Group Media Manager

We are recruiting for a Group Media Manager. This role has a crucial part to play in Nesta’s success, using the media as a key channel in building Nesta’s influence, profile and impact. Working as part of an expert communications team, you will plan and deliver media activity targeting policymakers and the wider policy and government communities, as well as specific practitioner groups or segments of the public. Your focus will be largely but not exclusively on our three missions; health, decarbonising heat, and early years. You will also work widely and flexibly on a range of broader topics, collaborating with experts across all of Nesta, as well as working with researchers and behavioural scientists at BIT.

You will take a flexible approach to media audiences, focusing on traditional and legacy media as key sources of influence but also leaning heavily into ‘newer’ outlets and platforms, ranging from policy podcasts to media startups and key Substack influencers, as essential routes to the audiences we need to reach and engage. This is a hands‑on role that combines the tactical delivery of media activity with the strategic planning that is required to build Nesta’s media profile, protect our reputation and position us as an organisation that is a world leader in driving innovation for social good.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead on the development and delivery of UK media plans that support the strategic objectives of Nesta and BIT.
• Work collaboratively to shape stories that involve a cross‑functional range of colleagues from disciplines including data science, design, behaviour science and policy and research.
• Actively seek out proactive opportunities to build our profile among journalists in our three mission areas (health, decarbonising homes, early years), as well as more generally.
• Work with colleagues at BIT to grow and build the reputation of the organisation as a world‑class research and innovation consultancy that uses a deep understanding of human behaviour to improve people’s lives.
• Accelerate our journey from a primarily legacy media‑focused media team to a hybrid model where ‘newer media’ is just as important, building relationships with these outlets, writers and broadcasters and securing high‑impact coverage.
• Monitor relevant breaking news stories and political and policy developments, identifying and quickly capitalising on relevant opportunities for Nesta’s missions and brand.
• Protect Nesta’s reputation, develop and implement crisis management media strategies and rebuttal as required.
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with key media and internal and external stakeholders, including taking the lead on managing and coordinating internal and external relationships to progress media stories, statements and positions, with often competing priorities and time pressure.
• Develop and maintain Nesta’s cohort of case studies across its consumer‑facing projects and services, building relationships with these contacts as advocates of Nesta’s mission goals.
• Ensure the smooth day‑to‑day running of the Nesta press office through developing shared resources and reporting key success metrics.
• Support colleagues in the Nesta communications team by guiding and supporting their media outreach, and by acting as a source of expert advice on media for the rest of the organisation.
• Covering media enquiries out of hours as and when required.
• Deputising for the senior media manager as and when required.

What we’re looking for:

• Professional media relations experience (essential): You will have proven experience of working in a busy press office (ideally a policy‑focused media team), with at least 80% of your time spent on media.
• A creative thinker and experienced writer and editor, you will have experience working on a variety of stories and you think cross‑channel.
• You have a solid understanding of how the media environment works, how it’s changing and what that demands from organisations like Nesta and BIT.
• Knowledge and understanding of the UK policy context (essential): You will have worked at the interface of communications and policy, possibly in government, a think‑tank, NGO or in the private sector.
• You will appreciate the pace, nuance and strategic thinking required to operate in a media team that is deeply connected across government, industry and practitioner groups.
• Excellent writing skills (essential): You will be a superb writer, capable of adapting your style across different channels to reach audiences in the most effective way.
• The ability to work quickly and flexibly in the role is important.
• You will be as comfortable advising on a longer‑term strategic project as you will be turning around flawless copy on a breaking news story.
• Project delivery skills (essential): You will have proven experience in delivering high‑impact communications campaigns from conception to delivery and evaluation.
• You can proactively plan and deliver work, identify and act on risks and find solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills (essential): You will have experience in applying these effectively to collaborate well with colleagues, build stakeholder relationships and develop partnerships.
• You bring with you a bank of trusted contacts and you are always looking to expand your range of trusted contacts across media.

As with all members of Nesta Group’s communications team, the post holder will be at their best working in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment with multiple projects and priorities. They will have a positive, can‑do attitude and a flexible approach, able to adapt to changing circumstances with good humour and an appetite for taking on new tasks and challenges. They will also have strong communication skills, the ability to write and edit content for different audiences and a proven ability in (or enthusiasm to learn) web publishing and the creation of simple communications products like social cards or videos.

What we offer:

• Salary £49,200 - £65,800 plus an array of benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more.
• Location Hybrid, with two days per week in the London office. We ask that our team attend the office on Tuesday and one other day of their choice.
• Term Full‑time, permanent.
• Hours 37.5 hours per week. Occasional out‑of‑hours work (evenings, weekends, and public holidays) will be required to fulfil the role.
• Flexibility This is a full‑time role, but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them.

Making an application:

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter before 8:00am on the 9th of March 2026. Interviews will take place w/c 23rd of March 2026.

About Nesta:

We are Nesta, a research and innovation foundation, using a powerhouse of applied methods to design, test and scale solutions for the biggest challenges of our time. Driven by a vision to improve the lives of millions of people, our focus up to 2030 is on three missions: breaking the link between family background and life chances, halving obesity and cutting household carbon emissions. We work with partners across the public, private and third sectors to develop high‑potential solutions and test them as they evolve, drawing on deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, data science, behavioural science and design.

Once confident in the effectiveness of a solution, we are relentless in the pursuit of scale. We create and make the case for ambitious national policy proposals, develop consumer‑facing products and services, spin out and support commercial ventures and harness the power of the arts to shape national narratives. We extend our impact through two specialised units that help others to solve complex problems and achieve their missions. BIT applies a deep understanding of human behaviour to help clients achieve their goals. Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society. Together, we are building a powerful ecosystem for innovation that delivers proven solutions to create lasting, positive change.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results. We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part‑time hours, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.