Press officer

Closing date - 17 July 2022

Department: Audiences - Press & PR

Locations: Manchester International Festival/The Factory

Remote status: Hybrid Remote

Yearly salary: £24,000 - £26,000

Employment type: Full-time

A unique opportunity to be part of the communications team, helping to deliver and launch a new arts venue for Manchester – The Factory. Work on a range of press activity reflecting our vision & ambitions!

You'll work as part of the press & communications team on a range of press activity for Manchester International Festival (MIF) & The Factory, which reflects the vision, ambition and activities of the organisation and delivers positive press coverage regionally, nationally and internationally

You'll also support the delivery of a phased communications strategy for The Factory/MIF spanning pre-opening, opening, and post-opening to enhance the organisation’s reputation and profile, and support audience development objectives

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the press team and PR consultants to deliver innovative press campaigns to communicate the aims and activities of MIF/The Factory to the media including print, broadcast, online and social media
• Contribute to strategies for communication of MIF/The Factory’s key messages across all channels
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to identify and shape stories about MIF/The Factory and its work including Skills & Training, Creative Engagement activity, International and Development
• Write and prepare clear and effective PR materials including press releases, briefing documents, statements and responses to media enquiries
• Contribute to internal communications as required including the development and distribution of the weekly internal NOTICEBOARD newsletter
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key press and media contacts and in key specialisms as appropriate and take responsibility for maintaining accurate media contacts and mailing lists
• Successfully help organise and run media and PR events and activities including press launches, interviews and photo-calls, and on-the ground co-ordination of broadcast press activity
• Maintain ticket requests and manage press desks as required
• Monitor MIF/The Factory’s presence in the media, and relevant sector-wide news and developments, including circulating clippings and preparing media reports for the organisation and relevant external contacts. Act as liaison with media monitoring agency (Cision)
• Maintain the organisation’s media library and ensure distribution to appropriate press contacts
• Book and manage press photography and shoots as required
• With press colleagues, oversee the development of the organisation’s press database (Spektrix) and its segmentation systems
• Support the communications team in monitoring MIF/The Factory’s digital channels, and the development of appropriate social media content, taking shared responsibility for the organisation’s social channels as required
• Provide admin support for the press team to include invoicing, maintenance of department filing system, travel, hospitality booking etc

Knowledge, skills, experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a busy press office, across print, broadcast and online, ideally with a focus on arts and culture
• Experience of writing press releases, statements and briefing papers
• Good knowledge of local and regional media landscape
• Comfortable with the media on telephone and in person, and communicating with a range of internal and external contacts and organisations
• Experience of media monitoring, using cuttings agencies etc
• Experience of events
• Commitment to championing representation and inclusion at every level of the organisation with a proven ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds

Desirable

• Creative and resourceful, with an ability to think beyond the obvious
• Organised, self-motivated and able to work across a range of events simultaneously, managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• A broad interest in arts and culture
• Good arts and culture contacts
• Experience of working with freelancers and agencies
• Experience of working with artists and creatives
• Enthusiasm for training, mentoring and support of emerging talent  

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.