The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the trade body for 300+ rail suppliers in the UK, is looking for a PR & Comms Lead to support our communications activities, particularly relating to innovation in the rail sector. The role is a great opportunity to get experience at the centre of the rail sector, in a fast-moving, dynamic organisation and to deliver impactful communications to key stakeholders from across the industry.
Main responsibilities:
The PR & Comms Lead will be responsible for delivery of the communications plan for RIA’s Unlocking Innovation programme, as well as supporting RIA’s wider Public Affairs & PR activity. The Unlocking Innovation programme is RIA’s flagship series of events and engagement which showcases new ideas and thinking from across the industry in areas like digitalisation, decarbonisation and automation.
The role will involve leading the promotional activities for the Unlocking Innovation programme, liaising on communications with key sponsors and RIA Members and developing creative ways to communicate the innovation activities within the rail industry. The role will also support wider communications of RIA wider PR and Public Affairs activities, including government relations and political engagement.
The ideal candidate will have the ability to take complicated, sometimes technical, information and to translate into effective and creative communications. The candidate will be an ‘all rounder’ - comfortable with engaging with journalists, producing social media content and using video footage, but who can also come up with imaginative ideas to reach key audiences. Work can be fast-paced so the ability to turn around content quickly is necessary. Prior knowledge of the rail industry or Public Affairs is desirable, but not essential.
Main day to day duties:
The PR & Comms Lead will work with the Technical & Innovation and Public Affairs & PR functions to promote RIA’s innovation activity. This will involve:
- Developing and delivering communication plans for RIA’s Unlocking Innovation events and activities;
- Working creatively to promote the sector to RIA members, industry stakeholders, press and the public;
- Producing opinion pieces, post-event reports, mailings and press releases;
- Delivering imaginative social media activity that engages key audiences;
- Engaging with national and trade press;
- Promoting RIA with political stakeholders and Government officials;
- Finding PR opportunities that help promote rail’s image as an innovative sector; and
- Monitoring and measuring communications activities.
Proficiency is Microsoft Office suite is necessary. Experience using MailChimp, InDesign and video content tools is welcome, but not necessary.
This job specification can be revisited at the six-monthly Staff Reviews.
Reporting to: The Public Affairs & PR Director and the Technical Director.