Communications Manager in Chester

Join our team as a Communications Manager. Chester Race Company are pleased to present an excellent opportunity for a dedicated professional to join our Marketing Team as a Communications Manager. This permanent position, based in the heart of Chester, will be responsible for shaping and delivering a comprehensive communications strategy across all divisions of Chester Race Company. The position plays a key role in strengthening the organisation's reputation, elevating its profile, and building advocacy through integrated media relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, and effective messaging.

Reporting directly to the Head of Marketing and Communications, the successful candidate will bring creative, impactful and forward-thinking ideas, with the ability to plan strategically, execute confidently, and deliver measurable results.

General Responsibilities include:

• Communications Strategy
  • Strengthen the reputation and visibility of all Chester Race Company divisions.
  • Create impactful storytelling that engages diverse audiences and reinforces our presence across the racing, sports and local communities.
  • Act as the company's communications lead, advising senior leaders on messaging and reputation management.
• Media & Public Relations
  • Serve as the primary press contact and maintain strong relationships with media stakeholders.
  • Secure high-quality coverage through well-targeted, audience-appropriate messaging.
  • Lead crisis communications and deliver timely, accurate responses to protect the brand.
• Digital & Content
  • Oversee communications across all owned digital channels and deliver engaging and effective multimedia content.
  • Monitor and respond to online conversations to enhance and safeguard the company's reputation.
• Internal & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build strong relationships with key partners and sponsors and leverage influencers and ambassadors to extend reach.
• Measurement & Reporting
  • Set and track communications KPIs, providing regular insight-led reports to senior leadership.

Essential requirements:

• Proven experience in a communications role, ideally managing multiple brands.
• Strong track record of building and maintaining relationships with media contacts and senior stakeholders.
• Experience in developing and delivering communications strategies and plans.
• Background in working with press, broadcast and wider media partners.
• Degree-level qualification, or equivalent experience, in journalism, media or a related field.

Desirable requirements:

• Experience working closely with senior management, including briefing and liaising with board members.
• Understanding of the racing industry, racecourses or wider sports sector.
• CIPR qualification or equivalent professional accreditation.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent communicator – Clear, confident written and verbal skills.
• Strategic mindset – Able to think and plan strategically.
• Professional spokesperson – Represents the organisation with credibility.
• Creative and innovative – Generates fresh ideas and impactful content.
• Calm under pressure – Delivers high-quality work to tight deadlines.
• Strong organiser – Skilled in project coordination and media management.

About Chester Race Company: Chester Race Company Ltd is one of the North West's best-known and most-admired brands. It is an evolving organisation with a broad portfolio but retaining Horseracing at its core. The Company operates three racecourses, Chester, Bangor-on-Dee and Musselburgh, in Scotland. At Chester, we also own and operate a hotel, a vibrant pub and have other property interests in the city. Not to mention our in-house caterers, Horseradish and our staffing brand – Thyme People. With that much diversity in our business, no two days are the same.

What we offer:

• Enhanced employer pension contribution (7%).
• Medical cash plan (Medicash individual).
• Opt-in to our Private Medical Insurance scheme, currently via Aviva.
• 31 days holiday per year, inclusive of bank holidays.