Communications and Media Officer

Location: Hybrid – Remote, London Head Office as required
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 34.5 hours per week
Salary: Circa £33,000 plus benefits

Benefits

- 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays; further leave accrues after two years of service to a maximum of 30 days.
- Generous Company pension scheme with SPANA paying 10% of salary if employee contributes 5%.
- Health Care Cash Plan with Medicash, including access to virtual GP appointments. 
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme. 
- Group income protection scheme
- Volunteer day programme
- Access to financial advisor

SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is the global charity for the working animals of the world. Since our foundation in 1923, we have worked where they work, to support the welfare of working animals, including horses, donkeys, mules, oxen and camels.

Our vision is a world where every working animal lives a healthy and valued life.

Our mission is to transform the welfare of working animals in a world where animals, people and the environment are respected and thrive.

In this role, you will pro-actively deliver and support SPANA communications and campaigns projects and activities. Your work will range from ensuring working animals are represented in the global news agenda, to raising awareness of organisational and income- generating activities, in line with our strategy.

Media and PR

- Deliver local, national and international PR (both online and offline), supporting awareness-raising, global programmes, emergency, fundraising and advocacy activities and campaigns.
- Implement media plans in line with the global fundraising, marketing and communications strategy and in support of communications KPIs.
- Produce and distribute press releases, articles, statements, case studies, Q&A sheets, position statements, briefings, press packs and other media materials.
- Identify opportunities for, and support the development of, appropriate content (video, imagery etc) for media release.
- Act as a first point of contact for media enquiries, providing out-of-hours media cover as required, including weekends.
- Oversee the production of video news releases or other content for broadcasters and digital media, assisting and supporting the content team in editing footage
- Scan the media and the internet daily for opportunities for comment, drafting responses as appropriate.
- Manage the media centre section of the SPANA website.
- Communications and campaigns
- Work with the Communications and Campaigns team and colleagues to plan and implement strategic communications designed to grow awareness and understanding of the charity’s work and support income generation activities.
- Work with Global Programmes staff to identify and develop potential stories of geopolitical
- Support the development of SPANA’s work with high-profile public figures, including celebrities and influencers, liaising with individuals and and their agents to support communications objectives.
- Support SPANA’s campaigning (lobbying and influence) work at meetings with partners and other stakeholders and identify media opportunities around advocacy work.

Brand and content

- Work with Communications Manager on SPANA publications, including copy for marketing materials, the website and internal communications.
- Work with the Senior Content Officer, in-country teams and freelancers, to develop, catalogue and select content (photography, video, case studies).
- Oversee the production of promotional materials as required.
- Proof copy and review materials against brand guidelines on behalf of staff from across the charity.

This job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to amendment and alteration over time to fit the changing needs of the team.

Knowledge, Training and Qualifications

- Educated to degree level or equivalent or with comparable press, journalistic or communications on-the-job experience.
- Knowledge of charity/not-for-profit communications.
- Excellent knowledge of the UK media environment, including print, broadcast and digital.
- An understanding international development issues, the importance of working animals and livestock in that context, and the international agencies and NGOs working in this field.
- Professional qualifications and training in communications or journalism (desirable).

Experience

- Experience of working in a busy press or communications environment, including interacting with national media.
- Expertise in managing both reactive and proactive media relations.
- An experienced writer, with the ability to produce engaging, persuasive copy that is tailored to the needs of particular audiences.
- Experience of proofreading to check for spelling/grammar and adherence to the SPANA brand and style guide.
- Experience of digital communications, including writing for the web.
- Experience of media contacts databases, such as Gorkana/Cision.
- Experience of cataloguing and logging content and editing videos particularly for social media (desirable)
- Experience of project management and delivering projects on budget and within deadline.

Skills and Attributes

- A proven ability to identify, develop and place a PR story.
- Strong writing and editing skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and proofreading skills.
- An ability to communicate clearly with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and persuasive skills.
- Proven ability to work on balancing the competing demands of multiple projects, each with tight deadlines.
- Good numerical skills and the ability to analyse campaign results.
- An ability to create accessible and impactful media material from complex data and reports.
- An understanding of working with influencers and high-profile individuals to support communications objectives.
- IT literate, including Microsoft Office. An ability to rapidly adapt to new software.
- French speaker (desirable).
- An empathy with the objectives and values of SPANA.

You may also have experience in the following: Communications Officer, Internal Communications, CRM, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Executive, Marketing Officer, Communications Executive, Communications Assistant, Media Officer, Media Executive etc.

REF-218 804