Head of Media

Job description

Contract: Permanent, Full time

CAFOD is committed to being an anti-racist organisation and we are keen to increase the diversity of our communications team. We are particularly keen to seek out applications from people of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Do you have a nose for a story, the ability to work interesting nuggets of information into a compelling story package for broadcasters and news outlets, and a desire to work on some of the biggest social justice issues of our time?

One of the UK’s largest international development charities is on the hunt for somebody to lead our media work.

CAFOD, one of the 15 member agencies that make up the Disasters Emergency Committee, is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and stands alongside vulnerable communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

A part of one of the world’s largest aid networks (Caritas Internationalis), which has a presence in 193 countries, we inspire huge trust among our supporters – which we don’t take for granted – and we’re well known and respected among UK policymakers.

Whether it’s leading our communications responses to emergency appeals, coming up with creative ways to shout about the amazing fundraising of supporters in the UK, or leading our strategic communication efforts to change UK government policy for the benefit of marginalised communities, this role offers a chance to use your media skills for good.

This is a stimulating and varied role, requiring a creative outlook, tenacity to succeed and the ability to influence and inspire others. In return, we offer a supportive and nurturing work environment with fantastic colleagues, a flexible approach to managing your work alongside your life and the chance to work in support of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

About you

An experienced media and PR professional, you’ll have worked in a successful press office, and will be able to evidence your experience of creating opportunities to showcase and promote an organisation’s work, delivering integrated activity that works across both earned media and owned social channels. Hunting out opportunities for broadcast coverage and being proactive about creating media opportunities is the biggest part of this role, but you’ll also be able to drop everything and respond quickly when the news agenda requires it – using your judgement to work out what we should prioritise when for maximum impact and guiding the team to do the same.

You’ll be able to lead and inspire a small team of press officers, with a strong track record behind you of achieving media and PR goals and building great relationships with journalists and influencers. You’ll build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, recognising collaboration is key to our success, and will have a wealth of ideas about how best we can work alongside our celebrity and high-profile ambassadors to raise awareness of the issues the communities we work with are facing.

International development or charity experience is by no means essential, but you’ll be able to show a strong interest in our work and be passionate about helping deliver our mission.

CAFOD offers a range of flexible working options and there is the potential for this role to be undertaken either working from our London head office, or on a hybrid basis (working 40% of the time in our London head office).

Early applications are strongly encouraged as this role may be filled before the advertised closing date.