Regional Communications Manager (South East) - Temporary (up to 8 mon

About us

The RNLI’s media team plays a key role in helping to prevent drowning, manage the RNLI’s reputation and build support for our charity’s cause. 

Your role

You’ll work with our current Regional Communications Lead and Media Trainers to recruit and support our volunteer Lifeboat Press Officers, ensuring they have the skills and resources needed to deliver local news stories, video and engaging social media content for their lifeboat station.

You’ll help plan and support our fundraising and water safety PR campaigns, while maximising the impact of our lifesaving stories and protecting the charity’s reputation.

You will be home-based within the South East region or able to travel there easily, and can work from lifeboat stations or support centres as necessary and available. The ability to work independently and prioritise your work is essential. You will be expected to travel throughout the South East.

The RNLI is a 24/7 search and rescue organisation and you should be ready to work outside normal office hours. You will also be part of an out-of-hours duty press officer rota, which will require scheduled weekend and evening work.

About you

You’ll understand the needs of our volunteers and be flexible around their needs where necessary and appropriate. You’ll also have professional PR or media experience with a strong news sense and creative flair, and you’ll generate interest by telling powerful stories across traditional, digital and social media. You’ll also have a good understanding of the regional and national news agenda.

To be successful in your application you will need:

• Experience of supporting volunteers, or a demonstrable understanding of what that requires, and an ability to conduct challenging conversations.
• Degree level or equivalent experience in media or corporate communications environment.
• Substantial experience of a busy media environment and communications best practice – media relations, press release writing, social media, basic video production.
• Substantial experience of finding and pitching stories that include key organisational messages.

Your reward will be seeing the RNLI’s reputation go from strength to strength as you help save lives, raise awareness of our lifesaving work and inspire people to support us.

This post requires a valid driving licence.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.