Job description - Media Strategy and Planning Manager Main purpose of job Design, develop and maintain a strategic, planned and proactive media approach across Alzheimer s Society, aligned to organisational priorities and objectives Play a key role in achieving integrated, cross-channel strategic planning across the Marketing and External Affairs Directorate Ensure that the media team has clear and focused objectives, performance targets and success criteria for its work Establish robust project management within the team to achieve high-level media outcomes Embed audience-focused insight into the development of innovative media solutions for new and emerging marketing and external affairs challenges Position in organisation Reports to Head of Media Direct access to Director of Marketing and External Affairs and other members of the Senior Leadership Team Provides support and guidance for Senior Media Officers and Regional Media Manager on strategic and project planning and evaluation Close working relationship with Heads and Managers in all teams and departments, particularly those with responsibility for planning and/or marketing and external affairs Dimensions and limits of authority This post requires a strategic media planning and project management specialist. The post-holder will work to the Head of Media to develop and maintain a wellplanned, highly-organised and smooth-running media operation for Alzheimer s Society. The post-holder will lead the development of the Society s annual media strategy and business plan and report back on its progress. S/he will approve plans for individual media projects, monitor their delivery and evaluate their success. S/he will have delegated responsibility from the Head of Media for the media team s budget. This post does not have any line management responsibility
Duties and key responsibilities Annual Media Strategy & Business Plan Design and develop an annual media strategy to achieve organisational strategic objectives as part of the Alzheimer s Society annual planning cycle Ensure the annual media strategy is agreed by and aligned to the strategic objectives of Alzheimer Society directorates, principally fundraising, research & development, operations and marketing and external affairs Translate the media strategy into an annual business plan, laying out a proactive programme of media relations activity over the year Ensure that the programme of media activities is fully integrated with the strategic planning for Marketing and External Affairs teams (marketing, community engagement, policy, public affairs and celebrity liaison) Work with the Head of Media to set and manage annual and quarterly SMART performance indicators and success criteria to meet the team s strategic objectives Provide support and guidance to Senior Media Officers and Regional Media Manager in setting and managing individual performance targets to achieve team KPIs. Monitor implementation of the business plan, evaluate and report back monthly to the Head of Media on progress in meeting team performance targets Support the Head of Media in setting and managing the team budget Develop and refine the business plan on a periodic basis as necessary Project Management Set up and develop a project management framework to plan and schedule media projects and co-ordinate them with other marketing and external affairs activities Introduce and embed the use of project management tools across the team Work with heads of departments to ensure the media team is part of joint project planning at an early stage Support Senior Media Officers and Regional Media Manager with PR plans and project planning, helping to develop clear media briefs with agreed objectives, audiences, messaging, calls and media impact criteria Approve individual media project plans Support Senior Media Officers and Regional Media Manager in evaluating the success of media outcomes for projects and initiatives Participate in working groups for major integrated marketing and external affairs campaigns and fundraising appeals Play a key role in developing briefs for major campaigns and appeals, creating media-neutral platforms and developing specific media channel strategies and plans Develop and refine forward planning structures and processes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the ongoing AS media operation Strategic development Using evaluation, data and analytics, identify ways to extend Alzheimer s Society s reach and impact, identifying and targeting key audiences and messages, consistent with corporate strategy, brand and narrative.
Keep up to date with latest developments in the health, charity, wider communications and media sectors and ensure knowledge is shared across team Act as an ambassador for the media team, ensuring that other departments have a good understanding of what PR can achieve and what is needed to succeed Develop a proactive plan to train and support Alzheimer s Society key spokespeople Develop a media influencing strategy Develop strategic thinking and project planning skills within the media team Oversee complex projects, involving multiple stakeholders, from start to finish, with a focus on reaching and engaging with core target audiences, juggling multiple and competing priorities Pull in intelligence, manage suppliers and commission research into media trends, audience consumption, organisational media outcomes, competitor positioning, etc Embed insight into the development of innovative media solutions for new and emerging marketing and external affairs challenges Undertake any other duties or projects commensurate with the nature and grade of this post as required. Additional responsibilities To adhere to all the Society s service standards, policies and procedures. To comply with the data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients remains confidential. To be responsible for personal learning and development, to support the learning and development of others and the whole organisation. To work in a manner that facilitates inclusion, particularly of people with dementia. To implement the Society s health and safety policy and procedures, ensuring that all practices and procedures are undertaken in accordance with a healthy and safe working environment and that all staff and volunteers for whom you may be responsible are aware of their responsibilities in respect of their role, monitoring data and recommending action as required. To administrate and organise own work to ensure that it is accurate and meets quality targets, reasonable deadlines and reporting requirements. To follow the Society s management information guidelines and requirements, including ensuring appropriate monthly measures on service usage levels are collected and submitted on the services database or other systems in accordance with deadlines.
Person specification All of the following requirements are essential, unless marked with a * when they are desirable, and will be assessed from a combination of information provided from the application form and interview process. Education and qualifications Degree level or equivalent experience Communications, Marketing or Strategic Planning qualifications* Skills, knowledge and experience Significant current or recent experience of strategic planning in a media or communications context, for example as part of an in-house team or agency planner Demonstrable experience of developing media strategies for diverse audiences to achieve corporate objectives Demonstrable senior experience of working with the media to deliver key messages and shape the public agenda Knowledge of the marketing and communications mix as part of an integrated brand approach, delivering key messages to target audiences through a range of channels Demonstrable experience of commissioning and interpreting audience research, insight and media evaluation to inform strategic media planning Strong interpersonal, presentation, promotion and communication skills to a range of senior audiences Demonstrable ability to work with staff and volunteers who may have different priorities to achieve shared objectives Experience of managing a range of outsourced and in-house resources, within a limited budget Good knowledge of project management tools and experience of managing a range of projects from simple to complex A successful track record of leading innovation and change, both professionally and organisationally A successful track record of briefing, informing and reporting internally; A successful track record of establishing a breadth and depth of relationships in line with short, medium and long term goals Embed audience-focused insight into the development of innovative media solutions for new and emerging marketing and external affairs challenges Personal attributes / qualities Exemplary negotiation and influencing skills An open, collaborative style and a commitment to integrated working Personal experience of and/or empathy with people living with dementia and a willingness to be informed by their experience
Value Based Behaviours Alzheimer s Society has a value-based behavioural framework which brings our values to life in everything we do. The framework is applied across the full employment (and volunteering) life-cycle. This includes individual objectives, appraisals, performance management, reward and recognition and personal and professional development. You will be given a full copy of the framework if appointed, as part of your induction. For this role, the key value based behaviours you will need to evidence in your application and which will be assessed during the recruitment process are: I seek the input and involvement of people affected by dementia, wherever possible and appropriate. I work collaboratively with others, sharing experiences and expertise. I actively listen, understand and accommodate the views of others. I consider the impact of decisions and actions on different groups in the Society and externally. Build credibility and trust with others by acting openly, professionally and respectfully at all times I recognise, respect, value and make full use of the diversity of skills, attributes, experiences and opinions of others I promote partnership and collaboration within and across teams. I empower people to perform to the best of their ability, sharing knowledge, skills, information and giving appropriate authority to enable others to make decisions.