Communications Officer

Job Description
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 8,000 members – the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK negotiates rights deals and collects and distributes royalties to its members, ensuring they receive fair payment for their work. It also campaigns and lobbies on its members’ behalf and provides a range of services including legal advice, events and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
We are recruiting for a Communications Officer to join our team. Whilst the majority of the responsibilities will be shared with our other Communications Officer, this role will have a specific focus on our PR and Corporate Communications.
Job role and duties
To support the communications team in the day-to-day delivery of communications, PR, digital and social media activity to help raise the profile and awareness of Directors UK as the authoritative voice for UK screen directors; and to assist in promoting and delivering its member services and campaigning activities to key stakeholders.
Reporting to:
Head of PR and Corporate Communications / Head of Digital Content
General key responsibilities include the following:
Deliver impactful communications and PR activity to support Directors UK’s work and raise awareness of Directors UK to members, potential members and the wider industry.
Working with the wider team to implement strategies to grow and develop our comms and social media presence to support achieving our business goals and ambitions.
Create engaging content for our website on subjects of relevance to members.
Maintain our website pages, ensuring content is accurate, fresh and relevant, removing out of date content as appropriate, and escalating any issues as required.
Monitor industry news to identify relevant stories and researching ideas for digital content and PR opportunities.
Provide communications, PR and social media support at screenings, events and stakeholder meetings (will include attendance at some internal and external evening events), including supporting requests for branding /merchandising/slide creation in advance.
Support the creation of podcasts and other AV assets.
Create simple, clear graphics using Adobe Suite.
Support in managing member data, list generation and membership analysis, as required.
Build, maintain and develop a key contact list, including internal and external stakeholders.
Manage the Comms and Press email inboxes, dealing with queries in a timely and professional manner.
Assist with member queries relating to the website, as well as field general member communications queries to appropriate members of the team.
Actively contributing to wider organisational, communications and campaign priorities. working across the organisation to support communications needs.
Support general public affairs activity as required, such as contributing to research or supporting materials, and raising awareness of lobbying activity.
General admin support for the communications team including research, admin, logistics, managing files and images etc.
PR and Corporate Communications focus
Assist the Head of PR and Corporate Communications in the creation and distribution of corporate comms, press releases and campaign materials according to our brand guidelines, including slides, print and audio-visual materials.
Horizon scanning for PR opportunities, providing recommendations to the Head of PR and Corporate Communications and wider comms team.
Liaise with Directors UK members or spokespeople to gather comments/quotes, tailoring as appropriate for various communications activities.
Work closely with the other Communications Officer to amplify PR messaging.
Responsible for conducting regular audits to identify press opportunities, critically considering trade and mainstream culture press and providing recommendations.
Support the co-ordination of regular press briefings with key trade contacts with CEO and Head of PR and Corporate Communications and maintaining key contacts lists.
Maintain the press tracker, filing coverage and highlighting relevant points of interest to appropriate team members.
Ensure company information is accurate and up to date, including letterheads, branded document templates, company e-signatures etc as Board member or staff changes take place.
The above list is not exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope of the role.
Personal specification
Essential skills and experience
Demonstrable excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong presentation skills
Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
Keen interest in and knowledge of the creative industries including TV and Film
Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines, both within a team and independently
Ability to prioritise multiple delivery deadlines
Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills
Strong research skills
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook and Sharepoint
Significant experience of digital and social media
Pride and ownership in your work
Proactive and driven approach
Desirable skills and experience
Website content management systems (CMS) experience
Experience of using Adobe suite to create simple, clear graphics
Experience of working in a membership organisation
Research experience
Key terms of employment
Reporting to
Head of PR and Corporate Communications / Head of Digital Content
Salary:
£32,000
Hours:
9.30am - 5.30pm
Work Days:
Monday to Friday
Location
We support a flexible, hybrid working approach with an expectation of 50% of working time in our office, and 50% working remotely. Our office is at 4th Floor, 22 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LR.
Contract:
Full Time permanent
Holidays:
25 days per year plus all public and bank holidays (pro rata)
Benefits
Company Pension Scheme
Discretionary bonus
Annual health check
Life Assurance benefit (4 x salary paid to dependent)
Season Ticket Loan
Perkbox (various discounts)
Eye Test (reimbursement of up to £50 for cost of annual eye test)
Cycle to Work scheme
How to apply
Directors UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
This appointment is subject to satisfactory references and completion of a 3-month probationary period.
To apply please send the following to #####:
• a personal statement as to why you consider yourself suited to this role (maximum 200 words)
• your CV
Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.