What we’re looking for:

• A talented communicator and campaigner who can play a leading role in increasing our press impact, securing high profile coverage of our research and campaigns, and strengthening our relationships with key journalists. 

• A self-starter who can plan and deliver press engagement strategies, draft press releases and other media materials, and proactively respond to the news agenda. 

• Someone who shares our values and who is passionate about our work to break the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems.

As a member of our award-winning External Affairs team, you’ll get the opportunity to:

• Work with our Chair and Founder Martin Lewis on high profile media campaigns that have real cut through

• Create hard-hitting media stories based on cutting edge research and stats

• Support people with lived experience of mental health problems and financial difficulty to have their voices heard in the media

• Shape and deliver campaigns that make a real difference to people’s lives

• Work flexibly, with the option to work from home three days a week.

Objectives of post:

• Develop press releases and other content to secure media coverage among key outlets for our research, campaigns and other projects

• Plan and deliver media strategies to engage with print and broadcast media, trade publications, and relevant new media outlets (e.g. podcasts)

• Lead our proactive media response to relevant external developments 

• Develop and maintain relationships with influential media contacts

• Work with and empower our Research Community of ‘experts by experience’ to share their experiences in the media and in other contexts.

• Contribute to the development and delivery of our influencing campaigns

• Brief and support organisational spokespeople to get our message across in the media

• Write Op Eds, blogs and other types of content to promote and disseminate our work

• Produce media messaging, Q&As and briefings to help the team promote our campaigns and research

• Manage, update and expand our media contact database

• Monitor media coverage and evaluate impact of PR activity

• Take part in out of hours media rota from time to time

• Assist with other communications tasks as required and contribute to the wider work of the Institute

• Contribute to the operational success of the Institute by assisting the Chief Executive and Head of External Affairs with administrative and organisational duties as necessary, including through supporting the work and professional development of junior team members

Person specification:

• Experience of working in a press office role, journalism or a related field

• Proven ability to generate impactful media coverage across different types of media

• A track record of developing and managing relationships with journalists

• A strong understanding of the UK media and experience of engaging with it

• The ability to identify and act upon proactive opportunities to secure media impact 

• The capacity to translate complex information and ideas into compelling media content

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write Op Ed pieces, messaging and other related content

• Experience of briefing senior colleagues on media appearances

• Experience of working with people in difficult circumstances, showing empathy and sensitivity

• A self-starter, capable of taking the initiative 

• A willingness to step out of your comfort zone and to try new things

• Hard working and committed, taking direct ownership of work and seeing things through

• Organised and able to manage a busy to-do list

• Demonstrable interest in mental health and other key issues on which the Institute works.

The package:

• Annual gross salary:  £29,500 (FTE) 

• Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (full time)

• Reporting to: Head of External Affairs

• Staff supervised: none

• Location: The post is based at our central London office. We have been hybrid-working since September 2021, combining two days in the office and three days of home working, in line with the latest government guidelines and the charity’s new flexible working policy. 

• Contract type: Full time, permanent

• Holidays: 28 days p.a. (including 3 days of annual leave between Christmas and New Year when the office is closed) plus bank holidays 

• Pension: Opportunity to be enrolled in the work pension scheme (subject to meeting standard auto-enrollment qualifying criteria). After auto-enrollment the charity will make a monthly contribution to the scheme equivalent to 5.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive, subject to you making a minimum contribution of 2.5% of the monthly gross salary you receive

• DBS Checks: Any offer of employment to this position is subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check, which will be carried out by the charity. We recognise the contribution that ex-offenders can make as employees and welcome applications from them. A person’s criminal record will not, in itself, debar that person from being appointed to this post. Suitable applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. Any information given will be treated in the strictest confidence

• Maternity / Paternity / Shared Parental Leave: the Charity offers an enhanced version of statutory rights to eligible staff members representing 90% of earnings for up to 12 weeks.

What it's like to work here:

We are a hugely passionate and committed team, which is ambitious about the impact we can achieve, but which also prioritises the wellbeing of our staff. In our 2021 staff survey, 92% of the team said they ‘strongly agree’ that the charity is committed to supporting their wellbeing and health.

We offer flexible working hours and location. Within reason, and upon agreement from management, employees are free to distribute their working hours across the week as they see fit and to work from home. Currently, we have hybrid working arrangements in place combining home and office working, which we would be happy to discuss with you at the interview stage. 

We are an equal opportunities employer and Mindful Employer, and welcome applications from all, including those with lived experience of mental health problems and other under-represented groups. Job shares will be considered, and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process or once in post. 

As an organisation we punch above our weight and have a significant impact, but we are still relatively small with a team of just 13. We put the voice of lived experience at the very heart of everything we do, especially through our 3,000 strong Research Community of ‘experts by experience’, whose ideas and stories inform all aspects of our work.