Press, PR and Policy Manager
| Posting date: | 22 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £38,784.00 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 February 2026 |
| Location: | Plymouth, South West England |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Plymouth Marjon University |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | RO1031 |
Summary
This is a hybrid role; however, regular on-campus presence is essential to support senior engagement, media activity and institutional priorities.
Who we’re looking for:
In this high-profile and influential role, you’ll lead the University’s media relations, reputation management and policy engagement activity. Acting as Marjon’s primary point of contact for the press, you’ll deliver proactive and reactive communications that enhance, protect and strengthen the University’s profile at local, regional and national levels.
Alongside media relations, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Marjon’s engagement with policymakers, civic leaders and sector stakeholders. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Executive Support Team and academic colleagues, you’ll help shape clear, compelling institutional messages and ensure the University’s expertise, research and impact are visible and influential in policy and public debates.
This role requires strong editorial judgement, political awareness and confidence operating in complex, fast-moving environments, including managing sensitive issues and crisis communications.
You will have:
• Substantial experience delivering press, PR or corporate communications activity, including media handling and crisis communications
• Experience of policy analysis, public affairs or political engagement, including working with senior or external stakeholders
• A proven ability to develop and deliver proactive PR activity and media strategies
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, with experience producing high-quality press materials and statements
• The ability to translate academic research and complex issues into accessible, policy-relevant messaging
• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging senior leaders, journalists and policymakers
What you’d be doing:
As Press, PR and Policy Manager, you’ll lead the University’s press, PR and policy engagement work, ensuring communications are timely, accurate and strategically aligned. You’ll play a central role in protecting and enhancing Marjon’s reputation while extending its influence across civic and policy arenas. Key responsibilities include:
• Acting as the University’s main point of contact for media enquiries and coordinating effective responses
• Leading proactive PR activity and developing compelling stories that showcase Marjon’s expertise and impact
• Overseeing crisis communications, including preparation of statements and coordination of responses
• Providing media training and tailored briefings to staff and senior leaders
• Monitoring political, policy and sector developments and providing timely briefings to the Executive Leadership Team
• Supporting the University’s influencing strategy and identifying opportunities for policy and public affairs engagement
• Building strong relationships with journalists, policymakers, civic leaders and sector bodies
You’ll need to enjoy:
• Communicating with authority and clarity: delivering high-quality messages in complex or sensitive contexts
• Building trusted relationships: working confidently with senior leaders, academics, journalists and external stakeholders
• Thinking strategically: spotting risks, opportunities and routes to influence a changing political and media landscape
• Working under pressure: remaining calm, resilient and solutions-focused in fast-paced environments
• Collaborating with others: contributing to coordinated planning across External Engagement and the wider University
Where you’ll work:
You’ll be based in the External Engagement Directorate on our green campus in the north of Plymouth.
Under our hybrid working policy, you may work from home or on campus; however, regular on-site presence is expected to support senior engagement, media activity and institutional priorities.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Roger Pitt, Director of External Engagement, at rpitt@marjon.ac.uk.
Supporting our people:
At Marjon, we are firmly committed to supporting every member of staff who works for us. Our Balance programme of health and wellbeing activities aims to help you to look after your physical health, nutritional health, mental health and social health.
We’re big believers in the importance of work/life balance. Many of our employees work flexibly and they are able to apply for parental leave and time off for dependants.
We are keen to hear from a diverse range of applicants to support our goal to realise every individual’s potential. We are a ‘Disability Confident Employer’: candidates who declare a disability and who demonstrate on their application that they meet the essential criteria will be included on the shortlist.
Closing date: Sunday 15 February 2026 (at 11:59pm)
Interview date: Tuesday 03 March 2026
Apply online: https://jobs.marjon.ac.uk/
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the People Team on peopleteam@marjon.ac.uk.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Who we’re looking for:
In this high-profile and influential role, you’ll lead the University’s media relations, reputation management and policy engagement activity. Acting as Marjon’s primary point of contact for the press, you’ll deliver proactive and reactive communications that enhance, protect and strengthen the University’s profile at local, regional and national levels.
Alongside media relations, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Marjon’s engagement with policymakers, civic leaders and sector stakeholders. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Executive Support Team and academic colleagues, you’ll help shape clear, compelling institutional messages and ensure the University’s expertise, research and impact are visible and influential in policy and public debates.
This role requires strong editorial judgement, political awareness and confidence operating in complex, fast-moving environments, including managing sensitive issues and crisis communications.
You will have:
• Substantial experience delivering press, PR or corporate communications activity, including media handling and crisis communications
• Experience of policy analysis, public affairs or political engagement, including working with senior or external stakeholders
• A proven ability to develop and deliver proactive PR activity and media strategies
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, with experience producing high-quality press materials and statements
• The ability to translate academic research and complex issues into accessible, policy-relevant messaging
• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging senior leaders, journalists and policymakers
What you’d be doing:
As Press, PR and Policy Manager, you’ll lead the University’s press, PR and policy engagement work, ensuring communications are timely, accurate and strategically aligned. You’ll play a central role in protecting and enhancing Marjon’s reputation while extending its influence across civic and policy arenas. Key responsibilities include:
• Acting as the University’s main point of contact for media enquiries and coordinating effective responses
• Leading proactive PR activity and developing compelling stories that showcase Marjon’s expertise and impact
• Overseeing crisis communications, including preparation of statements and coordination of responses
• Providing media training and tailored briefings to staff and senior leaders
• Monitoring political, policy and sector developments and providing timely briefings to the Executive Leadership Team
• Supporting the University’s influencing strategy and identifying opportunities for policy and public affairs engagement
• Building strong relationships with journalists, policymakers, civic leaders and sector bodies
You’ll need to enjoy:
• Communicating with authority and clarity: delivering high-quality messages in complex or sensitive contexts
• Building trusted relationships: working confidently with senior leaders, academics, journalists and external stakeholders
• Thinking strategically: spotting risks, opportunities and routes to influence a changing political and media landscape
• Working under pressure: remaining calm, resilient and solutions-focused in fast-paced environments
• Collaborating with others: contributing to coordinated planning across External Engagement and the wider University
Where you’ll work:
You’ll be based in the External Engagement Directorate on our green campus in the north of Plymouth.
Under our hybrid working policy, you may work from home or on campus; however, regular on-site presence is expected to support senior engagement, media activity and institutional priorities.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Roger Pitt, Director of External Engagement, at rpitt@marjon.ac.uk.
Supporting our people:
At Marjon, we are firmly committed to supporting every member of staff who works for us. Our Balance programme of health and wellbeing activities aims to help you to look after your physical health, nutritional health, mental health and social health.
We’re big believers in the importance of work/life balance. Many of our employees work flexibly and they are able to apply for parental leave and time off for dependants.
We are keen to hear from a diverse range of applicants to support our goal to realise every individual’s potential. We are a ‘Disability Confident Employer’: candidates who declare a disability and who demonstrate on their application that they meet the essential criteria will be included on the shortlist.
Closing date: Sunday 15 February 2026 (at 11:59pm)
Interview date: Tuesday 03 March 2026
Apply online: https://jobs.marjon.ac.uk/
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the People Team on peopleteam@marjon.ac.uk.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.