Job title: Press Officer (Part Time 20hrs per week)
Responsible to: Communications Lead
Salary: £30,605.90 (£17,445.36 pro rata)
Contract Type: Permanent
Main purpose of job:
The Communications team works with journalists, influencers, venues and stakeholders to maximise coverage and awareness of Welsh National Opera, which increases the Company’s profile and influence internationally, nationally, and regionally. The role of Press Officer supports the Communications Lead to plan, co-ordinate and review WNO’s media coverage.
Key responsibilities:
- Assist the Communications Lead in the implementation and delivery of the Company’s communications plan, ensuring positive media coverage across local, regional, national, and international press and media.
- Support the delivery of integrated communications activity by organising, managing, and overseeing filming, interviews, photo calls, and recordings with media outlets.
- Produce seasonal and annual cast lists and schedules, and oversee the production, organisation, and filing of additional press materials as required.
- Work closely with the Digital Content Producer to contribute to photography briefs and take responsibility for the distribution of production photography to the press.
- Write high-quality editorial copy, including press releases and statements, as directed by the Communications Lead and the Head of Audiences and Digital.
- Assist in the facilitation and distribution of all press releases, identifying compelling angles for news stories and ensuring the Company’s work is represented with a high-quality visual and audio profile across media platforms.
- Ensure all relevant listing websites accurately feature the Company’s events, regularly checking and maintaining accuracy.
- Maximise media coverage for touring productions by liaising with venues to develop and secure tour-related press campaigns.
- Proactively interview artists for syndication across print media and online outlets including WNO channels.
- Plan and oversee press campaigns that promote the full breadth of the Company’s activity, including opera productions, orchestral tours, engagement work, and development and fundraising initiatives, as required.
- Aligning news content with national / regional events and anniversaries working closely with Digital Marketing Communications Officer to amplify across WNO channels as required.
- Liaise with SOLT to provide information on dress rehearsals and photo calls.
- Allocate tickets for opening nights and repeat performances using Tessitura, releasing tickets as required.
- Attend press nights in Cardiff and represent the Company to members of the media.
- Act as the first point of contact for all press enquiries, monitoring and responding to the central press email inbox and phone line.
- Manage, collate, and file all essential press cuttings and reviews using the Company’s digital media monitoring service, and produce evaluation and coverage reports as required.
- Compile and write award entry applications as required.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal departments, artists, and venues to encourage collaboration and maximise media opportunities.
- Oversee administrative duties for the Communications team, including raising purchase orders, co-ordinating translations, circulating internal notices about forthcoming media activity, maintaining up-to-date subscription and website login details, and supporting the Communications Lead and Head of Audiences & Digital with additional projects and administrative tasks as required.
The duties in this job description are not exhaustive and may be altered at any time to reflect the changing needs of the organisation.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- A knowledge and understanding of press and media.
- The ability to build partnerships internally and externally.
- Ability to write persuasively for promotional purposes to secure media coverage and ticket sales.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with an impeccable attention to detail.
- Ability to plan, hit deadlines and prioritise workload.
- Ability to perform consistently under pressure and meet demanding deadlines.
- Ability to work in a team with confidence to follow own intuition and initiative where appropriate.
- Understanding of GDPR legislation
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working in a busy press office environment.
- Welsh language speaker/writer.
- A good level of understanding of digital communications.
- Knowledge of the opera industry and the arts sector in general.
- Experience in developing segmented communications campaigns.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We recognise that talented people sometimes hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. Research shows this is particularly true for women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled and neurodivergent people, and those from working-class backgrounds.
If this feels like your ideal role, even if your experience does not align perfectly with every criterion, we encourage you to apply anyway. Your perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to help build the opera company of the future.
Reasonable Adjustments
WNO is committed to an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, please email [email protected]. We are committed to supporting you at every stage of the process.
How to Apply
Please apply via our website indeed applications will not be accepted.
To view our vacancies:
https://wno.org.uk/about/work-for-us/
To apply:
https://ce0615li.webitrent.com/ce0615li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=632029007I
Pay: £30,605.90 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cardiff CF10
