Job Description

Salary: \xc2\xa342,000- \xc2\xa356,800 Location: Cambridge, Hybrid Contract: Full time, permanent, 35 hours per week Promote and shape the reputation of Cambridge University Press & Assessment\'s UK Education group, including OCR. We are looking to recruit a first-rate, media-savvy PR leader, able to help one of the world\'s most influential education organisations grow its impact. You will be a media relations specialist who can operate in a complex regulated environment. You will develop and manage PR strategy, communications and related campaigns for the UK Education group of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. This includes the OCR exam board. Join us as the Head of PR, UK Education to influence and inspire trust in the landscape of regulated examinations. We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge. About the role Key Responsibilities include: Reputation Management:

• Deliver a media communications strategy \xe2\x80\x93 both reactive and proactive \xe2\x80\x93 to raise OCR\'s profile, and protect OCR\'s reputation as a national assessment organisation in a regulated environment which is also subject to intense public scrutiny.
• Provide clear and effective corporate communications, in the form of news stories, overseeing of the corporate twitter account, CEO videos and corporate publications, to raise OCR\'s profile with a wide range of audiences withing this sensitive environment.
• Responsible for OCR\'s crisis communications plans, media training and message development during the high stakes summer exam series, including issues management and handling

Strategic Partnerships & Relationships:

• Provide strategic advice and guidance to staff across UK Education at all levels on a wide range of issues and potential reputational challenges to influence and earn trust of audiences and avoid reputational damage.
• Build and maintain relations with key journalists and strategic external partners on initiatives such as press releases, quotes and high-profile campaigns such as our GCSE in Natural History to enhance Cambridge\'s reputation.

Department Management:

• Manage a PR budget and commission freelance resources such as PR agents, photographers, designers and film crews to support the delivery of OCR\'s PR strategy.
• Responsible for ensuring the organisation has the capacity and skills needed to deliver proactive and reactive strategic and media communications in all circumstances, but especially during exam sessions and results periods.

About you Operating within a fast-paced and unpredictable landscape, you will possess razor-sharp judgment capable of delivering effective, timely responses that withstand intense scrutiny. You\'ll be able to navigate competing demands while ensuring effective collaboration across the organisation to help achieve strategic objectives. Your breadth of knowledge about OCR\'s processes, policies, and UK exam regulations will be key to your success in this role. You will have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with a solid grasp of the education and political landscape. More about you:

• Experience in Crisis Communications Training
• Experience in handling sensitive and confidential material
• Ability to raise awareness of OCR\'s work and expertise in the media

If you would like to know more about this opportunity and what will make you successful, please see the full job description attached to the bottom of this vacancy on our careers site. Rewards and benefits We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Group personal pension scheme
• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
• Green travel schemes

We are a hybrid working organisation, and we offer a range of flexible working options from day one. We expect most hybrid-working colleagues to spend 40-60% of their time at their dedicated office or location. We will also consider other work arrangements if you wish to work more flexibly or require adjustments due to a disability. Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now. We review applications on an ongoing basis, with a closing date for all applications being 10 December and interviews are scheduled to take place on 18th December. Interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis. In the event we source a suitable applicant early, we reserve the right to close the advert early. Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry. Why join us Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where everyone has a voice, and where we learn continuously to improve together. Ensuring that everyone feels they belong is essential to who we are, and to the contribution we make to society and our planet. We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities. #LI-IB1