Press Officer - Transport for London

TfL’s award-winning Press Office is looking for a creative and proactive Press Officer to join this supportive and collaborative team. As a well-known and much-loved heritage brand that touches the lives of people in a way no other organisation does, public and political scrutiny of TfL is always high, and no two days in the Press Office are the same.

You will have a passion for public relations and a nose for news and will play a key part in cementing TfL as the green heartbeat of the capital. You will effectively and efficiently manage media issues, protect TfL’s reputation and promote public transport, cycling, walking and its green initiatives. You will have a role in developing and delivering engaging PR campaigns and supporting other communications channels with their public messaging.

This is an exciting and challenging opening with development opportunities for someone who can enhance TfL’s reputation through:

• Creating engaging news releases and pitching news and feature stories to national, consumer, regional and trade press and broadcast media.
• Designing and delivering creative PR campaigns, amplifying large-scale cross-channel communications and supporting compelling social media content.
• Proactively promoting the work of TfL to media by identifying positive PR opportunities, responding quickly and sensitively to negative or critical news stories to protect TfL's reputation.
• Arranging media visits and preparing spokespeople for interviews.
• Identifying and preparing for issues that have the potential to adversely affect TfL’s reputation.
• Building effective relationships with a broad range of people, from senior management and frontline colleagues, to external partners and brands and skilful at developing positive relationships with journalists across all media.
• Being the first point of contact for media on issues affecting TfL’s reputation.
• Confidently taking part in a rota providing media with out-of-hours service (evenings and weekends).

You will be an energetic, positive and creative communications professional, who has:

• Proven sustained experience and success in planning, co-ordinating and delivering PR campaigns for a range of audiences and writing for large audiences.
• At least a year’s experience in a busy and high-profile media environment, and of handling questioning from journalists on deadline.
• A good knowledge of the media landscape and knowledge of current PR techniques, including best practice of visual and copy-led media.
• High-quality written and verbal communication skills.
• The talent to create compelling PR campaigns, news stories and visual content.
• The flexibility to work collaboratively, prioritise own workload, react to fast-paced events and the judgement to escalate issues when needed.
• The ability to form effective relationships with a broad range of people, including operational staff, policy officials, senior management and media.
• An awareness of the relationship between TfL and the Greater London Authority (GLA) and TfL in the wider political context.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role and can be discussed with the Senior Recruitment Consultant but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme (TBC subject to contractual terms)
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays.