Job Description

Are you ready to chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we're building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success. This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.
At a glance:
Location: London - Paddington
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Employment Type: Permanent
Seniority: Associate
About the role
At St. James's Place, our reputation is one of our most valuable assets-and our Media Relations team plays a central role in protecting and enhancing it. As a Media Relations Specialist, you'll be one of the company's primary contacts for the press, helping shape the way our brand is represented across national, trade, and digital media.
This is a fast-paced and varied role where you'll combine strong news judgement with creativity, balancing proactive campaigns with reactive crisis management. You'll need to develop a deep understanding of both our business and the UK advice market, enabling you to craft compelling narratives that engage stakeholders and highlight the value of financial advice.
What you'll be doing

• Designing and delivering media communications plans in collaboration with the wider External Communications team, securing high-profile coverage across print, broadcast, online, and owned channels.
• Building and nurturing strong internal and external relationships, influencing key stakeholders to support our Communications strategy.
• Managing reputational issues in the media to ensure SJP's brand is protected and positively positioned.
• Partnering with colleagues and PR agencies to create impactful campaigns that establish St. James's Place as a thought leader.
• Advising senior leaders and preparing spokespeople ahead of media engagement.
• Staying close to industry developments, providing insight and recommendations to refine communications approaches.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience working in media relations, ideally in relevant areas of the financial services profession, with a keen understanding of the sector, excellent relevant media contacts and strong relationships with key journalists and media outlets.
• Excellent communications skills, including a strong writing ability, as well as confidence to build and convey news stories and features, experience of writing news releases, media statements, delivering impactful media campaigns and sourcing media case studies.
• Strong news sense and ability to react quickly and adapt to a fast-moving 24/7 news agenda, Excellent prioritisation skills and demonstrable experience in handling multiple priorities to tight deadlines
• Work collaboratively with other team members and PR agencies to develop and deliver media campaigns, helping to promote the value of financial advice and position St. James's Place as a thought leader.

Desirable Criteria:

• Maintain a keen understanding of industry trends and make appropriate recommendations regarding communications strategies
• Ability to manage media engagement programmes for company spokespeople, ensuring they are adequately briefed and supported for media meetings

If you're a communications professional with proven experience in a corporate environment, strong media instincts, and the ability to craft compelling stories, this is an opportunity to make a real impact at one of the UK's leading wealth management companies.
What's in it for you?
We reward you for the work you do, whether that's through our discretionary annual bonus scheme that reflects both personal and company performance, competitive annual leave allowance (28 days plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days), or online rewards platform with a variety of discounts.
We also have benefits to support whatever stage of life you are in, including:

• Competitive parental leave (26 weeks full pay)
• Private medical insurance (optional taxable benefit)
• 10% non-contributory pension (increasing with length of service)

Reasonable Adjustments
We're an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at careers@sjp.co.uk
Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.
What's next?
If you're excited about this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're looking for, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking 'apply' below and our team will be in touch.
As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.
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