Senior Press Officer

Contract Type: Fixed Term (FTA), 18 months

Closing Date: 28/04/2024

Wakehurst is looking for an experienced Senior Press Officer to join their dynamic Marketing & Strategic Communications Group. The Senior Press Officer is responsible for delivering creative and impactful PR campaigns that will drive engagement, visitation and brand awareness. The postholder will lead primarily on communications for Wakehurst’s vibrant events programme, whilst contributing to the wider brand campaign to establish Wakehurst’s reputation as Kew’s wild botanic garden, and the efficient running of the Wakehurst press office. 

We are looking for a confident and enthusiastic individual who has proven experience of delivering national PR campaigns, securing broadcast, print and online coverage, ideally for a cultural organisation or visitor attraction. You must have experience of working in a busy press office, and have outstanding copywriting and verbal communication skills. You must have a keen eye for strong stories, and ideally be passionate about protecting our planet.  

This role is based at Wakehurst with hybrid working. Minimum 2 days in the office at Wakehurst with occasional last minute needs to be onsite for reactive press purposes. Extra days at Kew Gardens also possible. 

This role will involve a modest amount (approx 30-50h per annum) of evening and weekend work for preview or press events, photo/film shoots, on call duties to manage media at peak times and activate alerts during adverse weather events.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi. 

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

If you are interested in this position, please click on the Apply button to find out more.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.