Media Relations Manager - Operations - Professional Services Firm

Media Relations Manager Operations

About The Company:

ARA's client is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, they offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations Services, and company Song - all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centres. Their 699,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. They embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities.

The Role:

We are looking for a public relations pro that will be responsible for developing and executing proactive media relations campaigns across key business areas within Operations (such as: supply chain & procurement, finance, HR, sales and capabilities e.g. SynOps). This strategic, action-oriented thinker will focus on cultivating ideas to drive top-tier media attention in support of the company's overall business priorities. This individual will work across the company to maximize story opportunities, working closely with business leaders, marketing & communications leads, and media relations colleagues to ensure we showcase the best. This role reports into the Operations Media Relations Lead and is part of the company's Corporate Communications function

Key Responsibilities:

- Create a media strategy for managed services, collaborating closely with other media leads and marketing teams to develop themes and messaging that align with growth priorities, overall trends and major events. This includes managing an editorial calendar and navigating potential internal and external news conflicts.

- Manage and develop professional working relationships with key journalists and client peers.

- Offer advice and guidance to local and global media relations colleagues and other stakeholders.

- Work with colleagues to lead timely media responses and the development of proactive story ideas.

- Influence highest levels of leadership within a highly-matrixed organization while aligning to ways of working and the company's approach to global media relations.

- Effectively negotiate and build consensus to resolve complex challenges across teams both within the company and when working with client peers.

- Monitor the competitive landscape for media mentions and share of voice, applying this knowledge to improve the company's overall position in the industry, using agency resources as well as key technologies like Meltwater.

- Coach and provide media training for our spokespeople as necessary.

- Ensure that media relations initiatives are consistent with strategic business objectives.

Skills Required:

- Experience at building strong working relationship and providing strategic counsel to senior leadership.

- Demonstrated leadership, teamwork and collaboration in professional setting.

- Demonstrated knowledge and ability for media measurement tools, tactics and capabilities.

- Natural storyteller with ability to connect the company's capabilities to industry news.

Preferred Skills:

- Strong relationships with business, industry and trade press.

- Proven ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

- Innovative/creative problem-solving skills. Ability to be flexible and work analytically in a problem-solving environment. Comfortable with ambiguity.

- Global perspective and understanding of business marketplace

- Ability to develop and apply creative, workable solutions to complex issues

- Passion for executing deliverables and programs of the highest quality possible.

- Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills (negotiation, influence, diplomacy).

- Ability to work autonomously and independently, yet integrate and collaborate with other areas within marketing & communications and other areas within the company.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Bachelor's degree or other university degree.

- Minimum of 10-14 years' experience in PR/corporate communications with a focus on technology, thought leadership and content PR, in-house or agency.