Head of Press and Pr

**Head of Press & PR**

**Interviews will be held: 27th February 2024**

**This is a fixed term position until 31st March 2026**

Bradford district’s year of culture is set to deliver more than 1,000 new performances and events including over 200 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals and major national and international collaborations. To do this we need a team of dedicated, passionate and enthusiastic people, and we are looking for a Head of Press & PR to join our growing team and help deliver a successful UK City of Culture.

If you have significant experience in developing and delivering media campaigns, then we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for a dynamic, driven and creative thinker, who will maximise the PR opportunities for this major event in imaginative ways. Reporting to the Head of Audiences you’ll have line management responsibility for the Press Officer and Press Assistant/Trainee.

Key Responsibilities
- Work with the Head of Audiences, and external PR Agency, to create and deliver the Press and PR strategy that will drive forward strategic aims, build a positive reputation and heightened profile for Bradford 2025.
- Run and manage a press office that is efficient, co-operative, politically aware and culturally savvy, including managing any freelance PR specialists and a Press Officer and Press Assistant/Trainee, and the press budget.
- To formulate, lead and implement integrated communications and PR campaigns, alongside the Audience Team (marketing, digital and ticketing) to maximise audiences and ticket sales.
- With the Executive Director and Head of Audiences establish, build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders in the district and beyond who have a vested interested in Bradford 2025, including but not limited to local councillors, political advisors and public bodies, keeping them informed about Bradford 2025’s work.
- Build relationships with key opinion formers, journalists and influencers and proactively developing new relationships with a diverse range of media, platforms and channels.
- Keep abreast of relevant political and cultural issues that may affect Bradford 2025, provide analysis for senior staff members and help navigate the outcomes.
- Assist the Head of Audiences on crisis communication management and preparedness, developing proactive and reactive press handling plans and mitigating reputational damage.
- Produce engaging on-brand, accessible press releases, promotional copy, background information and briefing notes, and take the lead on key communications including award submissions.
- Work with the digital team to develop interesting and relevant editorial and content ideas that tell the story of Bradford 2025.
- Work the senior management team on internal communications to ensure there is an effective flow of information between departments, employees and trustees.
- Lead on developing media skills and experience with colleagues and the artists, producers and content makers we work with.
- Secure attendance of reviewers, bloggers, influencers at performances and help to event manage these events.
- Source and secure non-commercial filming and photography opportunities.
- Manage the evaluation of all PR campaign outcomes and provide regular reports for colleagues and key stakeholders.

You’ll have:

- Worked in a leadership capacity in a PR environment, press office or journalistic role managed successful, high-profile campaigns, seeing them through from start to finish.
- Have strong contacts with media in relevant sectors, and the ability to bring those relationships to the role.
- Success of working with and briefing journalists to place positive stories in prominent media outlets.
- Experience of proactively managing a media profile for a large organisation, with the ability to generate opportunities to promote the organisation in local, national and international media.
- A highly collaborative approach with excellent communication skills and a successful track record of influencing at a high level.
- Experience of reputation management and handling crisis communications.
- Leadership skills, with the ability to inspire others.

It would also be great if you have:

- Experience working with creative people doing creative things.
- Expertise working with and managing internal and external agencies to produce great results.

Benefits include:

- Annual salary of £45,000 - £50,000 depending upon previous experience
- 37 hours per week worked flexibly (City Centre location) with occasional evenings and weekends.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Contributory pension scheme with 5% employer contribution
- High street discounts
- 2 x death in service cover
- Confidential employee assistance helpline

We expect everyone in our team to:

- Develop an understanding of Bradford City of Culture 2025, its values, the benefits it brings to the Bradford District and to funders and sponsors.
- Create a positive w