Press Officer

We are seeking a talented Press Officer with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the UK media industry (print, online and broadcast) to help grow our voice as the industry leader and build on our reputation as the UK’s largest and most successful estate agency and property services business with more than 46 brands and 9,000 staff across the UK.

This role involves proactively managing Group-wide media relations for Countrywide plc and its associated businesses which include individual brands through the estate agency network, lettings, surveying, conveyancing, mortgages, financial products and property management.

Together with the Group Marketing Communications Manager, you will manage and deliver proactive media activities to promote the Group and its associated businesses in line with overall group strategy and key messages.

Key accountabilities

• Responsible for the day-to-day handling and managing of media enquiries while ensuring the effective running of the press office.
• Building strong relationships with national, trade and regional press to ensure the key messages of each business divisions are communicated to journalists including online, broadcast and print media.
• Manage social media including monitoring and engaging with key media and influencers via twitter.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Developing the Group-wide PR calendar and media strategies for specific news items.
• Writing and distributing news items including commentary, quotes, articles and press releases while generating other material for the media or interviewees including Q&A’s and briefing notes.
• Promoting the launch of new initiatives that will capture the interest of national and regional media, using a variety of campaign materials.
• Compiling weekly media coverage reports and topical daily alerts.
• Liaising with trade, national and international media to build Countrywide’s reputation as a leading voice in the industry.
• Developing local links with subsidiary businesses to boost their profile in the local press.
• Providing a swift, professional and effective response to media enquiries both by phone and email.
• Maintaining a daily awareness of media coverage relating to the economy, property market and financial services industry to proactively identify PR opportunities or flag potential areas that may require crisis communications.
• Liaising with senior management across the group and their external clients to support media projects and launch events.
• Organising and managing press interviews, briefing senior management and supervising film crew visits.
• Working with group’s MI teams to utilise data to source PR opportunities.
• Dealing with customer queries that the press office receive or customer queries flagged by the media.

Core office responsibilities include:

• Daily monitoring of media coverage relating to Countrywide and its associated businesses; production of the weekly news round-ups and topical daily alerts.
• Maintaining and developing contacts with key journalists on Countrywide’s media database.
• Assisting with corporate publications and press materials, in both printed and online formats.
• Developing and updating online content for intranets and websites.  

Background skills and experience

The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience in a busy press office with an excellent understanding of the UK media. Ideally, the candidate will have property or financial services experience. To be considered for this exciting role, you will ideally have managed a press office before, have a good working knowledge of national, trade and regional media as well as demonstrating an excellent sense for news stories.  

The role demands:The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, results-driven individual looking to thrive in a varied and diverse role in such a large organisation. The winning candidate must be willing to adapt and develop in an environment that offers long-term career opportunities.

* The role will entail some occasional out of hours work, e.g. for press events and travel to visit UK Countrywide offices, as required.