Communications and PR Manager in Truro

Grade: 2

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (flexible working considered)

Position type: Permanent

Responsible to: Head of Global Communications & PR

Direct reports: Communications & PR Officer

Location: Truro, Cornwall (Hybrid) or Remote (UK based) with some travel to Truro

ROLE PURPOSE: This role works to raise awareness of the issues faced by people around the world who have lost their homes to disaster. It creates positive media coverage for ShelterBox, profiling us as experts in emergency shelter, as well as supporting fundraising with media engagement and PR activities. The role also works to ensure colleagues across the organisation can talk about our work accurately and consistently by producing key messaging about our international programmes.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? ShelterBox is seeking a motivated and proactive individual with excellent attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy. We are looking for someone who enjoys writing a variety of materials like press releases, statements, and Q&As. You will also enjoy finding stories and ensuring they are told ethically. You will enjoy creating news, working with the media and being involved in multiple projects. This is a great opportunity to be part of a dynamic fundraising and communications department working together to achieve our mission of no one without shelter after disaster. The role requires someone who is able to pivot priorities quickly when needed. When major disasters happen, our teams need to be able to flex very quickly to that focus.

MAIN ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This role works as part of a small and dynamic Communications & Digital team. You will be focused on gaining media coverage for our international programmes that support people after disaster. You will understand the issues and opportunities of our work and secure media interviews. You will also support our fundraising campaigns and events with media engagement. You will work closely with the Head of Global Communications & Digital and colleagues across the Fundraising & Communications department to develop and deliver communications and media engagement activities supporting campaigns and driving awareness. This role also supports wider departments by producing centralised messaging to ensure colleagues talk about our work consistently and are aligned with our brand. The role line manages a Communications & PR Officer. It also works with the wider communications and fundraising teams on integrated campaigns, ensuring key messaging is aligned and PR angles and issues are considered. There may be occasional opportunity to travel when appropriate to countries where ShelterBox works for media opportunities. This travel is not mandatory. There will be regular travel to Truro head office to support media interviews, deliver training, and organisation collaboration days. Flexibility with working hours sometimes required especially during sudden-onset emergencies (TOIL available for additional hours).

PR & Comms Lead

• Manage a variety of communications and PR activities to raise awareness of the needs of people who have lost their homes to disaster.
• Produce a range of high-quality written materials for different audiences.
• Develop strong working relationships with people across the organisation, including in our fundraising teams, and international programmes.
• As a PR and communications subject matter expert, take a proactive approach to media engagement and communications.
• Act as a Strategic EDI Liaison, embedding and leading EDI principles within your role by integrating the EDI strategy and action plan into departmental activities, ensuring inclusive approaches are applied, actions are delivered, and progress is monitored.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Strategic EDI Liaison team to share good practice, coordinate cross-departmental initiatives, and support a consistent, organisation-wide approach to progressing EDI priorities.

Media Engagement

• Maximise media opportunities for ShelterBox across national and regional, print, digital, and broadcast media.
• Have a good understanding of the media landscape and actively keep across relevant stories and trends.
• Work with colleagues across the organisation to find stories and create news.
• Prepare and use a variety of high-quality, effective PR tools including press releases, quotes and comments, features, blogs and photo opportunities.
• Sell-in stories, respond to media enquiries, and secure media interviews.
• Deliver interview training for colleagues.
• Prepare messaging and briefings for spokespeople for interviews and events.
• Ensure plans are ready to roll-out when major disasters happen - including comms plans, media lists, trained spokespeople, quotes and other resources.
• Identify, develop and maintain great relationships with relevant journalists, PR agencies, Freelancers, supporters e.g. community fundraisers and Rotary groups.

Communications

• Produce high-quality written materials, including core messaging, Q&As, and occasional reports summarising our work, ensuring messaging is consistent and on brand.
• Ensure colleagues across the organisation have the messaging they need to talk about our work in a way that supports our brand and tone of voice.
• Work as part of a team (social, website, celebrity, brand, content, fundraising) to deliver integrated campaigns.
• Work to protect our reputation, supporting the organisation with crisis comms activities and playing an active role in the Crisis Management Team.
• Offer creative ideas and planning for communications campaigns.
• Occasional management of external agencies.
• Ensure PR and communications activity is evaluated to determine success and improve performance.

Other Responsibilities

• Undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post.
• Carry out the duties of post in accordance with the ShelterBox's policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
• Work flexibility, prioritise workload and work effectively as part of a team.