing engaging copy, an eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to meeting deadlines. You will be used to briefing and supporting spokespeople to do media interviews and speaking opportunities.

You will be proactive and a strong team player as this role requires working closely with colleagues across the communications team and wider organisation. You will be able to take the lead in some areas and lend a hand in others. You will have great people skills and will be comfortable working with people from all walks of life, from your communications colleagues to our case studies to Directors and Board Members.

Your experience

Must haves:

• Expertise in media and PR. A strategic thinker with excellent project management and communication skills. Experience of working with journalists and media outlets, generating and securing strong relevant media coverage. Excellent news sense with extensive experience of producing effective and quick reactive news lines for breaking stories. The ability to develop excellent long-term media and PR strategies to deliver organisational objectives aligned to our vision. Strong judgement and experience of crisis communications. Excellent copy-writing skills and ability to influence.

Nice to haves:

• Experience working in the non-profit or disability sector. Experience of working with PR agencies.

Reporting lines and relationships

Reports to: Senior Press and PR Manager.

Key relationships: Senior Brand and Marketing Manager, Communications Business Partners, Chief Communications Officer, CEO, Case Study Executive

Direct reports: There may be potential line management responsibility in the future as the role evolves.

Extra Information

• The role is based in Harlow, Essex, at the Motability Foundation’s offices. They are easily commutable from London, just 30 minutes from Liverpool Street station or 18 minutes from Tottenham Hale station. There is a free minibus which brings staff from Harlow Town station to the office at specific times each day.
• We offer blended working within this role – with two days a week in the office or at key stakeholder meetings externally required.