Job description. Responsible for line managing (posts) Grade G of Mind s salary scales. Overall size of team

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1 Job description Job title Reporting to (post) Responsible for line managing (posts) Grade Overall size of team Department/section Hours of work Located at Type of contract: Budgetary responsibility and accountability Head of Media & PR Director of External Relations Head of News Media Relations Manager (Fundraising) Media & Celebrity Manager Media Engagement & Awards Manger (x2 Job Share) Media & PR Manager (Sport) Grade G of Mind s salary scales 19 staff Media team, External Relations 35 hours Stratford Permanent Responsible for a budget of 700k (TBC salaries?) Purpose of job We re Mind, the mental health charity. We won t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We provide advice and support to empower anybody experiencing a mental health problem and we campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind employs over 300 staff and we have a small team of volunteers. Most staff are based in Stratford, London, there is an office in Cardiff and there are a number of dispersed staff working across England and Wales. The purpose of this job is to deliver Mind s strategic objectives and contribute to Mind s strategic development. You will lead the Media team, a key function on the External Relations department, with responsibility for the development and delivery of Mind s media and PR strategy, overseeing impactful media campaigns and events and establishing influential relationships with journalists and celebrities. Your work raising and strengthening the profile of the organisation plays an essential role in helping Mind further its reach and impact and ambition to support and empower anyone living with a mental health problem.

2 Scope of the job You will report to the Director of External Relations and provide line management to six direct reports and have overall responsibility for 19 staff within the Media unit, including a Senior Media officer based in Cardiff. You will work with staff across Mind particularly the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and External Relations colleagues (Communications & Marketing, Policy & Campaigns, Information, Digital, Legal). You will also work closely with other key internal colleagues such as Fundraising, Networks & Communities, the Time to Change campaign, our network of independent Local Minds and retail, to successfully deliver Mind s strategic objectives. This will require strong collaborative skills and a consensus-building leadership style. You will develop a wide variety of media contacts ensuring Mind maintains its reputation as a leading public voice on mental health. You will oversee a strategic media engagement programme that aims to improve media reporting and depictions of mental health and as part of this work, oversee the successful delivery of the annual Mind Media Awards. Mind aims to ensure that our strategy and all our activities fully reflect the needs and interests of mental health service users, women, black and minority ethnic communities, vulnerable migrants, people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or transgender, and people with physical, cognitive or sensory impairments, with mobility impairments, or with learning difficulties, with full regard to their age, background and personal circumstances. You will be expected to contribute to this aim. The job will involve out of hours work and travel across England and Wales.

3 Key responsibilities: 1. Provide strategic leadership to the Media & PR team to achieve Mind s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives. Provide advice and guidance to senior management and trustees, represent the organisation at the highest level on complex issues 2. Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of Mind s Media and PR strategy to support the delivery of Mind s overarching corporate strategy, aiming to build our profile, strengthen our reputation, drive engagement and momentum for our work and contribute to fundraising. 3. Lead on reputation and media crisis management for Mind and the wider network of independent local Minds, horizon-scanning, identifying and assessing high profile and serious risks, developing a range of solutions and responses as necessary, briefing and advising the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership team and Trustees on approach. 4. Oversee the planning and delivery of a calendar of fully integrated communications and media campaigns and proactive news stories that effectively reach and influence target audiences, increase Mind s profile and brand awareness and drive social change. 5. Oversee the development of Media & PR activities in support of fundraising and corporate partnerships to deliver strategic, high impact media coverage that drives income and supports wider brand and organisation objectives. 6. Oversee the delivery of Mind s Celebrity and Ambassadors strategy, supporting expert leads in the team to develop meaningful relationships with high profile, relevant supporters and engaging these audiences with opportunities that support Mind s strategic awareness and fundraising priorities. 7. Oversee Mind s Media Engagement programme that supports hundreds of journalists and programme makers each year to report and portray mental health accurately and sensitively. This includes delivering presentations and workshops, consulting on media campaigns, major drama storylines and documentaries. 8. Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships with contacts across the media spectrum building Mind s influence and reach. 9. Provide exemplary leadership and line management to a high performing Media & PR team. Undertaking appraisals, supervisions, team meetings and engaging, developing and supporting staff to maximise potential and to achieve Mind s strategic objectives and in accordance with Mind s commitment to a mentally healthy workplace. 10. Be a spokesperson and representative of Mind as required in media interviews, at conferences, events and on expert advisory groups. 11. Lead responsibility for escalation of issues on Mind s out-of-hours on-call media service and participating in the out of hours on-call rota.

