Media & Communications Officer

Press & Communications Officer

Survival is looking for a creative, strategic and ambitious Press and Communications Officer to secure hard-hitting media coverage that can help stop abuses of Indigenous rights. This is a chance to use your story-telling skills, your understanding of the media, and your strategic thinking in order to get media attention in a highly competitive environment – and shine much-needed light on catastrophic but often-overlooked human rights crises.

The Press & Communications Officer will secure media attention in order to both build public awareness and influence decision-makers, with a particular focus on UK and US markets. You will report to the Director of Communications in London, while working closely with our research and advocacy team, as well as social media and press officers across our offices. Getting our message out is vital to our campaigning, so your work will be central to all aspects of Survival’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Devise short and long-term strategies for securing impactful media coverage of Survival’s campaigns, and help plan communications output accordingly.
• In particular, develop strategies to expand coverage of Survival’s work into those sectors and geographical areas which are a high priority for us.
• Secure high quality media coverage through both reaching out to journalists and reacting to media enquiries, pushing Survival’s core messages and campaigns.
• Propose, draft, and send out press releases, liaising with researchers.
• Work with researchers and with journalists to ensure Survival’s core messages are clear and prominent in media coverage.
• Cultivate and maintain a strong network of media contacts, developing strong relationships with journalists, podcasters, etc and building Survival’s profile as a “go-to” organization.
• Help to coordinate media and communications work across our international offices, and work with fellow press offices in other countries to increase collaboration and improve Survival’s media profile and impact.
• Help out on all comms tasks, stepping in when needed to create content, engage supporters on our social media channels, and much more.

Required skills and experience

• A commitment to and passionate enthusiasm for Survival’s cause and for using the media as a tool for human rights advocacy.
• Experience in media and communications work for campaigning, with an active interest in how communications for social justice works.
• Up-to-date knowledge of English-language traditional and new media.
• Exceptionally strong writing skills, with total fluency and accuracy in written English.
• Proven ability to communicate complex situations and messages in compelling ways for public audiences, and to balance impact, simplicity, and accuracy.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to craft and pitch stories to appeal to a variety of media outlets.
• Solid experience in giving interviews for both print and broadcast media.
• Strong sensitivity to detail and nuance, and a commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, and the ability to juggle and prioritise a varied and often heavy workload.
• Resilience and the ability to persist when confronted with obstacles or rejections.
• Willingness and ability to adapt your schedule to breaking stories as needed.
• Confidence, resourcefulness, and the ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Good IT skills.

Desirable skills and experience

• Additional languages (particularly Spanish, French, Portuguese or Indonesian) are advantageous.
• Video and photo editing skills are a distinct advantage.

What can we offer you?

When you join Survival International, you’re getting more than just a career: you’re gaining a rare  opportunity to join a unique and dedicated campaigning organization. You will be working with an international team of passionate people who really care about human rights and want to change the status quo. Being part of a small team, you will not be pigeonholed by your job description. Your voice counts and we welcome your ideas.

Our benefits include:

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and discretionary Christmas closure
• Hybrid working arrangements (office / home) with possibility of up to one month remote per year.
• Flexibility in working hours as agreed with line managers.
• Generous employer pension scheme.
• Ability to work as part of an international team.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Salary range:           £30,000-£34,000 per annum depending on experience

Hours of work:           This is a full-time position (35 hours per week, excluding lunch break) with a 3-month probationary period

Location:               Hybrid, with at least 2 days in London office required

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.