Communications Executive x2

Purpose of the Role:

 You'll be playing an active role in the day-to-day operations and press office support of the McLaren Racing communications function, supporting the delivery of first-class media relations for McLaren Racing to enhance brand awareness, drive value for corporate partners and grow the fanbase and our brand.

 

Role Dimensions:

 You'll be based at our McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, but there may be some international travel to events on occasion. You'll be reporting into one of our Communications Manager’s and you’ll need to build strong relationships with people across both the wider Communications team and the Commercial team. There is no such thing as a standard working week, and you'll need to be prepared to be flexible with working hours.

 

Principal Accountabilities:

 You'll be the backbone of the Communications team, supporting McLaren Racing’s media relations activities, including but not limited to:

  • Press office support and managing the day-to-day running of the Comms team’s operations and activities across our Brand and Partner communications, Formula 1 and Extreme E where required
  • To oversee, manage and develop the range of comms tools required for general running of the press office, including press release distribution systems, image libraries, online media centre, content plans and file sharing platforms
  • Management of the McLaren Media Centre and StoryStream platform – content curation, upload and registrations
  • Daily management of Media Centre requests and inbox
  • Assisting in the creation of quarterly, monthly, KPI and flash reports
  • Creating daily news rounds ups
  • Conduct regular coverage monitoring
  • Responsibility for press release distribution and support on wider integrated communications campaigns
  • Organise and manage the schedule of regular team meetings
  • Proactively raise and action media opportunities where appropriate
  • Provide assistance with coverage monitoring, reporting and evaluation for the wider company and key internal stakeholders
  • Provide pro-active operational support to the wider Comms team across racing series (Formula 1 and Extreme E) by managing media databases, distribution lists, media centre subscribers, templates and company assets, sourcing information and imagery when required, and liaising with finance departments to ensure timely and regular payments to relevant contractors and suppliers
  • Work effectively with the wider communications team to create integrated external and internal opportunities to disseminate narratives around McLaren’s sustainability and corporate communications strategy
  • To effectively and professionally organise, oversee and execute photography, filming and media opportunities within McLaren Technology Centre, and work with key stakeholders and management across the company to result in positive media coverage for McLaren Racing
  • To proactively engage with key media contacts across Formula 1, Extreme E and other media verticals, developing relationships and supporting efficient and effective timely responses to media to maintain and build McLaren’s reputation as a first-class media relations operation
  • To produce high-quality media-facing written material in the form of press releases, briefing documents, website copy, marketing collateral and media correspondence where required, of a high quality and in a format that can be used across digital and traditional media platforms, and act as first point of contact for copy proofing and editing
  • To be a proactive liaison within the wider Comms team as well as Digital, Partnerships, Brand Experience and Brand Creative departments in relation to partner activity, media events and comms and digital campaigns where appropriate
  • To support the Racing communications team when relevant with race weekend organisation, liaison with key stakeholders such as senior management and external media, and creating and managing media schedules and content opportunities

Job requirements

Personal Attributes:

 You'll likely already be in your first PR or Comms role and looking for that next step in your career. You love writing and you're interested in motorsport. A pressured and demanding workload doesn't faze you, in fact, it's when you do your best work. This role will come with administrative and organisational tasks, but you're the kind of person who knows how important it is to get that stuff right. You are proactive and positive in your approach and not afraid to get stuck in.

 

We're also looking for someone who:

  • Is able to effectively and confidently communicate with internal and external stakeholders of all levels of seniority
  • Has excellent verbal and interpersonal skills 
  • Has strong copywriting skills
  • Has great attention to detail
  • Knows the value of teamwork and is able to work both proactively within a small team and co-ordinate the management of tasks within the team, as well as play an active role in the wider department
  • Has an inquisitive and self-starting nature, with the ability to manage your own workload
  • Has the ability to build strong and meaningful relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally and to become a trusted representative of the Comms team
  • Can multi-task and juggle several of ongoing projects at once

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

 Experience in a busy communications environment within a specialist communications/media/PR role

  • Motorsport experience in a similar role is advantageous
  • Strong organisational skills and co-ordination capabilities
  • Media relations – developing relationships with journalists, managing media enquiries, drafting media materials, identifying proactive media opportunities, managing reactive responses to inbound media enquiries
  • Senior personnel and stakeholder engagement – experience dealing with senior team management, personnel and stakeholders
  • Able to work flexibly, adjusting working hours and occasional weekend travel when necessary
  • Strong relationship building skills with all media representatives of various nationalities, business focus and disciplines
  • Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal – and able to represent McLaren in a Comms capacity in a professional manner at all times

 

All employees must ensure compliance with the Company Health and Safety Policy, and all relevant other statutory Health and Safety legislation.

 

This job description may not detail some less major duties allocated to the post holder, nor cover duties of a similar nature, commensurate with the role, which may from time to time be reasonably required by the relevant manager.