4 12. Oversee the budget for the Media & PR team and and other designated programmes and projects as required. Undertake effective financial management including forecasting, setting, monitoring, reviewing and reporting on budgets. 13. Proactively and regularly monitor, review and evaluate Mind s Media & PR work against objectives, targets and budgets to ensure that they remain relevant and effective for Mind. Provide regular updates, reports and statistical analysis as required. 14. Actively contribute to Mind s long-term strategic and corporate objectives by proactively identifying and ensuring synergies across the organisation and with partners to maximise our reach and impact. 15. Lead and develop effective working relationships across Mind, Mind Retail, Local Minds and Mind s stakeholders and networks to create a culture of co-operation, flexibility and adaptability to achieve Mind s strategic objectives. Ensure all Media and PR activity is well coordinated to deliver maximum impact. 16. Work in partnership on strategic media campaigns with a number of key stakeholders across the charity sector. Collaborate, negotiate and influence on complex and significant issues as necessary. 17. Lead effective communication about the work of the Media & PR team and ensure it is effectively disseminated and promoted externally, internally and across Mind s networks. 18. Be a thought leader and subject matter expert, providing corporate leadership and expertise around Media Relations, Public Relations, campaigns, event management and reputational risk. 19. Take the lead in ensuring the views of people with experience of mental health problems inform and guide Mind's Media & PR work and that we are engaging diverse groups. 20. Keep abreast of external trends and developments in media and mental health policy and ensure Mind s strategy and activities are adapted accordingly. Identify and propose relevant development opportunities for Mind and provide updates and reports to senior management as required. 21. Share peer responsibility for the External Relations directorate providing peer support and cover as required and to deputise for the Director internally or externally including providing out of office cover, being on call and dealing with emergencies. 22. Undertake other duties that may from time to time be necessary, and that are compatible with the nature and grade of this post. Expectations

5 1. To attend and contribute to meetings, training, and other events as required. 2. To attend and contribute to the supervision and appraisal process. 3. To ensure that all responsibilities and activities within this post are in accordance with the terms and spirit of Mind s policies 4. To travel to meetings in England and Wales, which may require the need to work unsociable hours e.g. attending evening or weekend meetings or for overnight stay. 5. To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. 6. To use Mind s resources responsibly. 7. To contribute to making Mind a Greener workplace 8. The nature of the post will require flexibility in undertaking the role

6 Person specification: Head of Media & PR Essential criteria Experience 1. Experience of designing and implementing a high-level Media and PR strategy to underpin an organisation s corporate strategy and a track record of contributing to corporate and cross organisational business strategy. 2. Significant experience of developing, implementing, managing and evaluating media and PR campaigns and operational activities, delivering outcomes against agreed objectives. 3. Strong news sense, with significant experience of developing and delivering both hard news stories and consumer stories. 4. Extensive experience of working in a fast paced press office or media environment leading on complex, challenging and sensitive issues, to deadlines. 5. Experience of providing outstanding leadership and management of a team, section or department including line management of direct reports. 6. Experience of being a key media advisor to CEO, trustees and senior staff on reputational risk and overseeing and implementing crisis management strategies. 7. Experience of public speaking and being a media spokesperson. 8. Demonstrable experience of monitoring and evaluating high quality and impact media and PR campaigns. 9. Experience of leading on the design and execution of high profile events, PR stunts and campaign launches. 10. Senior management level experience of programme and project management, including financial and budget management. 11. A degree (or equivalent qualification) in Public Relations, Media Management or other related subject area or equivalent through experience. Skills 1. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills to prepare materials for the media (press releases, briefings, comments), chair meetings, deliver presentations, write senior and complex correspondence, reports, presentations, policies, procedures, processes and strategy papers. 2. Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical and achievable plans.

7 3. Excellent prioritisation and personal time management skills and a demonstrable track record in handling multiple priorities to tight deadlines. 4. Demonstrable ability to quickly establish personal credibility, and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the media and other high level stakeholders. 5. Outstanding interpersonal and relationship management skills including being able to influence, negotiate, deal with conflict. Proven success in working with and building productive professional relationships and partnerships with a wide range of individuals and organisations including those with differing perspectives and in challenging circumstances. 6. Excellent judgment and the ability to identify, analyse and manage risks. 7. Outstanding self-management skills to work independently, autonomously and as part of a team, using own initiative and being flexible and adaptable. 8. Excellent decision making and problem solving skills, confidence in making strategic and operational decisions and the ability to find creative and innovative solutions. 9. Excellent planning and organisation skills to deliver work to agreed deadlines and standards. 10. Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 11. Excellent team working skills including leading and developing teams both department and cross organizational teams and in working collaboratively with other staff and stakeholders within and outside Mind. Knowledge 1. Extensive knowledge and understanding of the national and local media landscape, PR trends, celebrity liaison and social media channels. 2. An understanding of using audience insights to drive targeted media and PR campaigns. 3. Understanding and commitment to Mind s mission, vision, values, what this means in relation to this post and the ability to incorporate this into all aspects of work. 4. Knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity, what this means in relation to this post and the ability to incorporate this into all aspects of work. Other 1. Willingness to travel, work unsocial hours and occasional overnight stays.

8 2. Commitment to your own continuing professional and personal development. Desirable criteria 1. Knowledge and understanding of current mental health issues and government policy in England and Wales. 2. A wider understanding of strategic communication and marketing strategies. 3. Experience of working in the voluntary sector. 4. Experience of event management. 5. Experience of user involvement and working alongside people from diverse groups. 6. Direct or indirect experience of mental health problems. 12. Desirable criteria 1.