Press Officer- 12 month Fixed Term Contract

Description

Do you have a passion for telling stories and an eye for spotting opportunities and risk? Come and help us tell Heathrow’s story.   

This is a unique time at Heathrow as we continue to grow and what the Communications team do has a wide-ranging impact. As a Press Officer (Corporate) you will take on a leading role in ensuring that our story, as a complex and high-profile organisation, is told accurately in the media. You’ll be protecting and enhancing our reputation through compelling communications and working on exciting projects that only the UK’s hub airport can offer.  As the Government pushes to expand Heathrow with a third runway there’s never been a more interesting time for an ambitious and savvy press officer to join the team.  

No two days will be the same in this role; one day you might be providing press office support in a crisis and the next hosting a segment for the evening news bulletins at the airport. You will need an eye for detail and the ability to keep on top of many moving parts, with the confidence to build strong relationships with stakeholders and the media.  

If you're ready to take your career to the next level, and be part of a close-knit driven team, taking on work that you can have real pride in and feel passionate about, we want to hear from you.  

Responsibilities

• Proactively developing relationships with the airport’s media stakeholders   
• Drafting press releases, pitching stories to media outlets, monitoring the media inbox and phone and responding to journalist queries   
• Developing briefing material for company spokespeople and managing media interviews   
• Strong teamwork ethic, a keen news sense and an ability to quickly understand complex material   
• Collaboration with external stakeholders as well as other teams across Heathrow – working most closely with the Public Affairs, Policy and Internal Communications teams to help deliver objectives of the airport’s communications strategy   
• The role also involves being a member of the Heathrow crisis communications response team.  As such, the successful candidate must have the temperament and judgement to be able to hold a line under pressure and maintain their professionalism in difficult circumstances.  They must also be able to advise managers on how on-going media coverage is affecting Heathrow’s corporate reputation.  

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience   
• Demonstrable knowledge of working in a press office and an appreciation of the complexities of working in a corporate environment 
• Excellent organisational, written, and verbal communications skills    
• Creativity, strong work ethic and a sense for a good ‘news’ story  
• Can demonstrate a drive and determination to improve performance 
• Experience as part of a Press Office on call rota desired