PR Executive

Barbour International; South Shields; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading lifestyle brand in South Shields is seeking a PR Executive to support the Global PR Manager. The role involves managing press inquiries, overseeing the global gifting calendar, and coordinating products for events. The ideal candidate will bring experience in a media or marketing role, strong organizational skills, and a genuine interest in PR and marketing. This position offers attractive benefits such as a discretionary bonus scheme, staff discounts, and a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Discretionary Company bonus scheme

Staff Discount

25 days holiday increasing with service

Access to training and development activities

Free onsite parking

Subsidised canteen

Qualifications

• Experience within a media or marketing role.
• Strong time management ability.
• Pleasant telephone manner.

Responsibilities

• Manage press requests and enhance media coverage.
• Oversee the Global Gifting Calendar.
• Coordinate products for press events.

Skills

Media or marketing experience

Strong organizational skills

Excellent written communication

Understanding of digital/social media

Ability to work autonomously

Desire to learn about the industry

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Trello (workflow platform)

Job description

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re‑waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re‑Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview:

We have an exciting opportunity for a PR Executive to join our Global Marketing Team here at our Head Office in South Shields. This role will be key to providing support to the Global PR Manager and manage specific projects related to assist the PR and Marketing Department.

Day to Day Management:

• Collate and distribute press release and imagery packs and manage image/sample requests from global markets.
• Manage all inbound press requests with the PR student to enhance coverage and ensure the brand is being represented correctly across publications.
• Manage the Global Gifting Calendar, overseen by the PR Manager.
• Oversee free of charge (FOC) orders, ordering products and liaising with sales to order and dispatch products with support of the placement student and PR Assistant.
• Manage seasonal and collection lookbooks.
• End‑to‑end support of certain mainline projects, overseen by the PR Manager.
• Manage PR samples, liaising regularly with global PR teams and global agencies.
• Co‑ordinate products for press days/events/fashion shows as requested.
• Oversee, manage and develop the PR student to ensure they complete their daily tasks.
• Accurately assist with forecasting gifting quantities for seeding and event initiatives.
• Manage briefs into the graphics team to support daily workload for PR team including lookbooks, event collateral and other branded elements.

Reporting:

• Accurately report on collection, collaboration and event launches using reporting software and manually tracking press coverage.
• Manage weekly global press round up with the support of the PR student.
• Manage the monthly global press report with the support of the PR student.
li>Manage seasonal recap reports with the support of the PR student and PR Assistant.
• Compile ad‑hoc PR reports to send to business as required.

Events:

• Assist global PR team on all aspects of press events including invitations, booking venue, menus, photographers as required.
• Attend press events as required.
• Produce itineraries for UK and overseas journalist visits and book relevant elements of visit.

Other:

• Contribute and write articles for Material Matters (internal publication).
• Pulling together adhoc presentations and general admin assistance for senior management team.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience within a media or marketing role.
• Confident individual.
• Understanding of best practices in digital and social media.
• Strong organisational and time management ability.
• Able to work autonomously with strong team working skills.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Pleasant and efficient telephone manner.
• Desire to go extra mile and demonstrate commitment to the role.
• Genuine interest in PR and marketing.
• Culturally astute with a strong understanding of social media.
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn more about the industry.
• Attention to detail and interested in avoiding making errors.
• Comfortable working within a pressurised environment to achieve key deadlines.
• Work on own initiative without the requirement for close supervision.
• Able to establish relationships with people at all levels.
• Experience of a range of general administrative skills i.e. typing, filing, copying etc.
• Competent on Microsoft office packages, particularly Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Familiarity with workflow platforms such as Trello.
• Discretionary Company bonus scheme.
• Staff Discount.
• Staff Shop.
• 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays.
• Length of service awards.
• Access to training and development activities to support your career development.
• Free onsite parking.
• Subsidised canteen.
• Operate hybrid & flexible working.
• 4pm finish on a Friday.
• Refer a friend bonus scheme.

Note:

In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.