Global Media Manager

Global Media Manager

Permanent, Full Time

Location – Remote, London based with occasional requirement to travel to our offices in Wiltshire and Scotland for meetings from time to time and international travel when needed.

Salary – £50,066 to £56,336 dependent upon experience

About HALO:

HALO is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 28 countries and territories, with over 12,000 staff. Most of our staff are local employees and include a growing number of women. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence, creating more durable solutions to support stability. HALO addresses human suffering caused by armed violence in some of the world’s most fragile places, securing weapons and ammunition, and working with both state and community actors to reduce the prevalence of armed violence. In recent years HALO has grown significantly. With our financial strength and strong partnerships with corporates, governments and private donors, HALO is uniquely positioned to help build more resilient and prosperous communities; better equipped to respond to the interconnected global challenges of war, climate change, disease, political and economic instability. As a result, the nature of our programming is diversifying to increase the impact we can have.

About the role:

If you are adept at building relationships with a variety of stakeholders including journalists, media outlets and influencers with a track record of managing media strategy then this is an unmissable opportunity for you to join our fun, driven communications team with a strong humanitarian purpose. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Media Manager to join and develop with our growing team and play a key role in raising HALO’s profile. We’re looking for someone with extensive media contacts in the UK and international press.

Reporting to the Global Head of Media, you’ll be used to pitching fast-paced stories at the heart of the news agenda and adept at making editorial judgements about target media and reporters, compelling hooks, timing and other factors.

Based in 30 countries from Afghanistan to Somalia, Yemen and Ukraine, HALO has been clearing weapons of war and making communities safe for 35 years. We have stories in abundance, excellent spokespeople and an increasingly authoritative voice on a wide range of issues associated with conflict. Now we need to expand our team so we can reach more policymakers, business leaders and philanthropists through a broader spectrum of media.

Responsibilities

• Work with Head of Media to develop and implement our media strategy
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, media outlets and influencers to secure coverage for HALO’s work and thought leadership
• Proactively seek out opportunities for HALO to comment on breaking news in media and social media, and work with Head of Media/Social Media Manager to turn around comment quickly
• Expand our monitoring of journalist social media feeds and ensure we are making good use of social channels to underpin our media outreach, identifying opportunities for our CEO and other spokespeople to feature in compelling news-led content
• Develop and pitch other story ideas that highlight the impact of our work in vulnerable countries
• Write compelling content including press releases, OpEds and media briefings
• Issue press releases
• Liaise with colleagues to coordinate media visits to programmes and other opportunities
• Develop or refine messaging, as required
• Prepare briefings and prep HALO colleagues for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews as well as print
• Help to protect HALO’s reputation by making sound judgements and giving good counsel to colleagues/spokespeople
• Draft scripts for HALO’s podcast, liaise with host’s agent to develop recording schedule, book studio and guide edits post-recording; hand off to the Social Media Manager for upload, sharing and amplifying
• Manage HALO’s Press Office; monitor and respond to enquiries, provide weekend cover, keep FAQs, media database and ‘lines to take’ up to date
• Manage relationships and provide support to documentary makers/production crews
• Support Head of Media in upskilling programme staff and maintaining training materials
• Monitor and analyse media coverage related to conflict and humanitarian issues, to identify trends and emerging issues that could influence our strategy
• Report on the impact of media coverage with reference to our objectives

Requirements

• Good grasp of geopolitics
• Passion for news and a proven ‘nose for a story’
• Significant experience working in a busy Press Office or newsroom (broadcast or print)
• Proven track record in securing media coverage (UK/international), ideally in the humanitarian sector
• Good working knowledge of a broad spectrum of media
• Excellent writer who can adapt style to meet different needs

Desirable

• Degree in Journalism or International Relations
• Proficient in German or Dutch

Attributes

• Excellent people skills
• Team player
• Good under pressure
• Sense of humour

All HALO staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of HALO’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or group business plan objectives.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities.
• Travel overseas as and when required.
• To discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s Health and Safety Procedures which may include Risk and COSHH Assessments and participation in evacuation procedures as necessary.

Benefits of working at HALO:

• Salary of £50,066 - £56,336 dependent upon experience
• Annual Leave: 25 days plus 8 statutory holidays

• Non-contributory life assurance
• Pension contributions matched by HALO up to 5%
• Emergency medical insurance when travelling overseas
• Flexible working policy

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) detailing why you are suitable for this role, before the closing date for applications which is 6th June 2023. If there is a sufficient calibre of applicants, we reserve the right to close the role earlier than the date noted.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people form a diverse candidate pool.