Lloyd's Register recruiting for a Media Relations Lead

Lloyd's Register is currently recruiting for a Media Relations Lead – a fantastic opportunity to act as LR’s bridge to the external world through various PR activities including the management of relationships with non-client stakeholders.

The Media Relations Lead, reporting to the Head of External Relations, acts as the bridge to the external world, raising brand awareness through building mutual understanding and goodwill with non-client external stakeholders including journalists (trade and mainstream), thought leaders, trade associations etc. to support the success of LR’s business objectives.

The Media Relations Lead facilitate two-way engagement by developing and managing PR plans and external relationships to ensure proactive and reactive messaging and press activity aligns with LR’s overall strategy. When required, Media Relations Lead will work to heal negative events that impact LR’s brand reputation and perception. This includes issue monitoring and management, and crisis communication.

The Media Relations Lead works with colleagues across the Brand & Corporate Affairs team to support the commercial objectives of the M&O and Maritime Performance Services business lines, while simultaneously helping to build LR’s brand as a ‘trusted advisor’ across the ocean economy.

Responsibilities

• Managing the flow of news
• Developing PR strategies / proactive press activity in line with commercial objectives of the M&O and Maritime Performance Services business lines and to promote LR thought leadership:
• Pitching ideas and supporting with story development - pulling together quarter by quarter views of feature content in maritime trades
• Aligning with Client Marketing team to support GTM activity and ‘heartbeat’ comms where appropriate
• Management of reactive and proactive media enquiries, ensuring they are responded to promptly and efficiently, using third-party writing support when necessary:
• Contacting relevant SMEs and co-ordinating responses
• Drafting features for relevant publications
• support Head of External Relations with issues management – drafting holding statements
• Pitching and facilitating interviews with SMEs – briefing notes, attendance and follow-up
• Preparation and dispatch of press releases:
• sourcing information, material and assets
• drafting LR quotes and getting third party quotes/approval
• working with internal comms and getting internal sign-off (legal, senior management)
• organising the upload of press releases on lr.org
• Create and maintain relationships with maritime press:
• regular catch ups with top tier and second tier press to raise brand awareness and facilitate opportunities
• manage and maintain maritime lists - regular review and update via Roxhill
• segmentation through sector / geographies
• Work with areas to provide regional and local media support and activity management – both with content and delivery
• Developing a dedicated press area on lr.org:
• revisiting ‘news’ section on current website
• segmentation through content type, topic etc.
• relevant contact details for Media Relations Lead
• Horizons production
• Working with colleagues across the External Relations team, support the production of LR’s quarterly magazine and its evolution to a web first product, including:
• Management of a third-party designer
• Creation of flatplans and running orders
• Writing copy which includes identifying the story, interviewing SME and write up
• Editing copy and sourcing relevant images
• securing relevant permissions (third party, SMES etc)
• Supporting the commissioning of stories with editorial board and External Relations team
• Events and stakeholder management
• Supporting Head of External Relations with building relationships with a range of external organisations and influencers with whom LR are seeking to build strategic partnerships
• Developing synopses for events and supporting speaker recruitment
• Supplying assets (about LR text, bios, logos, images etc.) and support with bespoke asset creation
• Maintenance of internal shared folders
• Maintaining External Relations content and activities on team folders and the Marketing Gateway with support from colleagues in External Relations and Client Marketing, including headshot & biography library, BER activity, messaging, finalised copy (press releases, editorial, QAs etc.)

To be considered

• A degree or equivalent from a tertiary organisation recognised by Lloyd's Register is highly desirable
• Experience of managing and delivering strategic communication programmes with demonstrable, measurable results
• At least five years’ experience in a communication/public relations environment
• Knowledge of the maritime industry with a desire to foster strong media and stakeholder relationships supporting the positive positioning of LR positively across the sector
• Experience of working in a global, culturally diverse matrix organisation is highly desirable
• Ability to combine strategic thinking/planning with day-to-day execution and reporting
• Strong communications skills, demonstrating a diplomatic and collaborative approach
• Ability to communicate at different levels within organisations and to influence successfully and openly, especially with culturally diverse audiences
• Self-starter mentality and the ability to work within a diverse team
• A team player who is willing and able to drive the evolution of the external relations function
• Flexible approach to adjust role and objectives as the position develops

Read more and apply here.