Job Title: Communications Manager

Directorate/Team: Research, Policy and Communications

Reporting To: Head of Communications & Corporate Affairs

Location: Hybrid, Central London Office

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £40,000

Benefits: 

Attractive benefits package including 5% matched contribution pension, free gym membership, Private Health Cover, discount platform, birthday day off and more.

ukactive is the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, representing around 4,000 member organisations. Our mission is to get more people more active, more often. As the voice of physical activity in the UK, we champion its role in tackling some of society’s biggest challenges – from relieving the burden on the NHS, to improving mental health, combatting loneliness, and boosting the economy by improving workforce health. We promote our sector’s work through high-profile campaigns, provide expert support to our members on issues of reputational concern, conduct critical research, and lobby the Government to improve the landscape so our members can grow and reach more people.

General duties

The primary responsibility of the Communications Manager is to drive awareness of ukactive, our sector and our agenda, generate significant media and policy impact, and support us to achieve our strategic objectives as a business.

They are also responsible for leading the planning, development and implementation of integrated communications to media, ukactive members, partners and stakeholders, to raise the profile of ukactive and the physical activity sector across a number of areas of interest. 

In addition, the Communications Manager will work closely with other members of the Corporate Affairs, Membership, and Marketing teams to coordinate and develop first-class communications across a range of channels for members and other stakeholders, as well as supporting internal communications to ensure knowledge-sharing and brand awareness across the organisation. 

Specific tasks and responsibilities

• Promote, protect and enhance the reputation of ukactive with all key stakeholders. 
• Write press releases, reactive statements, features, comments and thought-leadership contributions for trade and national media. 
• Lead a proactive and reactive press office – managing press lists and incoming journalist requests and building meaningful connections with journalists to raise our profile and improve the understanding of our sector’s work.
• Develop and implement consumer and trade PR and communications plans for key ukactive audiences relating to specific projects and campaigns, such as sector development programmes and National Fitness Day.
• Track all media coverage for communications campaigns, evaluate ROI, targeting and reach, and report key learnings to apply to future campaigns.  
• Deliver strategic communications and guidance on emerging issues within ukactive’s Sector Risk Register, supporting the ukactive member Marketing and Communications Network to mitigate risk and identify opportunities through improved sector positioning and media engagement. 
• During a crisis or major incident, provide a high-quality communications and engagement service for the organisation and its members. 
• Develop planning and scheduling of all communications, including a calendar that supports the organisational roadmap and sets out the strategic milestones for the organisation.
• Support our social media work with key strategic messaging and plans, as well as guidance on positioning and style, to maximise impact and engagement, and to ensure quality and consistency across all external communications. 
• Manage ukactive newsletters, including the Daily Media Review.
• Coordinate and edit blog contributions from members of ukactive’s Strategic Partner Group. 
• Support ukactive events and campaigns with proactive communications planning and multimedia content. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Essential

• Strong PR experience, either in-house or agency, or equivalent journalism experience, with a minimum of two years’ experience in a full-time role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including evidence of effective copywriting for press releases, media pitches, copyediting of features and blogs, and digital communications.
• Good media relations and a track record of effective PR results and successful campaigns, in terms of objectives and return on investment.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and balance demands across multiple areas and projects in a busy working environment.
•  Self-motivated, confident, and calm under pressure. 
•  Good knowledge of media landscape and behaviours.
• Ability to communicate complex, nuanced detail with engaging brevity.
• Ability to combine logical thinking with creative flair to devise innovative solutions.
•  Degree qualification or equivalent. 

Desired 

• CIPR qualification and status.
• Experience or an interest in the physical activity sector, its culture and external influences.
• An interest in politics and public affairs.