We are looking for a senior communications professional with experience of working with the media and creating great content to:

• Support our projects with securing “interactions” with the media (informal meet-ups between creatives, journalists and broadcasters and our networks who have experience of social issues).
• Manage the outgoing communications of the organisation.

This is a new role working 4 days per week.

Job type: Fixed term 12 month contract with potential to extend subject to funding. 3 month
probation period.

Working: 4 days per week

Reporting to: Head of Operations

Based at: On Road Media, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road / working
from home during pandemic with sporadic access to office.

Salary: £38k per annum pro rata

Benefits: 5% pension contribution. 25 days holiday plus bank holidays. Mentoring scheme
and training.

Start date: ASAP

Deadline for applications: 12pm Monday 14th September 2020

Interviews will be held in mid September

Interactions: We’re looking for someone who comes from a media background, who can speak with creatives and journalists about our projects, and set up “interactions” with our networks. This is our unique and powerful behind-the-scenes methodology that brings about better understanding of social issues through informal meet-ups (with journalists, celebrities, producers), which lead to more nuanced and positive programming.

Interactions have been developed and refined by our team since 2011, replacing traditional diversity training or campaigning at media professionals which often pushes statistics and facts about a community or issue at time-poor, overloaded journalists in an industry which is undergoing seismic change. Our experience shows that a journalist who has connected on a personal level with an issue is more likely to take it upon themselves to quickly research the topic, and often champion the issue within their organisation.

Communications for the organisation: As a small organisation (currently 10 people and growing) we would like for this post-holder to also manage the outgoing communications of the organisation, sharing our work with our networks, supporters, the media and funders through newsletters, social media and other content. They will have excellent writing skills and be able to create excellent newsletters and blogs and build on the On Road house style.

The post-holder will support the visibility of our projects and support project managers to amplify the voices of their networks, by pitching content ideas and helping to shape articles. They will bring a wealth of knowledge to the team on how the UK media works and will play a vital role in bolstering the skills of the team in house and connecting the organisation to their networks in the media, where relevant.

About On Road

On Road is an award-winning charity that tackles social problems by improving media coverage of misrepresented groups and issues. We work towards long term narrative change by informing everything we do with research that tells us which stories are most effective to create positive social change for people.

We support people with first hand experience of the issues to do safer, more strategic media work, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes, bringing them together with the media to inspire fresh and nuanced content with a focus on popular culture.

Our projects include “Talking About Poverty”, “Angles: A Different Take on Sexual and Domestic Abuse”, “All About Trans”, and “Media Movers” which supports young people with migrant backgrounds. We have recently begun work in 2 new areas, climate, and palliative care of children. Our work has leveraged over £6 million in positive programming on these issues in the UK.

The kind of person we’re looking for loves working in a team towards the common goal of improving the world around us. You’re already passionate (or are keen to learn more) about inclusion, fairness and a representative media. You will be excited to learn about our methodology and about the prospect of playing a significant role in a small, award-winning charity. You will be up for a challenge and will enjoy the support of an experienced and friendly team and Board of Trustees.

Main Responsibilities

• Pitching and securing interactions with UK media for On Road – we have a particular interest in reaching popular culture creators as well as print and news broadcast media, including drama, film, music, soaps, podcasts, YouTubers etc.
• Work closely with project leads on a) their interaction strategies, and b) to set up interactions across On Road’s projects.
• Manage the organisation’s timely communications across websites, newsletters, blogs and social media, ensuring we have a consistent style and tone, and regular updates are managed.
• Approach the media with confidence about On Road’s work.
• Offer media expertise and knowledge in house, embedding this expertise within the team through regular updates and guided conversations, including links to connections in the media that might be useful or helpful.
• Support team with breaking news stories, when members of our networks are doing reactive new work on an ad hoc basis.
• Support project leads with preparing spokespeople for interviews or writing articles on an ad hoc basis during busy times or campaigns.
• Be involved in ad hoc proactive media work.
• Work closely with On Road’s CEO to embed the organisation as a key contact in the media industry and boost the organisation’s profile.
• Represent On Road online and at events, promoting our work and networks to the media if pitching the interaction methodology and talking about what we do.

