In a nutshell

As PR Specialist, you'll be accountable for developing and delivering positive communications to help Virgin Atlantic become the most loved travel company, and for protecting its reputation for delivering unrivalled service and safe travel for our customers. In this role you'll have the confidence and skill to advise on PR matters – both proactive and reactive - across the business and beyond.

As part of our amazing PR and Events team, you’ll work closely with the PR Leads supporting them on multi-faceted launches and campaigns across the Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays brands (with agency support when required). We're looking for a collaborative team player who is a creative thinker, has a can-do approach and innovative spirit. The role includes management of media relations spanning transport, business, travel as well as consumer/lifestyle press.

Day to day

Influencer Relations

• Maintain constant and proactive engagement with the media, responding to and capitalising on opportunities that arise in the news or via social media/via specific date triggers, segmented and prioritised by brand/target audience
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders on PR campaigns – ensuring that they are informed
• Oversee maintenance and maximise the value of key business, trade and consumer media relationships, according to the segmentation of our brand and the priorities of the business (print, broadcast, online).
• Proactive and Reactive Communications
• Working as an integral part of the PR team identifying and building stories for external channels across Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Manage reactive opportunities identified through external trends and/or media enquiries
• Manage brand reputation through press office enquires bringing appropriate level senior management in when applicable e.g. reactive line to take
• Draft and distribute written material as required and in line with the plan and any ad hoc developments – i.e. press releases for new brochures or award announcements, quotes for consumer news items, new ideas and opportunities for features, etc
• In line with the PR plan, work with business functions to deliver one-off projects, either as ad hoc activities or to support specific Commercial initiatives the business undertakes
• When necessary manage and work alongside external agencies recruited to deliver project objectives. Liaise with the chosen agency on an ongoing basis to ensure the project achieves maximum success.
• Working as an integral part of the PR team identifying and building stories for external channels across Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays.
• Accountability for mitigating any negative company news, thus protecting brand reputation, such as team restructures or route closures.

Press Office Activities

• Work as integral part of the day-to-day operation of the Press Office function across all platforms
• Manage press FAM activity – evaluating opportunities in accordance with agreed principles
• Host media for selected FAM activity (either on the ground, inflight or full trip)
• Work with PR Lead on media training programme for the leadership team
• Work closely with corporate communications on messages for business and/or crisis scenarios
• Monitor and evaluate Press Office results according to agreed evaluation criteria (and competitors)
• Responsible for budget planning and management on a project basis
• Work with external partners, accountable for developing appropriate metrics for campaigns delivered which demonstrate improvements in revenue, brand and corporate reputation.

Crisis Communications

Work in nominated role with crisis communications plan

Work alongside other colleagues within the business to ensure any crisis situations are handled effectively and in a collaborative manner

PR on-call rota responsibility, including out of hours, on rotation with the rest of the PR team

About you

We're looking for someone with extensive proven PR experience in managing media relations across a range of business and consumer media, who is looking for the next challenge in their career. You’ll need a solid understanding of the UK media landscape, with a mix of established contacts at key national papers, online sites and with influencers. The ability to build strong, credible and engaging relationships with a variety of internal colleagues and external parties will be crucial.

Your PR experience will come from either in-house PR and/ or within a PR agency and you'll have impeccable written and verbal communication skills. Experienced in delivering small to medium sized projects, or ownership of a specific workstream within a larger project or programme, you'll be used to managing your workload in a fast moving, changeable environment where the ability to react and remain calm under pressure is fundamental. You'll be working as part of a team so you'll need to be a supportive team player.
 

The perks

We recognise the value you add to our dynamic company. That's why we give our people the rewards that they deserve. We have a whole host of benefits to help you enjoy life to the full, including up to seven flights a year to a wide range of fabulous Virgin Atlantic destinations. Of course you can also take advantage of discounts on our amazing Virgin Holidays hotels. We also offer a competitive benefits package including pension and private medical schemes and life assurance. You can even self select whats important to you through our benefits portal. We appreciate that life is busy, so when operationally possible remote working is available.

Be Yourself - Our Differences make us stronger

Virgin Atlantic and Virgin holidays are committed equal opportunities employers and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible applicants regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity. Diversity brings strength which is why we strive to provide an inclusive environment where individuality is celebrated and we can unleash the potential of our forward-thinking mix of people.

Click here to follow us on LinkedIn and view our latest company updates and current live vacancies.

To all recruitment agencies: Virgin Atlantic does not accept unsolicited agency CVs.