Your role will focus on the positioning of my client in the UK in a corporate context providing strategic counsel on media relations and corporate reputation.

Specifically;
* Delivery of a proactive and reactive media relations service
* Creation of and maintaining first class relationships with national, trade, consumer, local and regional media working closely with Group colleagues
* Developing news-flow in the UK, in particular story/opinion development and placing, thought leadership, management of issues that affect corporate reputation
* Working across UK and Group functions to deliver an integrated UK communications strategy working closely with Group media relations, internal comms and public affairs

Dimensions:

Non Financial
* Drive up the strategic nature and commerciality of our media relations
* Co-creation of a co-ordinated UK media relations and corporate reputation strategy and plan incorporating strategic fit, budgets and aligned to overall Corporate Affairs strategy agreed at UK Exec
* Provide 'out of hours' cover on an 'on call' basis (evenings and weekends)
* Deputise for the Head of Media Relations/Director of Media Relations where necessary

Financial
* Manage budget and resources for media relations projects and campaigns, ensuring within budget
* Secure budget and resources for Business unit specific deliverables through the appropriate governance forums

People Management
* Hold people to account through effective performance management to ensure achievement of commercial outcomes
* Empower direct reports and teams ensuring individuals and teams understand their accountabilities and work collaboratively to deliver objectives

Relationships
Internal
Employees at all levels to CEO, Company spokespeople, Global Communications network
External
Journalists, PR consultancies and other suppliers, Peers in other leading companies

Role Outcomes:
* Provision of first class media relations service aligned to the UK strategy and measured by external benchmarking
* Delivery of media relations projects to support UK business strategy and goals eg cross UK campaigns media relations events, thought leadership, etc.
* Effective management of issues to protect corporate reputation, including crisis management.
* Management of corporate announcements such as re-structures, off-shoring, outsourcing, redundancies, major business deals etc.
* Support Corporate Affairs Director on corporate calendar activity.
* Maximises opportunities to profile my client and its leaders in the media and in other external forms, through speaking opportunities and other key stakeholder engagement
* Provide strategic counsel to internal stakeholders on media relations matters
* Create and maintain highly effective working relationships across the UK business and communications teams and production of integrated communications plans
* Provision of first-class knowledge of industry activity and issues and bring this insight into media relations activity. Speak authoritatively on these issues both internally and externally
* Agencies used cost effectively, delivering added value to meet stated business objectives
* Ensure corporate reputation activity embraces opportunities created by new technology eg. social media

Essential Knowledge and Skills
* Proven media relations experience and understanding
* Understanding of financial/corporate calendar activity
* Ability to develop a detailed understanding of the business and the wider insurance and business context and speak credibly to financial journalists and other opinion formers on these matters
* Excellent oral and written communication skills
* Ability to see the big picture
* Ability to present complex matters in a clear concise way
* Understanding of other communication disciplines to ensure media relations 'fit'
* Sound financial and commercial acumen
* Ability to challenge the status quo

hy-phen is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

hy-phen is an Equal Opportunities employer; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds