EE-008-25 - Media Relations Manager

University of Kent; Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Canterbury is seeking a Media Relations Manager to enhance its media presence. The successful candidate will manage media inquiries, develop compelling stories, and collaborate with various stakeholders to boost the university's profile nationally and internationally. Applicants should have a professional qualification in communications or journalism and substantial experience in PR or media relations. This role offers hybrid working options and generous staff benefits including an excellent pension scheme.

Benefits

Hybrid working options

43 days' leave per year

Excellent pension scheme

Healthcare plan

Qualifications

• Experience in communications, PR, or journalism with high impact results.
• Proven ability to handle reputational issues professionally.
• Strong networking skills with journalists and media professionals.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of press and PR strategy reflecting the University’s vision.
• Manage inquiries and develop high-quality media stories.
• Enhance media training for academics to improve coverage.

Skills

Communications expertise

Media relations

Story development

Public relations

Team collaboration

Education

Professional communications or journalism qualification

Job description

This post will play a key role in helping to develop the Press and Media function of the university, and enhancing the University’s profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally. Reporting to the External Communications Lead, the postholder will be responsible for developing, managing and pitching to the media a wide range of stories, but with a focus on specific priority areas as agreed, as well as managing incoming enquiries. The postholder will be expected to develop and cultivate relationships and contacts across a wide range of media, local, regional, national and international and play an important role in developing and enhancing a media training programme for academics and senior leaders across the university to ensure maximum positive coverage for the University. The role holder will enable the External Comms team as a whole to support the ambitions of the University to provide thought leadership and expert media interventions across a wide range of topics and subject areas.

As a Media Relations manager you can expect to be involved in :

• Support the Head of Communications and External Communications Lead by contributing to and help delivering a press and PR strategy that reflects the vision, ambitions and objectives of the University’s
• 2026 strategy and the External Engagement’s Directorate’s strategy. Be first port of call for media enquiries – including reputational issues – working with the External Communications Lead and External Communications Officer to action.
• Work with the Public Relations Manager to develop and manage a regular flow of high-quality stories across all areas of the University’s work, with a focus on strategic priorities, ensuring regular, high-level and positive coverage in national print, broadcast and online media that highlights the University’s work to key audiences.

What will you bring to the role ?

• Professional communications or journalism qualification/membership or working toward and commitment to CPD
• Substantial experience of working in communications, PR or journalism along with a proven track record of dealing with reputational issues and delivering high impact media coverage across a range of issues
• and channels.
• Experience of communications and PR principles and practice
• Proven ability to build relationships with journalists, identify, develop and ‘sell’ stories, and successfully generate media coverage

What we can offer in return:

As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You'll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:

• Hybrid working options allowing a flexible blend of office and home working (to be agreed in line with business needs)
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health

For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent

We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place. Visit our website for more on who we are: http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. For further information regarding the application process, please contact [e-mail] quoting reference number EE-008-25

*Occasionally we may need to close a vacancy before the published deadline due to a high number of applications being received, therefore we strongly advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. (All vacancies will be open for at least one week.)

PLEASE NOTE: We prioritise applications from current University of Kent redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.

We know applicants may use AI tools to help prepare job applications. For guidance on how to use AI responsibly and effectively, see: Using AI in your job application

Applications must be made via the University’s online application system; CVs or details sent directly to the department or via email cannot be considered.

The University of Kent values diversity and equality at all levels.