Senior Press & Communications Manager Permanent

Position: Senior Press & Communications Manager

Location: London

Salary: GBP 40K-45K

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Senior Press & Communications Manager is responsible for generating high quality earned media for the organization which is broad in its reach, raises the profile of the organization and of Japan, and helps to drive both physical and online visitors, in line with KPIs and as part of the overall marketing and communications plan.
The ideal candidate for this role will have a passion for and understanding of Japan that enables them to convey what is happening at the organization in an informative, accessible, interesting and engaging way.
Based on a rolling 12-month communications plan of your design, you will inspire media and influencers to visit the organization and produce coverage related to the themes that the organization presents.
The relationships you build with key journalists will be critical as you pitch ideas to them, encouraging and supporting them to tell
the stories behind the exhibitions, events and products at the organization as well as the organization Project’s
broader aims and ambitions.
The Senior Press & Communications Manager will seek out and manage new opportunities for the organization to raise its profile, such as collaborations, festival participation and brand partnerships, thereby elevating further its position within London’s cultural fabric.
Regular and comprehensive reporting on media coverage is both integral to this position and one way in which success will be measured

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Planning & Project Development
・ Develop a 12-month rolling plan of PR activities designed to achieve media-related KPIs, utilizing both the internal programme of exhibitions and events as well as external opportunities as hooks.
・ Develop PR plans for each exhibition with creative ideas to reach, excite and engage relevant journalists for each.
・ Take the lead on driving the organization’s participation in relevant festivals such as London Design Festival and London Craft Week.
・ Identify and strengthen relationships with key stakeholder groups that can drive footfall and develop new audiences for the organization, including the media, hotels, government departments, industry partners.
・ Manage relationships with PR agencies, writing briefs, engaging their services, monitoring performance and managing associated administration.

Media Outreach & Relationship Management
・ Write engaging press releases that elicit interest in the organization and bring about media visits that lead to quality coverage.
・ Continually seek out new target journalists, including Japanese journalists based in London, who have not yet written about the organization and build relationships with them. Maintain existing relationships with media contacts.
・ Regularly distribute releases via a newswire service to ensure breadth of coverage.
・ Deliver the PR plans for exhibitions, including activities to attract appropriate influencer engagement.
・ Regularly liaise with the Stakeholder Engagement Manager in Tokyo on interviews with collaborators, either from Japan or during a visit to London.
・ Coordinate visits by the media, taking them on tours of the organization and supplying them with the assets and motivation to write positively about the organization and Japan.
・ Develop and maintain an up-to-date PR ‘toolkit’ comprising digital and printed materials to share with members of the media (and other stakeholders).
・ Provide PR support for the organization events, Partnership events and collaborations – this may take the form or grassroots emails and direct messages on social media.

Event Management
・ Manage all media previews, from the drafting of invitations, through to media outreach, execution on the day of the previews and follow up with media to ensure coverage.
・ Develop and manage other influencer and media-specific events which may not be related to exhibitions.
・ Work with internal teams on the logistics of such events to ensure operational success.
・ From time to time, commission and manage freelance interpreters and translators.

Day-to-day Press Office Management
・ Manage Press Office email inbox, responding to enquiries and managing associated requests.
・ Contribute to building the organization’s relationships database and be the primary manager internally of media contacts.
・ Take responsibility for the updating of the media-related sections of the the organization website and Digital Asset Management system.

Reporting
・ Track PR coverage via Meltwater, IPCB, Google search and Google alerts or by requesting print copies from outlets directly.
・ Save down all earned coverage (print / online / SM) to an internal folder.
・ Report monthly on coverage gained and AVE and write two additional reports per quarter, for different stakeholders, highlighting particularly significant pieces of coverage.
・ Respond quickly to ad-hoc coverage update requests from stakeholders.
・ Track and record exhibition coverage daily in order to monitor performance against KPIs and share data with collaborators when requested to do so.

Miscellaneous
・ Write editorial content to accompany paid adverts in the press.
・ Write or proofread other pieces of content as required by other teams such as product information labels in
The Shop.
・ Other reasonable duties as allocated by the Directors.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Essential
・ Educated to degree level in a relevant subject
・ Significant years of professional experience in a PR role (with at least 2 years at manager level) in the arts or cultural sector, with responsibilities for press office management, media outreach and growing an organization’s profile.
・ Proven success in achieving high quality media coverage for smaller arts organisations.
・ Experience of using clipping services to monitor and report on media coverage.
・ Experience of reporting on results, verbally and in writing, to senior management.
・ Excellent knowledge of Japanese cultures.
・ Experience in using a CRM to manage contacts.
・ Advanced IT skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office as well as PR platforms and tools such as Meltwater and Roxhill.
・ Firm understanding of how PR activities fit within and contribute to an overall marketing and communications plan.

Desirable
・ Additional training and / or supplementary courses completed in PR or professional writing.
Existing relevant media contacts.

CAPABILITIES
・ Excellent verbal communication skills (English to native level.)
・ First rate writing skills, with the ability to adapt style according to audience and platform.
・ Excellent interpersonal skills – a self-confident self-starter who can read situations and adjust behaviour accordingly.
・ Able to think creatively to overcome challenges and achieve the desired result.
・ Strong organizational and time management skills.
・ Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
・ A participative team player with an inclusive approach towards all colleagues.
・ Ability to multi-task and prioritize work, whilst paying attention to detail.
・ Able to influence people whilst maintaining tact and cultural sensitivity