About us

King’s College London is one of the world’s top universities, with an ambitious vision. Our award-winning communications team plays a key role in ensuring that our world-class reputation is enhanced and maintained, and that our strengths and successes are effectively communicated. 

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Press and PR Officer to create and place compelling and engaging content aligned to the University’s strategic priorities in national and international news media, on the website and across King’s digital channels.

The role will suit a dynamic, driven person with excellent media and communications experience. We need a confident self-starter, who works well under pressure and who uses a keen news sense, relationships with journalists in the UK and internationally, creativity, curiosity and initiative to achieve influential media coverage of our life-changing research.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate experience and success of working with journalists around the world to secure positive stories in top-tier media outlets. They will be someone who can turn complex research into engaging and compelling stories, while also reporting on the findings responsibly and accurately. They will act as a liaison point between national and international journalists and the University, so a key part of the role will be building and maintaining contacts with the media.

We are looking for someone with excellent storytelling and writing skills, experience in newsgathering and a proven ability to create opportunities using a multitude of channels and tactics including, and not limited to, press releases, media pitches, videos and digital content for the media, external stakeholders and internal audiences. The role holder will also help to run a series of communications campaigns that appeal to staff, students and external stakeholders, plus support the University’s response to reputational issues. 

The job offers the role holder a fantastic opportunity to develop their skills and experience within a supportive environment. As part of the Communications & External Affairs Team, they will also support the two Senior PR and Communications Managers and work with colleagues in faculties and departments to proactively promote key research and strategic initiatives across King’s.

The job would suit someone with excellent organisational skills and with careful attention to detail, who has a desire to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers, students, communications professionals and external partners. The successful applicant must demonstrate an ability to use their initiative and work independently, while also displaying excellent teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.

This is a full-time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract. The team follows a hybrid working model, with staff able to work remotely three days a week and the rest of the time spent in our central London office.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria 

1. Experience of working with the media either in a communications role or as a journalist and with a solid contact list of national and international media journalists as well as a successful track record in delivering sustained media coverage.
2. Evidence of producing successful compelling stories and content for digital channels including for websites and social media.
3. Proven ability to research and identify communications opportunities and experience of developing communications strategies, with effective project management skills to implement them across digital and traditional media as appropriate.
4. Excellent editorial skills and attention to detail, with the ability to engage different audiences, a strong news sense and the ability to successfully brief and pitch into journalists.
5. Experience of juggling multiple workstreams and activities and working across a wide range of teams in a complex organisation.
6. A proactive approach to work, knowing when to work independently and flexibly but also when best to work as part of a team.
7. Experience of managing communications issues and external reputation management.
8. Experience of using evaluation tools to report on and improve activities.

Desirable criteria

1. Knowledge and experience of working in the higher education sector.
2. A professional qualification in journalism, communications or PR.
3. Experience of working with international journalists and achieving coverage in the international media.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held on 10th September 2024.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.