At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead PR strategies and create impactful campaigns for Virgin Atlantic.
- Company: Join Virgin Atlantic, a brand redefining travel experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and inclusive culture.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the narrative of a leading airline and drive sustainability initiatives.
- Qualifications: Degree in English or Business; strong PR experience required.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid – 3 days a week at VHQ, Crawley
Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract - until June 2027
Salary: Competitive
Closing Date: 28th September 2026
At Virgin Atlantic, we're more than just an airline—we're a brand that reimagines the way people experience travel. With a bold vision to become the most loved travel company, we thrive on challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of aviation, and celebrating individuality every step of the way.
The Role
As PR Manager, you’ll be the driving force behind Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays' consumer and corporate public relations. From crafting impactful campaigns to managing media engagement, you’ll ensure our narrative consistently reflects our ambition, values, and brand identity. This role blends strategy with creativity, requiring you to lead proactive storytelling initiatives and manage both high-profile campaigns and responsive media relations. You’ll work closely with internal teams—Marketing, Internal Communications, and Social Media—to deliver integrated campaigns that elevate brand preference and reputation. You’ll also support our dual ambitions of becoming the UK’s second flag carrier and an industry leader in sustainability, ensuring our story reaches and resonates with the right audiences, from customers to stakeholders to the media.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop PR Strategy: Shape and execute consumer and corporate PR strategies that align with our commercial priorities and brand positioning.
- Campaign Leadership: Plan and deliver compelling, cross-functional campaigns, creating stories that inspire and gain positive media traction.
- Media Relations: Lead stakeholder media opportunities, interviews, and relationship-building to amplify our presence in key publications and in AI search.
- Crisis & Reputation Management: Advise senior stakeholders on media strategy, manage issues, and support crisis response to safeguard brand reputation.
- Collaboration & Innovation: Work with the wider Communications, Social, and Marketing teams to share insights, align messaging, and fuel creative ideation.
- Performance Tracking: Set measurable press coverage goals, monitor results, and adapt strategy as needed to maximize impact.
- Strategic Contribution: Play a key role in shaping the three-year comms plan and supporting the delivery of our company strategy.
About you
We're looking for a creative, strategic communicator who can think big, act fast, and lead with flair.
- Degree educated, ideally in English, Business, or a related field.
- Strong client-side PR and communications experience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Exceptional writing and storytelling ability with a keen sense for translating complex topics into compelling, accessible content.
- Confident networker with first-class interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
- Proven project manager, comfortable delivering high-quality output under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Virgin Atlantic are committed equal opportunities employers and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible applicants regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity. Diversity brings strength which is why we strive to provide an inclusive environment where individuality is celebrated, and we can ignite the potential of our forward-thinking mix of people.
Please be aware as part of our recruitment process we may look to use a variety of resourcing tools to help us understand your skills and experience in relation to the role you have applied for. These may include application questions, video interviews or online testing. Please feel free to contact us at recruitment@fly.virgin.com if there are any reasonable adjustments to our process that you would like us to consider, for example use of hearing loops, sign language interpreter etc. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there are any issues preventing you from being at your best during your application or assessment process.
PR Manager in Crawley employer: Virgin Atlantic
At Virgin Atlantic Airways, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Cargo Route Optimisation Manager, you will benefit from a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and innovation, all while working in the vibrant locations of London Heathrow or Crawley. With a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity, we ensure that every team member feels valued and has the resources they need to succeed in their career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land PR Manager in Crawley
✨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 Virgin Atlantic. 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 Virgin Atlantic, 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 Virgin Atlantic 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 PR Manager in Crawley
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 Virgin Atlantic. 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 Virgin Atlantic.
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin Atlantic
✨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.
