Press Officer

We are seeking a Press Officer to join our team in Milton Park, Oxfordshire, UK. This a varied and rewarding position that involves overseeing external communications with a wide variety of stakeholders, from journalists to the general public. At Oxitec we pride ourselves in making it easy for others to engage with us and ensuring that those who require information readily receive it, and this role is central to that principle.

The successful candidate will have a proven track-record of communicating complex scientific topics to a range of audiences. They will have a good understanding of the media landscape in the UK and internationally, and will preferably have experience managing media relations. In this position no day is the same, and the candidate will need to be able to manage a workload to prioritise critical assignments and respond quickly to enquiries. They will need to be able to take initiative and work with a high degree of autonomy, as well as demonstrate a strong team ethos and ability to work with colleagues at all different levels.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the role are to include:

• Working closely with CEO to plan and deliver overall communications strategy for the company
• Driving proactive press engagement, responding promptly to media enquiries, coordinating interviews with our experts
• Managing company website and ensuring content is up-to-date
• Managing company social media channels and overseeing social media strategy
• Working with external agencies to develop content and communication plans
• Conducting community engagement activities in countries where the company is working
• Drafting web content, press releases, leaflets and other communication materials

Key Skills and Qualifications

• A degree in biology, genetics or other relevant discipline
• Native standard essential in written and verbal English
• Proven ability to produce accurate and engaging copy from complex scientific materials
• Experience in media relations, ideally in a scientific setting
• Experience in digital communications, including management of social media channels/campaigns
• Strong organisational skills, including ability to manage and prioritise a workload to meet tight deadlines
• Strong team-working ethic and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in the UK and abroad
• IT skills: Experience using WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator etc.)
• Ability to undertake international travel where required
• A foreign language, particularly Spanish or Portuguese, is desirable
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK

Benefits

Salary will be competitive dependent on experience, plus performance based bonus, pension plan and 25 days’ annual leave.

Contact

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to Sarah Coates at sarah.coates@oxitec.com. For further information please email, phone 01235 832393 and also visit www.oxitec.com

Application deadline: 5th May 2017
Start date: May/June 2017