At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead media strategies to amplify the voice of young people and secure impactful coverage.
- Company: Join the Centre for Young Lives, dedicated to creating better futures for children.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, collaborative environment focused on innovation and impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping national conversations.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for social change.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Press & Communications Manager plays a central role in shaping and amplifying the voice of the Centre for Young Lives. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Strategy, you will lead proactive and reactive media activity, delivering high-impact strategies that raise awareness, influence policy debates, and secure high-quality coverage. You will develop compelling narratives from complex policy, research, and data, ensuring they connect with priority audiences across national, regional, and digital media. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will identify opportunities, produce standout content, and brief senior leaders for media engagement.
About the Centre for Young Lives: Founded by Baroness Anne Longfield, a former Children's Commissioner for England, the Centre for Young Lives exists to tackle systemic barriers and create better futures for children and young people. We want this country to be the best place to grow up and bring up children. We work with national and local leaders to remove barriers to opportunity and deliver innovative, evidence-led solutions that create lasting change. Our approach is rooted in collaboration, systems thinking, and amplifying the voices of children and young people.
What You'll Do:
- Develop and deliver media strategies that drive impactful coverage
- Build strong relationships with journalists and media stakeholders
- Secure high-quality coverage across print, broadcast, and digital channels
- Create compelling content, including social media/digital content, press releases, briefings, and opinion pieces
- Deliver integrated campaigns to maximise reach and influence
- Translate complex policy and research into clear, engaging narratives
- Manage media enquiries and brief senior spokespeople
- Monitor performance and use insights to strengthen impact
- Support crisis communications and issues management
What We're Looking For: We're looking for a driven and purpose-led communications professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated to make a meaningful impact for children and young people. You will bring strong news instinct and creativity, with the ability to spot and shape compelling stories quickly and effectively. You are a confident and credible communicator, comfortable advising senior leaders and representing the organisation with external stakeholders. You remain calm under pressure, exercising sound judgement in high-profile or time-sensitive situations. Collaborative by nature, you build strong relationships across teams and with external stakeholders, while staying adaptable and agile as priorities shift. Above all, you bring energy, determination, and a ‘can-do’ mindset, and you are relentlessly focused on securing impactful media coverage and driving positive change.
Why Join Us? Be part of a mission-driven organisation tackling systemic barriers for young people. Help shape national conversations on social innovation and systems change through evidence and insight. Deliver meaningful, lasting improvements to outcomes for children and young people in local communities.
As part of the package, you will also benefit from a generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8).
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Press & Communications Manager in London
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Centre for Young Lives. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Centre for Young Lives, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Centre for Young Lives inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Press & Communications Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Centre for Young Lives. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Centre for Young Lives.
How to prepare for a job interview at Centre for Young Lives
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
