Media and PR Officer

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The University of Sheffield provided pay range

This range is provided by The University of Sheffield. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

With a reputation for high impact, Marketing, Admissions, Recruitment and Communications (MARC) leads the University’s core student recruitment activity, as well as enhances the institution\’s reputation as a global leader in research, teaching and industry collaboration.

Within the department’s Media and PR function is a commitment to strategically raise the profile and strengthen the reputation of the University via the media, by understanding and sharing academic research and seeking ways to promote corporate achievements. Stories are frequently complex, require care and sensitivity and a close partnership with experts. Alongside this, is a responsibility to lead a proactive approach to risk, and crisis management, advising senior stakeholders in order to effectively safeguard the University’s reputation.

This fast-paced role requires someone who has a strong background of working with the media; existing relationships with high-profile journalists and broadcasters; demonstrable knowledge of media relations, its impact with stakeholders and role in building brand reputation; crisis and reputation management experience and a good knowledge of higher education.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Maximise the University’s national and international reputation through proactive media and PR, working to identify, source and amplify impactful content to shape Sheffield\’s global profile.
• Write and pitch news releases for a wide variety of media, deciding on both content and target audience.
• Manage and lead short to medium term press and media campaigns, as well as contribute to longer-term strategic work, such as the University’s golden thread campaign, ensuring objectives are met.
• Support the management of the University’s external reputation and provide specialist and expert reputational advice to colleagues across the University – including senior management – during a crisis or when handling potentially sensitive and controversial issues.
• Proactively source key spokespeople and academic experts from within the University for press and media interviews, and brief them accordingly.
• Respond efficiently and helpfully to incoming media enquiries from journalists and broadcasters.
• Ensure the impact of media work is captured to demonstrate an evidence base for the role media plays in creating a pathway to potential impact with key stakeholders, including government policy makers, potential funders and international collaborators.
• Proactively build strong relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including academics, university leadership and communications colleagues across the institution, as well as journalists and PR and research communications colleagues at key external organisations. Ensure opportunities to promote the University are maximised at all times, being proactive in seeking links to topical news and leveraging reputational benefit wherever possible.
• Share news stories with colleagues across marketing and communications to be used in digital/social media or to support recruitment efforts/the creation of new content.
• Provide specialist media relations training and advice to colleagues at all levels across the University.
• Represent the Media Team at key internal and external meetings
• Compile and post on the University’s website information needed to maintain, update and develop the University’s online News pages.
• Time Management – Plan, organise and prioritise your workload to ensure deadlines and objectives for are met.
• Career Development – Take responsibility for personal learning and professional development.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn\’t match perfectly with this role\’s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

• Stage(s) assessed at
  A good degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Journalism/PR/English/Communications) or equivalent experience.
• Essential – Application
  A strong understanding and proven experience of working directly in a media relations and PR role and holding existing relationships with journalist contacts.
• Essential – Application and interview
  A keen eye for a story and the ability to provide knowledge, guidance and support to colleagues relating to media/PR/external communications, including some experience of handling reputational issues.
• Essential – Application and interview
  Demonstrable experience of developing relationships internally and externally with a wide range of stakeholder groups, including journalists.
• Essential – Application and interview
  Demonstrable awareness of current affairs and knowledge of the Higher Education environment and issues affecting the sector that could impact upon the University’s reputation.
• Essential – Application and interview
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with the news media and demonstrable experience of using the most appropriate and relevant communications channels for the audience.
• Essential – Application and interview
  Ability to prioritise and manage a varied and demanding workload, working to tight deadlines and juggling multiple pieces of work at the same time.
• Interview
  High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and a diligent approach to work.
• Essential – Application and interview
  Enthusiastic and highly proactive with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative and a professional attitude.
• Interview
  Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) and general digital communication tools.
• Desirable – Application

Further Information

Grade
6

Salary
£32,080 – £36,636

Work arrangement
Full-time, Hybrid

Line manager
Media Relations Manager

For informal enquiries about this job contact Amy Huxtable, Media Relations Manager: a.l.huxtable@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 26 January 2026. This will consist of an interview and a test. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week ending 23 January 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact a.l.huxtable@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes;
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 11/01/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. Our University Vision outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.