Appointed - Interim Head of Media

This UK wide charity serves to help the millions of people diagnosed each year. There is now opportunity for an Interim Head of Media to join its team
As Interim Head of Media you will manage and lead the media team in London and across the UK to raise the profile of the charity to enhance its reputation with its key stakeholders through the national, consumer, trade and specialist media.

Working collaboratively with all divisions, the successful candidate will develop a consistency of messaging across all channels, in order to achieve the best outcomes in line with the communications strategy and corporate narrative. 

As Interim Head of Media you will take responsibility of; 

• Leading the delivery of the media strategy to achieve the organisation’s objectives 
• Providing effective leadership and management of the media team across the UK 
• Advising on the organisation’s reputation and risk management in relation to the media
• Acting as strategic counsel to senior directors and staff on all media related issues
• Working with other Heads of Teams, promoting cutting edge multi-channel initiatives including developing social media plans, and partnerships with digital news and consumer information providers
• Representing, as required, the organisation and department at a senior level, both internally and externally
• Developing and building the media skills of the regional staff and network members, so they maximise opportunities for regional and local press coverage
• Project management including budgeting, commissioning and managing external service providers
• Overseeing relationships and work with celebrity supporters as part of strategic and integrated communications plans

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate; 

• The ability to influence at all levels
• A high level of empowerment skills by taking control and exercising leadership
• Working in partnership to achieve overall business success through collaboration
• Experience of managing national media relations function in a busy/ demanding environment and of leading a team to achieve outstanding results
• Knowledge of national online and offline media and a track record of success and achievement of results in media work
• Experience of health related media work is highly desirable
• Experience of successfully managing crisis communication issues
• Strong management and leadership skills, including motivating developing and supporting others, decision-making, with the capacity to make informed judgements and taking responsibility for outcomes
• Effective interaction with others using excellent negotiation and influencing skills to develop good working relationships and achieve results with internal and external contacts at senior levels
• Highly professional communications skills including ability to write to a journalistic standard for a range of audiences
• Strong research, monitoring and evaluation skills
• High level budget setting and financial monitoring skills
• Excellent relationships with journalists and opinion formers