Public Relations Manager

Up to £55,000 depending on experience 

Based Edinburgh  

Permanent Position

Flexible Location – Edinburgh or City of London – St Paul’s EC4M 8BU

Phoenix Group is currently recruiting for a Public Relations Manager to join it Corporate Communications team in Edinburgh or London (currently working remotely from home).  Within this role you’ll support the Head of Media Relations and your primary focus will be the Group’s growing workplace pension and long-term savings business which is marketed under the Standard Life brand. 

Responsibilities will include strategic planning and managing media communications to deliver on the ambitions of the workplace business.  As a customer purpose driven organisation with a clear role in society, actively leading and helping to shape the debate will be core to the role. Phoenix has built a hugely successful, well respected and rapidly developing business that joined the FTSE 100 in 2019. Now the UK’s largest long-term saving and retirement business, this is an exciting time to join the Group. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of a media relations strategy which protects, grows and enhances our brand and reputation with the media

• Act as strategic leader on specific projects and provide project or activity related support and advice to stakeholders

• Produce and manage communication plans and oversee the meetings and events calendar

• Develop relationships across the business to understand priorities and needs, and ensure strong relationships are maintained with the media

• Produce a range of written outputs including press releases, content packages and briefing notes

• Represent the business at external events to share the company’s views and gather insights

• Identify proactive opportunities to enhance the company’s brand and reputation with PR audiences

• Effectively manage conflicting business priorities in order to obtain optimum outcomes

• Manage all risks appropriately and escalate where required

• Maintain clear knowledge and understanding of the business, including technical aspects, and regulatory reporting responsibilities

• Drive the effectiveness of communications activity for the relevant area through appropriate measurement and evaluation

• Maintain specialist knowledge of media relations and the external marketplace

What we’re looking for:

• Financial Services PR experience

• Workplace pension proposition and market knowledge

• Strong communication skills

• Proactive stakeholder management skills: building and maintaining a wide range of relationships both within the company and externally

• Experience of engaging externally on important issues and campaigns

• Ability to provide effective communications counsel to colleagues within the business - including the C-Suite

• Experience of crisis communications and managing risk

• Excellent planning and delivery skills, with keen eye for detail

• Previous experience of managing relationships with an external agency is desirable

About Us

Phoenix Group is known as a specialist in the consolidation of Heritage (closed) life and pension funds.  Following the acquisition of Standard Life Assurance Limited in 2018, Phoenix became Europe’s largest consolidator of closed life and pension funds with businesses in the UK, Germany and Ireland. The acquisition included a large Open business, and Phoenix now holds a broad range of both Heritage and Open products split across three key business segments: UK Heritage, UK Open and Europe.

Phoenix is the leader in the safe and efficient management of UK Heritage business.  Our Heritage business comprises products that are no longer actively marketed to customers and has been built through the consolidation of over 100 legacy brands. 

Our Open business manufactures and underwrites new products and policies for people who are saving for their future, with the workplace pensions a key part of this. It also includes our growing Bulk Purchase Annuity business and our market leading brand – Sun Life – which sells a range of financial products specifically for the over 50s market.

With the acquisition of ReAssure Group plc in July this year, Phoenix is now the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business with C.14million policies and C.£300 billion of assets under management.

Phoenix has achieved remarkable growth during its time listed on the London Stock Exchange, joining the FTSE100 in 2019.  We have recently welcomed a new CEO in Andy Briggs and a number of other new Executives to the organisation.

We have ambitious growth plans for our Open business and recognise the importance of Sustainability to ensure our future success.  With a large customer base and considerable assets under administration, we have a clear social purpose and aim to influence and foster positive progress, both in our sector and the wider economy. 

To apply online simply visit: 

Closing date: Sunday 11th October 2020.