Location
London Broadcasting House, London

Hours
Full Time - Twelve month fixed-term contract (maternity cover) starting 12 October 2026. Please note: this role requires weekend work (Saturday & Sunday 8am-2pm) every 3rd weekend.

Salary
£45,000-£52,000 per year depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The successful candidate will also receive a £5,441 London Weighting Allowance. This salary range reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

About the Role
We are seeking a Media Relations Manager to join the Corporate Press Office, reporting to the Senior Head of Communications, Press Office. This twelve-month opportunity is based in London and involves taking charge of a busy press desk on a rota basis with two other managers. You will be responsible for generating proactive press and digital coverage and handling complex media inquiries. Working closely with all areas of the external communications department, colleagues from the wider Corporate Affairs Division, and across the BBC, you will occasionally deputise for the Senior Head of Communications.

No two days in the BBC's Corporate Press Office are the same. This unique and exciting role offers first-hand communications experience in one of the busiest press offices in the country. You will play a key role in protecting and enhancing the BBC's reputation, leading on media handling and contributing to major corporate stories and campaigns. Working closely with senior colleagues across the organisation, you will help communicate the BBC's public service mission during a critical time due to the ongoing Charter review.

For those passionate about media and broadcasting, this is a chance to contribute to the BBC’s public purpose while developing valuable experience across high-profile communications and issues management. Alongside excellent training and mentoring, the role offers the opportunity to broaden your skills and advance your career in public relations.

Your key responsibilities include taking charge of a busy press desk on a rota basis, answering questions on all aspects of the BBC including content issues, policy decisions, and reputational matters. You will work with executives and publicity colleagues to oversee communications to the media, prepare statements and releases, brief senior management, and coordinate communications activity. The Corporate Press Office handles media relations on corporate areas such as the Director-General’s work, Charter Review, editorial policy, complaints and reviews, HR matters, and diversity and inclusion. It also coordinates communications from teams including TV and BBC iPlayer, Radio and BBC Sounds, News and Online.

Experience
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Proactive and reactive publicity experience
- Outstanding news sense and judgement
- Experience managing people
- Experience delivering digital communications

About you
- Ability to handle crises and effect responses at a high-profile organisation (desirable)
- Knowledge and/or experience of the media/broadcasting environment (advantageous)
- Creative thinker with a positive approach to telling stories about the BBC
- Able to work collaboratively across teams and manage complex media inquiries

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are stated; however, relevant skills, knowledge, and experience in communications and media relations are essential.