Turn2us is a national charity tackling poverty and the structural causes of financial insecurity. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating poverty, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

We're now looking for an exceptional Senior PR and Press Officer to help us amplify voices, challenge persistent, negative narratives around the social security system, and shift public attitudes about financial insecurity. Ideally, you’ll already have solid PR and press experience within a charity or comparable organisation’s press office, excellent media contacts, and the strategic mindset to put people’s real lives and complex challenges front and centre in your storytelling.

You’ll be someone who writes clearly and persuasively, handles sensitive topics with genuine care, and who’s excited by the challenge of finding creative ways to engage diverse audiences. Your strong relationships with journalists will help us ensure the voices of people facing financial insecurity are represented accurately, widely, and compassionately in the media.

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. All team members come into our welcoming Farringdon office at least once a week, and you'll be joining a warm, supportive team that believes in each other, celebrates great work, and loves what we do.

Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 1 day a week.  

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.  

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). 

We’re genuinely excited to hear from you.

Please read the Senior PR and Press Officer Job Pack for more information.

Job Description

Job Title: Senior PR and Press Officer                     

Department: Brand and Communications, Income & External Affairs Directorate                 

Reports to: PR and Press Manager             

Location: Hybrid: Turn2us London Hub (Farringdon) & homeworking

Type of role: Permanent, full-time

Purpose of the Role:

To take a leading role, under the guidance of the PR and Press Manager, in developing and implementing the media strategy of Turn2us, enhancing the charity's visibility and impact through strategic communications and media engagement.  

This role involves collaborating closely with the PR and Press Manager to spot, research, and develop story and PR campaign ideas that will help spread the word about Turn2us via local and national media. Additionally, it includes running a professional and efficient press office, and supporting, empowering, and centring people with lived experience of financial insecurity in their work. 

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

Strategic Media Campaigns:

• Lead on the development and execution of strategic media campaigns that align with Turn2us’s goals.   

• Contribute to the PR strategy by providing expert advice and innovative solutions to increase reach and impact. 

• Stay up to date on best practices and innovation within the sector and spot trends (e.g., early release of stories by the government in advance of the budget).  

Media Engagement and Reputation Management:   

• Help Turn2us raise awareness of its information, tools, services, public-facing fundraising activity, and advocacy and campaigning priorities via local, national, and sector media.   

• Develop and maintain relationships with key media contacts, enhancing the organisation's presence in relevant media outlets.   

• Identify target media outlets and journalists for different audiences and build contacts and relationships. 

• Spot and flag potential reputational risks and work with the PR & Storytelling Manager or Head of External Affairs to manage them. 

 Press Office Management:   

• Manage the day-to-day duties of our press office, including monitoring the media inbox, responding to requests promptly, logging media enquiries, reporting on media coverage.   

• Ensure all media statements, press releases, op-eds, etc., are uploaded to our website and shared on social media when appropriate.   

• Take part in a rota of out-of-hours press office coverage. 

 Storytelling and Spokesperson Development:   

• Work with the Senior Storytelling Officer to champion a storytelling culture by training, supporting, and empowering a diverse range of spokespeople to discuss issues affecting people living with financial insecurity.   

• Ensure people with lived experience have power and voice in our media work, developing powerful people stories for new audiences. 

• Brief spokespeople using Turn2us key messaging, positioning, and calls to action. 

 Team Leadership and Development:   

• Manage and lead specific project teams, ensuring objectives are met and team members are supported and developed.   

• Oversee the training and development of junior staff and volunteers, ensuring they are equipped with necessary media relations skills.   

• Act as a mentor, providing guidance and feedback to help team members grow professionally. 

 Internal Coordination and Planning:   

• Build relationships across directorates to ensure insights and expertise are driving Turn2Us’s press and PR work. 

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure a unified approach to public relations and communications.   

• Contribute to team planning and support with database management of our people stories.   

• Support the fundraising team to promote Turn2us and increase income generation through helping to identify and draft positive news stories. 

These are the normal duties, which the Charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible, and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by the Charity for the efficient running of the charity. This Job Description is non-contractual. It will be reviewed from time to time and may be subject to change.

At Turn2us, we are committed to protecting personnel, children, adults, and service users from any harm arising from each other, themselves, our activities, or organisational failings whilst in contact with us. The post holder will be required to follow the safeguarding policy and will be responsible for integrating safeguarding into all aspects of their work.

The post holder will be expected to ensure that their work complies with contractual terms and conditions, the Charity’s policies and procedures and key legislation, such as data protection and charity law.

 Person Specification

Skills:                                    

• Excellent written communication skills: can condense difficult concepts into simple, powerful copy; can adapt tone of voice for different audiences.

• Relationship building and sensitive communication: can build strong relationships internally and with journalists; can communicate sensitively with people who have lived experience of financial insecurity.

• Strategic approach: Can develop and evaluate strategies that align with organisational goals and adapt to changing circumstances.

• Strong IT literacy: Can confidently use media monitoring software, MS Office Suite, Trello.

• Strong administrative skills: Can efficiently monitor the press inbox; can conduct administrative tasks to support the running of the press office.        

Knowledge:               

• Knowledge of the UK media landscape.  

• Deep knowledge of the UK benefits system, or a commitment to develop this knowledge.

• Strong knowledge of GDPR.

 Experience:

• Strong experience in media relations or PR, ideally within the charity sector.   

• Experience of working in a busy press office, to tight deadlines.   

• Experience of working with colleagues across teams to identify and maximise opportunities to use the media as an influencing tool. 

• Experience of briefing spokespeople and delivering media training. 

• Proven track record of successful media campaign delivery. 

 Personal Attributes:

• Curiosity 

• Supportive, inclusive and dynamic team player 

• Perseverance 

• Calm in a crisis 

Turn2us is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we are interested in applications from people from varied backgrounds.

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