At a Glance
- Tasks: Create engaging content and manage external communications for a dynamic student living company.
- Company: Join Dot, a pioneering company redefining student living across 180+ cities worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy a bonus scheme, private healthcare, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in PR and communications.
- Qualifications: Strong writing skills and a passion for media relations; internships welcome!
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
About Dot
Dot is home to a set of businesses united by a bold ambition: to redefine student living and support over one million students each year. Spanning 180+ cities in 30 countries, our companies include Global Student Accommodation (GSA), Yugo and Student.com. Together, we bring global scale and local insight, powered by more than 2000 passionate people. We believe progress happens when people come together with purpose. We're committed to building long term value through everything we do. With three decades of continuous evolution, Dot's strength lies in how we work. We are pioneering, purposeful and positive, driving smart, sustainable growth across our portfolio. We connect expertise with opportunity to turn ideas into impact and momentum into lasting change.
Our Values
- Pioneering: With three decades of groundbreaking achievements and a passion for international expansion, our distinctive proposition remains stronger than ever.
- Purposeful: Every action we take is intentional, designed to align with our values and create lasting benefits for our people, communities, and the planet.
- Positive: We tackle challenges with resilience and seek to create a supportive and empowering environment for our teams and communities.
Role Purpose
You will deliver the Group's external communications day to day across Dot and its portfolio companies – from drafting press materials and managing website updates to creating social content, gathering insights and supporting events. It is a hands‑on role with broad exposure, suited to a strong writer with ambitions to develop experience across all elements of communications.
Requirements
- PR and media relations
- Draft press releases, media pitches, statements, Q&A and briefing notes
- Build relationships with journalists across corporate, property, higher‑education, investment and consumer titles
- Handle routine media enquiries and coordinate interviews and spokesperson requests
- Prepare spokesperson briefing packs, researching journalists, outlets and topics
- Insight and listening
- Monitor media coverage, social conversation and trends for the Group on key issues, including on platforms where students are active
- Track policy and sector news to help shape our communications plans
- Website and GEO
- Keep the corporate website(s) up to date, accurate and on brand using the CMS
- Publish news, case studies and campaign content, applying SEO, GEO and accessibility best practice
- Track how Dot and its brands appear in AI‑powered search and answer tools, and flag inaccuracies
- Social media and content
- Plan and manage the social media calendar across channels
- Write, edit and publish content including articles, blogs, newsletters and posts
- Create and edit short‑form video and visual content, and brief designers or videographers where needed
- Use generative AI tools responsibly to work efficiently, in line with Group policy
- Events
- Coordinate logistics and communications for conferences, awards entries and owned events
- Prepare speaker materials and capture content for use across channels
- Risk Awareness
- Follow approval processes and brand guidelines for all external content
- Spot and elevate emerging reputational risks quickly, in the media or on social platforms
- Support issues and crisis responses, including monitoring, logging and drafting holding statements, and join the out‑of‑hours rota when required
- Reporting
- Compile regular reports on coverage, website and social performance, highlighting what's working and what to change
- Maintain media, content, events and stakeholder trackers
Experience and Knowledge
- Essential
- Up to 5 years in communications, PR, marketing or journalism (ambitious graduates with relevant internships welcome)
- Excellent writing skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Confident using social media professionally and creating engaging content
- Comfortable working with data and explaining what it shows
- Willingness to work flexibly, including out‑of‑hours support when issues arise
- Desirable
- Exposure to corporate / B2B media in real estate, financial services, or hospitality and leisure
- Experience of B2C communications in an operational, customer‑facing business
- Video skills: filming, editing and producing content for social
- Experience with communications platforms, including media databases, listening and analytics tools
- Understanding of SEO, GEO or AI search
- Interest in international markets; additional languages a plus
Personal Attributes & Competencies
- Organised, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Good judgement and awareness of reputational risk
- Curious and insight‑minded: notices what matters and asks 'so what?'
- Collaborative, working well across brands, teams and time zones
- Proactive and keen to learn
What success looks like in year one
- Website and social channels consistently up to date, accurate and on brand
- Regular listening and insight summaries that the team acts on
- A growing network of journalist contacts and regular secured coverage
- AI search visibility tracked monthly, with inaccuracies flagged and corrected
- Regular performance reports delivered on time
- Trusted to draft external materials needing minimal edits
- A reliable contributor during issues, handling routine enquiries with confidence
Explore all opportunities across the Dot Group at
Benefits
Bonus scheme, Pension, Private Healthcare + other benefits.
External Communications Executive in England employer: The Dot Group
Join our vibrant team in Holborn, London, where we prioritise a positive workplace culture and employee well-being. As a Team Assistant and Office Manager, you'll enjoy a supportive environment that fosters professional growth, with access to comprehensive benefits including private medical insurance, generous annual leave, and opportunities for training. Our commitment to creating an engaging and welcoming office atmosphere makes us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land External Communications Executive in England
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like The Dot Group. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like The Dot Group, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research The Dot Group inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace External Communications Executive in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of The Dot Group. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at The Dot Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Dot Group
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
