As Head of Media and Public Affairs you will lead, plan, develop and implement effective media and public affairs strategies to actively promote the RCPCH and its priorities for maximum influence and impact.

The Head of Media and Public Affairs is an important leadership role at the College. You will work closely with journalists and media organisations to champion the College in the media as well as securing political support for our policy messages, through stakeholder relationships within the UK Government, Whitehall and the Westminster Parliament.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs, you will manage, direct and motivate the team to successfully achieve performance goals. You will play a pivotal role in driving the College’s Westminster public affairs work to secure our advocacy goals and you will also manage the out-of-hours media rota, being flexible to be on-call to media as required. You will also take responsibility for preparing and monitoring the Media and Public Affairs team budget, ensuring that all operational expenditure is value for money.

Degree educated or with relevant professional experience you will have demonstrable experience of developing and implementing proactive media and public affairs strategies and a strong track record in leading, planning, implementing and evaluating integrated communications strategies.

With proven leadership and performance management skills, you should also have a background of working with and influencing senior managers and have proven stakeholder management skills, being able to develop and nurture high level contacts in media and government.

Experience of briefing senior staff to act as spokespeople through the media and in direct engagement with political stakeholders is essential. Direct experience of working within an organisation that delivers health or children’s services would be desirable.