PR & External Communications Manager

NCT, the National Childbirth Trust, is the UK’s charity for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. For nearly 70 years, we’ve been alongside women and parents, offering trusted information, practical support and building communities. We’re here for every parent, to help them feel confident, connected and safe. We are best known for our award-winning antenatal classes, but we also do much more. We campaign on issues that matter to parents, provide infant feeding support, and run thousands of free community events and activities led by our amazing volunteers. We also support families facing challenges like social isolation, feeding difficulties, and poor mental health. We offer support in communities, in hospitals and online. Last year we supported 250,000 parents on their unique journeys through pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, and early parenthood.

Role Purpose

To lead the day-to-day delivery of NCT’s external communications, including the operation of the press office, ensuring NCT’s voice is timely, clear and credible across media and public channels. The role is responsible for managing media relations, handling press enquiries and building strong relationships with journalists and key stakeholders to support the charity’s reputation, influence and impact. Working closely with the Head of Communications and Campaigns, the role supports the delivery of proactive and reactive communications activity, ensuring NCT responds confidently and effectively in a fast-moving and often sensitive external environment. The role also contributes to the development and delivery of consumer-facing communications, working closely with the Head of Marketing to identify opportunities to reach and engage parents through a broader range of channels, including digital-first media, influencers and partnerships. A key part of the role is identifying emerging issues and opportunities, using judgement and initiative to shape responses, propose approaches and ensure NCT is visible and relevant in external conversations. The role works closely with the Marketing & Growth Manager and Content Studio to ensure communications and content are aligned, coordinated and delivered effectively across channels. Success in the role depends on strong judgement, responsiveness and a proactive, solutions-focused approach, operating with a “see it, own it, solve it” mindset, taking ownership of media handling and external communications activity, and ensuring issues, opportunities and responses are progressed confidently without unnecessary escalation.

About your experience

• Demonstrable experience in leading and delivering external communications strategies integrated across owned and earned channels.
• Experience in managing proactive and reactive PR - demonstrable success in reputation and crisis management, both reactive and proactive.
• Extensive experience pitching media, managing a press desk, and cultivating relationships with journalists and editors across news and consumer press.
• Knowledge of UK political processes and the policy environment and parliamentary procedure.

About you

• Able to work autonomously and use own initiative.
• Collaborative and supportive within a small team.
• Creative, proactive and enthusiastic, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Adaptable to changing priorities and able to work calmly under pressure.
• Willing to be responsive and flexible, including occasional out-of-hours or reactive support.

We value our team and offer fantastic benefits to support your well-being and professional growth:

• 30 days annual leave (excluding Bank Holidays)
• Pension matched up to 5%
• Flexible working options to suit your family and lifestyle
• Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 GP access, personalised counselling, legal advice and more
• Life Assurance for peace of mind
• Free eye test for all staff, with further discounts
• Blue Light Discount Card

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

At NCT, we believe everyone should be able to shape their own journey - as parents, and as colleagues. We are taking positive action to increase diversity across our organisation, at all levels, and to nurture a culture of inclusion and belonging for all our people and for the parents and families we support. We are committed to zero discrimination, both internally and externally. This commitment applies regardless of visible or invisible difference, including (but not limited to): sex, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, disability, impairment, learning difference or long‑term condition, religion or belief, gender identity, economic class, marital or civil partnership status, family status (including single parents), socio‑economic background, pregnancy and maternity. We actively welcome applications from people from communities who are under-represented in our organisation and the charity sector more widely.

For supporting documents including the full JD, our recruitment pack and how to apply, please see the jobs board on our website.