Media Relations Manager at The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL)

Short Description

• The Media Relations Manager will work closely with the media to inform the public about the organization's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. The incumbent will coordinate directly with the people responsible for producing the news and features in the mass media. The goal of media relations is to maximize positive coverage in the mass media without paying for it directly through advertising.

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree at an NQF level 7 in Public Relations, Journalism, English, Communications or related fields such as Marketing, Advertising and Social/Digital Media. An equivalent qualification in social sciences will also be considered.

Certifications

• Registration with a professional body is not a requirement but will be taken into account.

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to travel

Physical Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in any of the following fields: media relations, journalism, or public relations.

Skills and competencies

• Social media savvy

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare articles and press releases for the media.
• Cultivate and enhance collaborative working relationships with the press and publicity community.
• Ensure the organization protects and promotes its image in a proper, coordinated, and consistent manner.
• Gather and disseminate timely information to press/media
• Assemble press kits.
• Convey media inquiries via appropriate channels within and coordinate efforts of fact-finding for media queries.
• Create and manage effective communication channels.
• Detect, through media monitoring, public relations issues as they emerge and address them directly.
• Establishing and maintaining controls within the Media Relations portfolio to ensure there are no audit findings or repeat audit findings.
• Implement continuous mitigating activities against possible negative reputation.
• Manage and supervise media events along with initiatives defining company story.
• Managing the PR agency to ensure that it delivers according to expectations as stated in the SLA.
• Monitor media coverage that can negatively affect the organization’s reputation.
• Monitoring the budget monthly and quarterly to ensure expenditure does not exceed budget.
• Monthly and quarterly forecasting of expenditure.
• Monthly financial reports (expenditure versus budget).
• Perform as media spokesperson as supervised by the General Manager: Communications & Marketing as and when required.
• Propose ideas proactively for media pitches to stimulate media coverage.
• Providing clear briefs to the appointed PR agency.
• Research, write and edit briefing materials.
• Work with Senior Management to prepare and plan for strategic crisis communications.
• Work with other communications portfolio managers in an integrated approach to achieve optimal results for the organization.
• Working with the appointed PR agency to develop and implement a media relations strategy and plans.