Media Relations Specialist

Are you ready tochart 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 youfor the work you do, whether that's through our discretionary annual bonus scheme that reflects bothpersonal and company performance, competitive annual leave allowance (28 daysplus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days), oronline rewards platform with a variety of discounts.
We also havebenefits 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 equalopportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessibleand inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stageplease let us know by emailing us at
Research tells usthat applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put offfrom applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been onan extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role andcan demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless ofwhether you tick every box.

What's next?

If you're excitedabout this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're lookingfor, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking'apply' below and our team will be in touch.
As a businessregulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with theconduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to aninterview with SJP.