Media and Public Affairs Officer

DIRECTORATE: Fundraising and Communications

TEAM: Communications

REPORTING TO: Media Manager (working to Public Affairs

Manager with regard to Public Affairs activities)

Head of
Communications
Paul McDonald

Digital Media Marketing & Brand Public Affairs

Media Manager
Manager Manager Manager
Maria Lam
Amanda Neylon Claire Sandham Donna Castle

Media & Public Marketing Campaign

Senior Web Editor
Affairs Officer Executive
Graeme Manuel
Vacant Emma Burns

Marketing & Events

Web Editor (p/t) Media Officer
Officer
Naomi Coleman Rupi Gohlar
Zeena Patel

Digital Media Officer Media Officer Marketing Executive

Ben Jephcote Huw Beale Lorna McKinnon

Web Projects Senior Roadshow

Media Officer (p/t)
Manager Organiser
Fabienne Jacquet
Benita Gibbons Ben Holdstock

Digital Marketing Media Officer (p/t)

Roadshow Organiser
Executive Naomi Goldberg
Olivia Steed-Mundin
Vacant (Maternity Leave)

Digital Communities
Roadshow Organiser
Executive
Louise Mannix
Joe Freeman

Website
Developer/Designer
David Smith

1
OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB
The Media and Public Affairs Officer works in both the Media
Relations and Public Affairs teams, within the wider Communications
team, to manage the profile of Diabetes UK and diabetes in the
media, Westminster and Whitehall. S/he will ensure that Diabetes
UK key messages and campaign objectives are presented
coherently through the media and to politicians.

MAIN DUTIES

• Press, broadcast and other media relations: Contribute to the

development and implementation of an annual media plan, which
maximises the potential of all media outlets by identifying
opportunities to engage proactively to raise the profile of
Diabetes UK and diabetes in all relevant media.

• Ensure that relationships are developed with the relevant

health and consumer media to assist targeting of Diabetes UK’s
messages.

• Act as one of the first lines of response to media inquiries.

• Work with appropriate teams within Diabetes UK and

externally to provide advice and direct support on projects/
events/ activities to ensure that media and public affairs
opportunities are maximised.

• Ensure that facts and figures about diabetes are developed

into simple, easy to communicate messages that can be used in
all communications including news releases, statements,
briefings and articles for internal and external publication.

• Arrange broadcast and print interviews.

• Take part in an out of hours media contact rota.

• Implement the Public Affairs programme, in pursuit of the

objectives of Diabetes UK.

• Work with the Public Affairs Manager to develop and maintain

contacts with key parliamentarians and political advisors from all
parties, in order to provide two way briefings about issues
affecting Diabetes UK.

• Ensure that parliamentary and political information is

monitored and disseminated, and appropriate responses are
made as required.

2
 • Provide day-to-day support to the All Party Parliamentary
Group for Diabetes, to allow the Group Officers to fulfil their
commitment to working in parliament for improvements in
diabetes services.

• Assist the Public Affairs Manager in the organisation of

parliamentary and other events such as receptions and party
conference activity.

• Communicate the public affairs agenda of Diabetes UK to

internal audiences, including staff, honorary officers and
Trustees.

• Represent Diabetes UK to outside bodies and other

associations, including fulfilling public speaking engagements
where necessary.

• Attending Diabetes UK and other conferences (including

national political party conferences) when required, necessitating
late working and occasional overnight stays outside of London.

• Undertake other work and perform other tasks necessary to

achieve the overall objectives of Diabetes UK as requested by the
Media Manager or Public Affairs Manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

1. At least two years’ experience of working within a public

relations and/ or public affairs environment.

2. Experience of developing and implementing strategies for

communicating key messages through the media and to political
audiences.

3. Excellent interpersonal communication skills and experience

of developing and managing relationships with colleagues within
Diabetes UK’s central, national and regional offices and external
relationships such as volunteers, journalists, parliamentarians,
civil servants and other external public and private sector
organisations.

4. Ability to work with MPs and other parliamentarians to

communicate the aims and objectives of Diabetes UK.

3
5. Excellent organisational ability, including the ability to set
priorities and manage own workload. Able to work both within a
team and be a self-starter.

6. Ability to work tight deadlines and under pressure including

operating out of office hours.

7. Ability to write news releases, articles, statements, and clear

concise submissions to Government, politicians etc, taking
account of political and organisational sensitivities, to the highest
standard.

8. Graduate or degree calibre.