Job title: Head of Media and Communications

Location: Central London with some travel around the UK

Status: Permanent: Full time

The Society of Jesus in Britain, better known as the Jesuits, is looking for a Head of Media and Communications to work closely with the Provincial (leader) of the Jesuits in Britain from its headquarters in Mayfair, central London.

We are looking for someone who can help the British arm of the Catholic Church’s largest religious Order tell its story and engage with new audiences; who can help refresh our digital channels; who is creative across both digital and editorial; who can provide communications support to a diverse range of Jesuit works to help show our impact and who is experienced at taking a proactive approach to crisis communications.

Sometimes travelling around the UK and occasionally abroad, you will help make the British Jesuits’ projects and people better known and understood in the public square, assisting the directors of our works (charities, schools, colleges, institutes) to develop and manage relationships in the media, soliciting and editing op eds for placement, and thinking of ideas for articles and programmes.

Where necessary you will act as the spokesperson for the Province, turning crises into opportunities to communicate, andswiftly acting to prevent misinformation spreading. A significant part of your role will be to build up the communications capacities of the Jesuits and others involved in our works nationwide, through media training and public speaking coaching, and connecting them with journalists, producers and editors. You will also be responsible for overseeing our significant media output, and building our online and social media presence, reviewing and assisting where necessary with the development of editorial content.

This is a senior, long-term role which will suit either a highly experienced media or communications professional with a proven track record in a similar role, or a mature journalist or producer looking to apply their experience of news and stories in an institution that puts prayer and discernment at the heart of everything we do to create a more just and sustainable world. But it could equally suit a younger person with obvious talent, passion and communication skills seeking to develop and grow within a spirited organization of highly motivated men and women.

Although the working hours are normally Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, an ability to drop everything and be available 24/7 in order to meet deadlines and deal with crises will occasionally be required. A competitive salarycommensurate with the seniority and demands of the role will be offered, depending in part on age and experience.

The Society of Jesus is a religious order of men in the Catholic Church at the centre of a broad network of lay men and women working throughout the UK in education, spirituality, social justice, pastoral settings and academic research, to make the Kingdom of God present in our world. At an exciting time of renewal of the Jesuits in Britain and worldwide, this is a significant and sensitive role for a compelling and skilled communicator to help us better define and communicate our mission and activities, both internally and externally, in accordance with the four “apostolic preferences” recently agreed by the Society of Jesus worldwide: spiritual discernment, reconciliation and justice, accompanying young people, and caring for creation.

Before applying, please look at our website, www.jesuit.org.uk, to learn more about us and what we do.

Closing date for applications: Friday 1st March 2024

Interviews: Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March 2024