Purpose of the Role: To play an active role in the day-to-day operations of the McLaren Racing communications function, supporting the delivery of first-class internal communications and corporate media relations for McLaren Racing to enhance the brand, foster the team’s culture and drive value to the employee experience.
Role Dimensions:
Based at McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, reporting to the Internal & Corporate Communications Manager, and working alongside the wider Communications team. There may be some flexibility with working hours to fulfil this role effectively. This role has no direct reports or budget holding responsibilities. Travel and attendance at certain external events may be required on occasion throughout the year.
Principal Accountabilities:
Working within the Communications team and reporting into the Internal & Corporate Communications Manager, support McLaren Racing’s internal activities, including but not limited to:
- Source, develop and publish content for various online and offline channels in a pragmatic and creative way
- Write, edit, proof-read and deliver targeted messaging to a range of audiences
- To proficiently use, manage and develop the range of comms tools required for general running of the internal and corporate comms channels, including company intranet (SharePoint), internal social networking platform (Yammer), press release distribution systems, image libraries, online media centre, content plans and file sharing platforms
- Maximise engagement and impact of online and offline channels, including Yammer, SharePoint Intranet, email, events
- Provide operational support to the wider Comms team 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
- To effectively and professionally organise, oversee and report on photography, filming and interview opportunities within McLaren Technology Centre, and work with key stakeholders and management across the company to result in positive media coverage for McLaren Racing’s sustainability agenda
- To proactively engage with key media contacts, 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 between the Comms, Digital, Partnerships and Events departments in relation to partner activity, media events and comms and digital campaigns, where appropriate
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Graduate and / or a professional qualification in Communications, PR or a related field
- This role will suit an applicant with strong organisational skills and coordination capabilities
- Successful use of internal social media and innovative technologies to support communications and knowledge of Microsoft suite of products including Teams, SharePoint, Stream, Yammer etc. (desired but not essential)
- 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 – dealing with senior team management, personnel and stakeholders, across all McLaren Group companies
- A proactive approach to managing the candidate’s own workload, able to work well under pressure and accustomed to working to tight deadlines in a fast-paced department, with flexible working hours
- Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal – and able to represent McLaren in a Comms capacity in a professional manner at all times
Personal Attributes
- Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills and the ability to confidently communicate with internal and external stakeholders of all levels of seniority
- Excellent and thorough written skills with a keen attention to detail
- Proactive mindset for continuous improvement and proven ability to switch between big picture and attention to detail
- Confident team player and communicator, with ability 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
- An inquisitive and self-starting nature, with the ability to manage one’s own workload independently
- The ability to build strong and meaningful relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally and at all levels to become a trusted representative of the Comms team
- Pro-active with strong organisation skills to ensure task completion
- Ability to multi-task and juggle several of ongoing projects at once