Media Manager

Job Advert
Are you a proactive, passionate media expert who is comfortable approaching a journalist with a suggested pitch? Are you a media professional looking for a new challenge in 2024? If so, Mencap needs you to be our next Media Manager!
We are looking for someone to join the Mencap Media team on a permanent basis. We have 2 roles to fill working 37.5 hours per week. Although this is a full-time role, we are open to applicants looking for flexible or compressed working hours.
You’ll be monitoring the news to spot reactive opportunities for us to speak out about the issues faced by people with a learning disability, while also working closely with policy colleagues to turn complex issues into snappy press comments or releases. You’ll be great at forging relationships internally and externally and know how to spot a reputational issue or sniff out a great features opportunity or PR moment for one of our Myth Buster ambassadors.
The successful candidate will be part of a small but ambitious Media Team, happy to respond to daily media queries, brief senior stakeholders and find ways to make a story go that extra mile, whether drafting copy or brainstorming creative campaigns.
We have a brand new London office and we would love you to be able to work from here with your team once a week. The rest of your working week can be flexible as to where you are based.
At Mencap, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace and we intentionally plan for the success of our colleagues in everything we do. We welcome applications from everyone, so come as you are and join us. Together we are Mencap!
Our new Media Managers will:
- Lead on development of media plans, strategies and campaigns that will generate meaningful media coverage of Mencap and its work helping to achieve charity wide objectives.
- Lead on media work for one of Mencap’s priority campaigning areas, working closely with subject matter experts to develop a dep understanding of the issues and how to make them cut through with media
- Develop and maintain relationships with journalists across broadcast, consumer, digital and print press, seeking out opportunities for Mencap to be featured.
- Work closely with colleagues in policy and parliamentary teams to understand complex issues and advise on strategic media tactics that will influence policy makers at the highest level.
- Working closely with external stakeholders such as journalists, trustees and charity partners.
- Supporting with reputational issues and crisis comms.
- Work with storytellers, ambassadors and Mencap Mythbusters, finding innovative, creative and strategic ways to encourage media to represent people with a learning disability.
- Monitor the national news agenda to identify opportunities or issues for attention, and proactively sell-in news stories and features to national media to increase Mencap’s profile and visibility of learning disability.
- Support the team, including deputising for other team members, when necessary, to find the best ways of working, to ensure we’re a top-class, high performing media team.
- Prepare and brief spokespeople and senior staff on the best media approach to take, providing guidance, recommendations and support with media interviews where needed.
- Translate complex issues into press releases and statements that are easy to digest across a range of audiences.
- Work closely with social, digital and marketing colleagues to ensure campaigns are multi-platform.
Please apply by providing an up-to-date CV that demonstrates your relevant skills and experience for this role. If you would like an informal chat please call Kirsty on 01733 873765.
This vacancy will close on Monday 26th February and interviews will take place in person on Tuesday 5th March.
Job ID: 31079
Benefits
As well as knowing that what we do is making a positive difference to people’s lives, you will receive fair pay and have access to a wide range of rewards and benefits as one of our employees.
- 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with long service plus the ability to buy up to another 10 days via our HolidayPlus scheme
- Service related sick pay when 6 month probation is completed
- Eligibility to join Mencap Pension Plan where Mencap matches contributions up to 5% on a salary sacrifice basis meaning NI savings. If you don’t join the Plan you start, you will be auto-enrolled after three months with us.
- Membership of Mencap Pension Plan to include up to 3 times salary death in service live cover AND Income Protection of 50% salary to be triggered at 26 weeks of long term sickness
- Discounts and cashback from 3% to 30% at high street shops including major super markets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via Mencap Extras
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
*T&C's apply based on contract
About Mencap
We work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose. Everyone wants a purposeful job - to do something meaningful. At Mencap, we can give you that. You will have opportunities to develop as a person, colleague, leader and activist. We want to make you feel inspired to reach your potential.
Our work includes;
- providing high-quality, flexible services that allow people to live as independently as possible in a place they choose
- providing advice through our help lines and web sites

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme