Senior Press and Communications Officer - Cambridge

Our client requires a senior press and communications officer to join their team based in Cambridge

The main purpose of this job is to raise and develop the company?s profile in the minds of its global audiences. As an experienced PR practitioner, the ideal candidate will proactively drive both corporate level and campaign level messages into key markets using a range of communication tools.

The marketing communications group supports our clients marketing activities through the UK, USA and continental Europe. The group is responsible for creating awareness and interest in the organisation and its core business-focused campaigns, through a programme of traditional marketing channels. These include, but are not limited to: press and public relations, advertising, web presence, direct mail, exhibitions, visits, and presentations.

The group is also responsible for developing the marketing strategy for 15 campaigns across the company and then making sure they are delivered, to an extremely high standard, throughout the year.

As a team of six people, individuals need to be team players and willing to turn their hand to a range of marketing activities, with a positive approach to what can be achieved.

The Senior Press and Communications Officer is responsible for the creation and delivery of both internal and external communications. This includes:
? The development and delivery of a balanced communications plan
? The design, production, and execution of press releases, articles and other media broadcasts
? Liaison and relationship with our PR company in the UK and USA to ensure our client gets value for money from these resources
? Developing innovative approaches to the public relations function to ensure they maintain their leading position with market-voice
? Developing and maintaining relationships with key journalists in both the national and trade press
? The styling, development and production of our clients bi-annual publication - Interface
? Writing & editing material for their website, as well as using it as a tool for the broadcast of PR material
? Developing relationships across all divisions and campaigns to help technologists uncover potential stories and driving activity in areas of greatest need
? Supporting the CEO and other directors with internal and external communications
? Managing and editing the company?s in-house monthly newsletter : OWL

To be considered for this post all applicants will be well qualified, either through academic pursuit or relevant experience. It is important that you are able to understand the work of the company and then represent their strengths to key audiences.

It is essential that the right candidate is not intimidated by technology, and is able to convey complex technological subjects to a variety of audiences, using appropriate style and language : be that to a national paper, or to the technical/trade press. A natural communicator, you will be comfortable working at all levels within, and outside of, the company. You will have a strong ability to identify and then exploit potential news stories.

The right candidate will have the gravitas to represent the company appropriately, even to the most senior of journalists.

You should possess excellent writing skills. These skills will allow them to be sought out as an authority on the use of English across the range of communication tools we deploy.

A background in public relations or journalism is a necessity, as is an existing network of journalists. Existing experience of successfully managing the relationship with a PR agency would be an advantage.

Our client committed to developing its employees? careers and has a flexible policy for individual?s capabilities and preferences. Promotion is linked to merit.

Employment benefits
? Good salaries, based on merit and reviewed annually
? Profit share in addition to basic salary
? Flexible working hours
? Free lunches and refreshments
? Private medical insurance and company sickness scheme
? Pension scheme including free life assurance
? 25 days annual holiday plus bank holidays
? Active social committee
? Well equipped and pleasantly situated building on the Cambridge Science Park
? Above all, real responsibility for real business problems with good career prospects based on merit
? Excellent career development and training opportunities

We are an Employment Business and an Employment Agency as defined within The Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Businesses Regulations 2003