Head of Media and External Engagement

Priory Central Services
Due to limits on sponsorship allocations, we are not currently in a position to offer sponsorship to new candidates for these roles, this remains under review

Priory is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare and adult social care in the UK.

The communications and marketing team is responsible for telling a clear and compelling story about Priory across our paid, owned and earned channels that attracts, engages and positions us as a provider of choice for the people we support, their families, our colleagues and partners.

The location of this role is hybrid – London based with travel to our Priory Hammersmith Office and Marketing office based at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal, Stockport – as required.

Job overview:

We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced communications professional for the position of head of media and external engagement. In this key leadership role, you will be responsible for media relations, and developing and implementing strategic external relations initiatives to enhance Priory’s reputation, build strong stakeholder relationships, and promote our purpose and mission.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Developing and implementing external relations initiatives to enhance Priory’s reputation
Delivering a press office function at Priory: providing strategic counsel on reputational risk and media management, proactively generating positive coverage, and leading on risk media and crisis communications.
Ensure effective, co-ordinated engagement with key stakeholders and opinion formers
Demonstrating Priory’s thought leadership
Working closely with other members of the marketing and communications team

What we would like from the role holder

Experience in developing and implementing successful external communications strategies, including media relations and stakeholder management
Strong experience of issues management and crisis communications (within healthcare an advantage)
Experience of/confidence to work with journalists at national level, including on negative issues
Proven track-record of generating creative PR ideas and placing them in the stories in media
Proven track record of developing and implementing co-ordinated stakeholder engagement activities

Working Enviornment:

Working as part of a marketing and communications team which is based between London, Manchester and Berlin.
This is a hybrid role with the option to work remotely and from an office base in Hammersmith (London) with some travel to Stockport (Cheadle).
Due to the nature of media relations, work outside of conventional hours will be required alongside on-call duty out of hours and on weekends as part of a rota.

What we would like to give you:

25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays + Birthday Day off
Online discounts and cashback rewards
SMART pension
Technology scheme (qualifying period)
Cycle to work scheme (qualifying period)
Employee referral scheme
Career pathways programme

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the full job description attached prior to making an application.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy ahead of the closing date if a successful applicant is appointed.