 Job Skills and Requirements

• Experience working in or with the media including a general knowledge of how journalists and creatives work, what they need, how to reach out to them with tailored approaches.
• Great copywriter, with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience creating compelling digital content for social media and websites to further organisational or campaign objectives.
• Creative and strategic approach to problem solving.
• An awareness of and an interest in framing and strategic communications.
• An understanding of how to build relationships, trust and reciprocity within groups.
• Basic knowledge of the political and economic landscape and approaches to systemic change.
• A warm and professional communication style and excellent at talking to people, whether they be activists from the communities we work with or funders, listening to their needs and presenting ideas and solutions to their requirements. You’ll enjoy getting to know lots of different people and will be sensitive to the different needs of the groups we work with.
• Ability to bring ideas for improvements to the work, including media expertise that can support the projects to be successful.
• You will be comfortable using WordPress and Mailchimp (or similar), and will be familiar with social media and happy to get stuck in with sharing information about our work, with the support of the project leads. You will identify opportunities for On Road through our online presence and develop areas that need extra attention.
• Excellent organisational skills. Many things happen all at once when working with the media. You will be able to stay focused and organised so that everyone has what they need and there is a positive outcome for all involved.
• Excellent problem-solving skills. Inevitably, things sometimes go wrong or take unusual turns – you’ll be able and up for working with your team to find solutions to the issue at hand.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the voluntary sector, civil rights movements, charities.

Values and Behaviours

• Personally committed to On Road’s mission and collaboration-focused method of work.
• Committed to reflection and learning, including sharing failures and uncertainties; openly taking feedback from the team and members of the community on your behaviour and work.
• Awareness of your own needs: Activism and working with the media can be challenging – you will be good at knowing your limits under pressure and will be confident to ask for help when you need it. You will receive support from your team and we’re keen to nurture an environment where no-one feels worried about asking for help or support when they need it.
• Resilience working under pressure, ability and willingness to both give and take constructive feedback.
• Willingness to work the odd evening or weekend as needed, with a time-off-in-lieu policy and framework in place.
• Growing levels of self-awareness, including an understanding of how your background has shaped the opportunities afforded to you and how you relate to people from different backgrounds to you.
• Willing to develop emotional intelligence, including a growing ability to empathise with and appreciate others, creating opportunities for those you work with to grow.

Perks of the job include:

Working in a friendly office (in an Ethical Property building) surrounded by other social enterprises and charities, although currently the team works remotely from home. The office is open if required and this will be a discussion about what feels appropriate and safe, and ultimately it is the post-holder’s decision about where they would like to work during the pandemic.

• Fortnightly well-being check-ins with your manager – an opportunity for you to share feelings and experiences about your work.
• Mentoring – each staff member is set up with an external mentor after the 3 month probation period.
• Training opportunities – as a small charity, we have a modest training budget but we try our best to access training opportunities through our funders for staff where possible and encourage staff to attend events.
• Meeting amazing people through our networks of activists and journalists.
• Working alongside people who love what they do.

Application Process

• The deadline for applying is by 12pm Monday 14th September. 
• Applicants will be informed on Wednesday 16th of September if they have been invited to interview.
• Interviews take place online with Zoom in mid September as the team is working remotely during this time.

To apply, please download this application pack. Send a covering letter (no longer than one side of A4) and this completed application form to amy@onroadmedia.org.uk, subject “Application – Senior Communications and Interactions Manager”. Call us on 0203 559 6762 if you have any questions. Please mention Journo Resources when applying – it really helps us out.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities (visible and invisible, mental and physical); people who identify as being LGTBQIA; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.