Communications Manager

Overview

The Cathedral has a highly ambitious strategic plan that requires a significant step-change in our approach to deliver. The role of Communications Manager reports direct to the Registrar with oversight across the organisation, and supports our senior leadership and well as our development and marketing functions to help deliver an ambitious and aspirational vision for the future, thereby sustaining the work of the Cathedral for future generations. The post-holder will be required to work in close collaboration with the Marketing Manager on campaign planning and delivery, and with the Development Team to support fundraising activity.

Introduction

St Paul’s draws together a very diverse set of activities, projections and aspirations.  It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of London and the seat of its Bishop, a national church and an international spiritual focus, a space for worship and holiness, a place of debate and challenge, an icon of resilience in the face of adversity, an architectural heritage centre, a partner in the City of London, and a commercial enterprise.  In addition to holding four services every day (five on Sundays), St Paul’s is open for sight-seeing six days a week, and in 2018 welcomed over 850,000 paying visitors.

Main Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Advising the Registrar and the Chapter tactically and strategically as the Cathedral’s communications specialist
• Working closely with an apprentice, devising effective digital and social media plans and content to support agreed messages and campaigns
• Working closely with the Marketing Manager to develop strategic PR plans to support marketing campaigns and promote the Cathedral’s activities
• Producing press releases, holding statements, Cathedral -wide communications, and other appropriate copy, and identifying opportunities to maximise the Cathedral’s  profile via the media
• Facilitating requests from journalists, film crews, radio crews, magazine journalists, photographers etc. to ensure the Cathedral’s message reaches target audience
• Acting as the Cathedral’s spokesperson to ensure the Cathedral’s messages are accurately reflected and communicated
• Handling crisis issues and providing rapid response where necessary together with appropriate written / verbal statements for Chapter, staff and press to ensure there is minimum negative impact on the Cathedral’s reputation
• Contributing to internal communications, focusing in particular on the production of an internal newsletter, and ensure staff are aware of key Cathedral messages in advance of external delivery
• Ensuring the media is monitored and evaluated effectively to ensure objectives are met
• Liaising with teams across the organisation, building effective relationships to leverage impact across all PR channels
• Preparing briefing notes for colleagues ahead of any agreed media interviews, attending interviews and handling all follow up with both colleagues and journalists
• Working closely with the Marketing Manager and other colleagues on the development and maintenance of the Cathedral Website (including St Paul’s Cathedral Trust America)
• Responding to out of hours requirements by ensuring a protocol is in place for weekends and key evenings
• Providing advice and training to Chapter, Heads of Departments to prepare for media interviews
• Managing  filming and photography requests, ensuring appropriate risk assessments, location and access agreements are in place
• Any other appropriate duties that the line manager, senior management or Chapter may request from time-to-time.

Work Examples

Organising press calls, organising film crews on site, establishing cross-Cathedral schedules, setting up openings and events, writing key messages for staff being interviewed, providing written briefing materials.

Planning & Organising

Planning media activity in conjunction with marketing campaigns, working to target specific audiences and within agreed timescales; planning of requirements for film crews, organising and scheduling interviews / filming opportunities; organising own time to ensure deadlines are met.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• At least five years’ experience in PR in ideally gained in a leisure, tourism, heritage or faith-based organisations
• Degree educated, with first class communication skills, both in writing and public speaking
• Strong media contacts
• Social media experience
• Demonstrable experience of advising and influencing senior stakeholders
• Crisis communications experience
• Experience of working collaboratively with a marketing team on campaigns
• Experience of planning and managing budgets
• Trustworthy with sensitive and confidential information
• Able to quickly establish good working relationships and promote best practice at all levels
• Highly motivated, flexible, enthusiastic, innovative and creative with required determination to achieve results
• Highly organised in order to successfully manage and prioritise a varied and demanding workload.

Desirable

• Internal communications experience
• Experience of international travel trade PR
• CIPR qualified / member

The successful candidate will be in sympathy with, and in their work support, the Christian aims and mission of St Paul’s Cathedral.

About us

Our Mission Statement

St Paul’s Cathedral seeks to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.

Our Vision

• St Paul’s is seen primarily as a living Christian Church
• We will be a centre for welcome, worship and learning, and though our care and imagination, will inspire successive generations to engage with the richness of the Christian faith and its heritage.
• Working with the Bishop and Diocese of London and the wider Church, we will be a spiritual focus for people across London, the nation and a broader international audience.
• Our work will promote dignity and justice for everyone.

Our Values

Welcome – we all offer a warm inclusive welcome to everyone: our colleagues, volunteers and each and every visitor

Responsible – we are all responsible for each other and for part of the whole of the Cathedral’s work, not the whole of a part

Effective – we are professional and do what we say we are going to do

Nourish – we have a learning culture, not a blame culture