Media and Communications Manager (Risk Management)

We're looking for a Media and Communications Manager with oversight of risk management.

As the manager for risk management, the role holder will be responsible for helping to make sure risks are being appropriately identified and mitigated. They will help the team horizon scan for both reactive and proactive opportunities, as well as helping the Senior Media and Communications Manager maintain the organisation reputational risk register and associated management documentation.

It is their job to support the Senior Media and Communications Manager in running a modern, effective press office function - which is able to quickly respond to the news agenda and other external opportunities to help position Barnardo's as a leader in the public consciousness on issues affecting children and young people.

The Media and Communications Manager will be responsible for ensuring their line reports and the team are working effectively both on their own allocated areas of focus and also together. It is the role of the team to ensure that awareness of the charity is high amongst target audiences to help it drive positive change for children and young people and inspire more people to donate, volunteer, shop and campaign with Barnardo's.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the team is in the best place to identify and mitigate against emerging risks, both internally and externally. 
• Be a trusted voice in the organisation, helping in times of crisis management and demonstrating an ability to help resolve complex, and sensitive, issues. 
• Support the Senior Media and Communications Manager to ensure the team are using the Reputational Risk Register and have the knowledge and skills they need to identify and respond to risks as they emerge. 
• Managing and supporting line reports, through regular 1-2-1s and personal development plans to ensure they are achieving and growing at Barnardo's.
• Building and maintaining relationships – and ensuring all members of the team are building relationships – with key media outlets and contacts across the UK, to bring about positive coverage for the charity.
• Horizon scanning on behalf of Barnardo's, both in traditional media and on social media, to ensure the charity is in the best possible position to respond quickly to the news agenda and any reactive opportunities.
• Staying abreast of trends and helping to ensure the team understands and utilises advances within both the charity and media sectors – be that trending topics on social media, AI, popular podcasts or pieces of thought leadership.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• 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
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.  

Our basis and values