At a Glance
- Tasks: Craft compelling stories and secure impactful media coverage for a leading pet charity.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a top UK national pet charity with a passion for animal welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday, wellbeing support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working and a supportive team environment await you.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while enhancing your media skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in media relations or journalism, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 33000 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 12 July 2026
Department: Fundraising, Comms & Engagement
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Part Time
Location: Manchester
Reporting To: Head of Media Relations
Compensation: £26,000 - £33,000 / year
Description
Contract: Part time, 6 month FTC (14 hours per week, Wednesday and Thursday)
Salary: £34,122 – £36,000 per annum plus £3,954 London Weighting Allowance if based in London (pro rata)
Location: Burford, Manchester or London
Closing date: Sunday 12 July 2026
Interview date: 23 & 24 July 2026
Do you have a passion for storytelling, a strong news sense and the drive to secure impactful media coverage? If so, this could be the role for you! We’re looking for a Media Officer to join our Communications team, where you will play a key role in raising the profile of Blue Cross as a leading UK national pet charity. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver meaningful media coverage, enhance brand awareness, and communicate the breadth of our work to a wide audience.
More about the role
- Working with the Head of Media, you will support forward planning and delivery of the media strategy, identifying compelling stories and responding to the news agenda.
- You will work across the organisation to uncover stories, support colleagues with media best practice, and ensure PR activity is creative, timely and impactful.
- You will also help protect the charity’s reputation, responding to media enquiries and ensuring consistent messaging across channels, integrating activity across PR, digital and social media.
What you will be doing
- Supporting forward planning and delivery of the media strategy
- Spotting and developing internal and external news stories
- Responding proactively to breaking news and pet welfare issues
- Managing media enquiries effectively and to deadline
- Championing Blue Cross brand purpose across PR activity
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists
- Working with colleagues across the organisation, including senior leaders, volunteers and supporters, to maximise story reach
- Liaising with rehoming centres, veterinary teams, shops, fundraising and education teams to identify stories and share best practice
- Organising press visits, media events and filming
- Participating in the out of hours media rota
- Representing Blue Cross within sector media groups
About you
You will be a confident and proactive media professional who is comfortable working independently and advising colleagues on PR best practice. You will have strong organisational skills and be able to manage multiple priorities, remaining calm under pressure and adapting to changing deadlines. With a creative and results driven approach, you will understand how PR activity integrates with digital and wider marketing channels. You will be a strong communicator, able to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and act as an ambassador for the media function. You will also be a supportive team player, contributing positively to shared goals and helping others to deliver high quality outcomes.
Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Experience in a media relations, PR agency or journalism role
- Proven ability to spot and respond to breaking news opportunities and develop national stories
- Experience contributing to creative PR campaigns
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Strong relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience managing photo calls and directing filming activity
- Experience briefing and supporting media spokespeople
- Experience using celebrity engagement to secure media coverage
- Experience integrating social media and digital opportunities into PR activity
- Ability to demonstrate understanding and application of Blue Cross values
Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Experience of reputation management
- Experience managing external agencies
- Experience working in the charity sector
- Knowledge of animal welfare issues and the wider sector
How to apply
To apply for this role, please submit your application through our careers site and answer the application questions, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today. In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
Media Officer - part time, 6 month FTC in Radcliffe employer: Blue Cross For Pets
Blue Cross is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a generous benefits package including extensive holiday entitlement, health support, and professional development opportunities. With a collaborative work culture based in Manchester, employees are encouraged to contribute creatively to impactful media strategies while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements. Join us in making a meaningful difference in animal welfare as part of a passionate team dedicated to storytelling and brand advocacy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Media Officer - part time, 6 month FTC in Radcliffe
✨Dive into Local PR Events
Get yourself to any local PR meetups or networking events in your area. These gatherings are perfect for making connections with professionals in the field, and you never know who might have a lead on a part-time gig with companies like Blue Cross For Pets!
✨Leverage Social Media
PR is all about visibility, so show off your skills on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn. Share insights on current trends, engage with industry leaders, and tag companies you admire, like Blue Cross For Pets. It’s a great way to catch their eye and demonstrate your knowledge.
✨Volunteer for PR Projects
Look for opportunities to volunteer in PR roles, even if they’re unpaid. It’s a great way to get hands-on experience, build your portfolio, and make professional connections that could lead to part-time openings.
✨Tap into University Resources
If you're currently at uni, check on your career services for part-time PR opportunities. Many larger companies, including Blue Cross For Pets, keep an eye out for budding talent at universities. They might even have exclusive listings just for you!
We think you need these skills to ace Media Officer - part time, 6 month FTC in Radcliffe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Make Your Passion Shine Through:In your cover letter, we want to see why you're into public relations! Share what draws you to the field and any relevant experiences, even if they're volunteer gigs or university projects. Show us your enthusiasm, and don't hold back on your stories!
Showcase Your Writing Skills:PR is all about strong communication! Include samples of your writing—whether that’s press releases, blog posts, or social media content—in your application. If you have a portfolio or something similar, definitely attach it. This is where you can truly demonstrate your flair for captivating content.
Tailor Your CV to the PR World:When crafting your CV, highlight any relevant coursework or projects that demonstrate your understanding of PR concepts. Include any internships, volunteer work, or even part-time roles where you had to communicate effectively or manage public relations tasks—this will help us see your fit for the role at Blue Cross For Pets.
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a part-time role, make sure to mention your availability clearly in your application. Are you a student juggling classes, or do you have other commitments? Being upfront about your schedule helps us plan better and shows that you’re considerate of our needs too. We want to find a mutually beneficial arrangement!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross For Pets
✨Know Your Buzzwords
Public relations is all about communication, so make sure you're up-to-date with the latest buzzwords and trends in the industry. Brush up on terms like 'media relations', 'stakeholder engagement', and 'crisis management', as they might come up in conversation with Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
As you're applying for a part-time role, it’s crucial to showcase your past work. Prepare a portfolio with examples of press releases, media kits, or campaigns you've contributed to. This tangible evidence of your skills can set you apart and demonstrate your hands-on experience to Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions, like handling a PR crisis or managing a challenging client relationship. Think about past experiences where you've had to think on your feet, as these reflective examples will show your problem-solving abilities and how you work under pressure.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Since it's a part-time role, make sure to emphasise your availability and how you can fit into Blue Cross For Pets's schedule. Speak about your ability to manage multiple projects or juggle responsibilities, as the PR environment is fast-paced and needs someone who can adapt quickly.
