External Communications and Media Relations Manager

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base. In the UK, we offer Wholesale Banking services, including lending, financial markets and corporate finance. Our Communications and Brand Experience team oversees client events, sponsorships, internal and external communications with the aim of raising the profile of the UK business among stakeholders and ensuring messages are consistent with ING’s global positioning and standards. This role is based in the UK and works in close collaboration with the UK and Middle East business and external relations and media relations colleagues around the globe.

Main Duties and Responsibilities of Role

• Works proactively and closely with the UK and Middle East business to identify trends and news opportunities, particularly related to our sustainability ambitions and sector approach.
• Writes internal briefings, makes press analyses, writes bulletins, statements and scenarios.
• Proactively manages the ING UK LinkedIn account, generating weekly content.
• Monitors and evaluates PR efforts within area of responsibility, including social channels.
• Maintains and promotes policies and guidelines.
• Coordinates and prepares general and specific media training programmes.
• Acts as intermediary between ING and communication agencies and media trainers where applicable.
• Briefs and supports the agencies and trainers.
• Pro-actively and reactively maintains a network of contacts with media.
• Organises regular press briefings and other engagement opportunities including roundtables/webinars, leveraging our differentiators and business strategy.
• Negotiates with journalists on conditions for interviews and negotiates with photo and film crews about recordings in company buildings.
• Proactively manages communications planning and looks for speaking opportunities most relevant to our spokespeople and business.
• Finds ways to tell the story of ING’s culture and position the bank as an employer of choice in the City of London.
• Manages our partnerships with external bodies across financial services, City of London and sustainability organisations, working with our network of relationship holders.
• Plays a role in fostering cross border collaboration with peers across our international network and is a member of UK forums, including our crisis response team.

Candidate Profile

• Qualification/Education: Degree level qualification in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or a related field.
• Experience/Knowledge: A minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in a similar role, including experience working with financial media organisations in the UK.
• Experience of media relations planning and campaign execution, social media monitoring, writing press releases and internal briefings and analysis.
• Experience of financial services and/or banking communications.
• Proactive, self-starter, strong communications skills, flexibility, experience in building relationships with key stakeholders, attention to detail, delivers to deadline, works well as part of a team.