Media Relations Manager

Job Introduction

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join Southeastern as a Media Relations Manager. This is a hybrid role, where when in the office, you will be based at our modern London Bridge Headquarters.

Southeastern is one of the largest, busiest, and highest profile rail operators in the country and the Media Relations Manager role is local, national and trade press on a variety of reactive and proactive media opportunities.

You’ll be responsible for responsible for protecting and enhancing the company’s reputation by demonstrating how Southeastern is delivering a better, more reliable, and more sustainable railway.

Southeastern runs around 1,800 trains per day and carries nearly 130 million passengers per year. As a result, no two days are the same and you’ll need a proven ability to juggle competing deadlines, manage colleagues and journalists’ expectations and consistently provide accurate and timely information.

You will also be expected to work across the wider business to understand their workstreams, identify risks and opportunities and then develop effective and engaging communications content to tell that story. In particular, we are looking for a motivated and highly self-sufficient media professional with a proven ability to develop multi-media content to help maximise reach within mainstream media.

Last but not least, you will be the company spokesman in a high-profile, high-pressure, organisation – providing live and pre-recorded interviews, briefing journalists as well as providing expert guidance and advice to  senior internal colleagues on sensitive and high-profile issues.

In summary, you will be the company’s subject matter expert for dealing with the media, providing guidance for colleagues and senior leaders.

The role is Monday – Friday, normal office hours.

Role Responsibility

You will have a number of accountabilities and responsibilities in this role, that will include but not be limited to:

• Leading the business’ engagement, both proactively and reactively, with the national, regional and trade press in order to protect and enhance the company’s reputation.
• Ensuring all media activity is aligned with the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and the wider business strategy in order to support the journey to providing a better, more reliable and sustainable railway.
• Deputising for the Head of External Communications at internal and external events and meetings as required.
• Working collaboratively with the wider Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team to help shape communications activity and ensure media opportunities are effectively developed and delivered.
• Providing expert advice, guidance and challenge to the Executive and DOHL on issues that could negatively impact on the company’s reputation amongst the media and may impact reputation.
• Developing and maintaining good relationships with the national, local and transport press to establish a greater understanding and support for the company via the media and creating opportunities to attempt to influence public opinion on key issues.
• Effectively using modern media techniques, particularly multi-media, in order to create effective and engaging content  for use by digital news and media outlets.
• Supporting the Marketing Manager to identify PR opportunities with third parties and maximising relationships with the local press to promote Southeastern’s services.
• Working with Directorates across the business to understand their priorities and develop and deliver effective and engaging communications activity to protect and enhance their and the business’ reputation.
• Working collaboratively with the Head of External Communications and wider Executive team in the event of a ‘crisis’ scenario. Developing and delivering the company’s key messages to ensure the company is seen to be  professional, effective and compassionate. 
• Determining and delivering the company ‘lines-to-take’ and key messages when responding to press and other stakeholder enquiries and being the company spokesperson on national, trade and local TV, broadcast and print media.
• Managing the media engagement compartment of the External Communications budget efficiently and effectively.
• Representing the company at cross-industry and external meetings and events which are relevant to media and PR generally.

The Ideal Candidate

To be successful in this role, candidates need to demonstrate the below in their application:

• You have professional corporate communications experience with a proven track record in journalism and/or public relations including making complex, technical or financial information understandable to a mass audience.
• You have strong experience in written communications – with a focus on attention to detail.
• You have a proven ability to use modern techniques – particularly making best use of multi-media content to tell an effective and engaging story.
• You are experienced in decision making and problem solving in a high pressure and high-profile environment.
• You can demonstrate experience of crisis communication and change communication affecting a national brand.
• You have experience of managing several projects simultaneously within agreed deadlines.
• You have proven experience of working on major communications projects.
• You have experience in devising and delivering communications strategies.
• You have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• You have proven experience in conducting broadcast television and live radio interviews in a high pressure and hostile environment - often dealing with complex operational matters/technical data. (Desirable)
• You have media contacts in London and the South East of England. (Desirable)
• You have experience of working in a communications role within the public transport service sector. (Desirable)
• You have experience of working in a communications role for a private company with responsibilities to shareholders. (Desirable)
• You have experience in developing external communications collateral such as award entries, website, poster copy and internal communications. (Desirable)

Package Description

Southeastern recognises the value of every individual employee and offers benefits that reflect this.

As well as a generous salary, we offer an comprehensive benefits package which includes;

• A Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme 
• Free rail travel on Southeastern and GTR rail services (extends to family members for leisure/educational travel)
• After a qualifying period, reduced rate travel on other train operators, including European services
• Up to 25 days annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays)
• Private healthcare
• Access to an array of discounts for retail and leisure products through our benefits scheme.
• Family friendly benefits including enhanced maternity/paternity leave, parental leave and carers leave.

About the Company

About Southeastern

Southeastern runs train services into London from Kent and East Sussex, operating almost 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 400,000 passengers, serving 176 stations and covering 540 miles of track.

Just over 4,600 employees - mostly from the communities that we serve - work together to provide this vital service and we are looking to expand our successful team. We have a strong set of values that shape the way we run our business and guide our staff in delivering what our customers need. These are:

• We aim to be the best
• We make the difference together
• We care passionately about our people and our passengers

We are committed to being an inclusive employer, creating a workplace where everyone can come to work, feel safe and comfortable and able to do everything to the best of their ability. Read about some of the great Diversity and Inclusion initiatives our Head of Colleague Experience has been leading on . 

We recognise the positive value of diversity and it matters to us that our teams reflect the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

We proud to be a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women. If you would like to know more information about how we are supporting our employees, you can view our policies and initiatives .

We have also won the Top Employer award at the Women in Rail Awards 2022!

If you have been unsuccessful in the recruitment process for the same/similar position you will not be eligible to apply for a period of 6 months from that date.

All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years and any previous railway employment). We will also complete right to work in the UK and criminal record checks. This is to ensure we are employing the best person for the role and to protect our customers, colleagues and our reputation. We are unable to offer sponsorship to work in the UK. 

This post will close before the intended closing date should sufficient number of suitable applications be received. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this role, we suggest that you do so at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.

SOUTHEASTERN is owned by SE Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of the Department for Transport’s public sector owning group, ‘DOHL.’ DOHL has responsibility for three rail companies, LNER, Northern Trains Limited and SE Trains.

SE Trains Limited