Media Specialist

Role Title: Media Specialist
Salary: £42,205 - £43,417
Location: London-Hybrid (1 day per week in Office)
Tenure: 18 Months' Fixed Term - Full Time

ActionAid UK is a member of the ActionAid Federation, an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. We work with our partners and dedicated staff in 43 countries to end violence and fight poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want

Are you a keen advocate of women and girls rights in emergencies?

Are you a passionate communicator and media professional who believes in the power of storytelling to drive change?

Do you want to help shape a fairer world by amplifying the voices of feminist movements and communities experiencing injustice?

Then we'd love to hear from you!

At ActionAid UK, we re looking for a Media Specialist to join our dynamic Media team. In this pivotal role, you ll respond to media enquiries, pitch impactful stories to journalists, and craft bold narratives that reflect the lived realities of women and girls around the world. Working closely with partners, activists, and spokespeople, you ll write compelling talking points, prepare media materials, and contribute to the development of strategic messaging that supports our campaigns and organisational goals.

You ll also help ensure that our storytelling remains rooted in our anti-racist and feminist values, presenting people s experiences with depth, dignity, and respect. This role involves working on confidential and sensitive issues, and you ll need good judgement, diplomacy, and resilience. What we're looking for:

• A confident media professional with a strong background in media relations, ideally in an advocacy or campaigning context.
• A natural storyteller and sharp writer with excellent attention to detail.
• An understanding of the UK media landscape and how to build trusted journalist relationships would be desirable.

This role is not just about coverage it s about impact. You ll need to be a confident writer with sharp editorial instincts and a passion for progressive, rights-based storytelling. You ll handle media enquiries, pitch powerful stories to journalists, and craft compelling narratives that centre the voices and lived experiences of women and girls from marginalised communities and respond swiftly to breaking news and humanitarian emergencies. You ll also be part of a team that centres anti-racist storytelling storytelling, supporting communities to lead in how their stories are told. At ActionAid UK we work at the intersection of gender justice and international development, offering a supportive hybrid working environment, opportunities for learning and development, and a culture that values bold thinking, collaboration, and systemic change.

If you re ready to use your skills to elevate unheard voices, challenge injustice, and help shape the media narrative around women s rights and global equity then we want to hear from you.

Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be asked to participate in criminal records checks at the point of offer.

Additional information

Diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging:

Diversity, inclusion and belonging are key to our organisational culture. We are on a journey to become not only an anti-racist organisation but one that proudly celebrates the diversity of all applicants and employees. We look forward to you bringing your full self to work, proudly sharing your unique perspective and helping us to shape our combined future. We especially welcome applications from those from under-represented/marginalised communities.

AAUK is a Disability Confident Committed organisation and as such any candidate that declares a disability will be shortlisted for interview if they meet the essential criteria for the role.

Referencing and safeguarding:

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include safeguarding, criminal records and terrorism finance checks. By submitting an application the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

ActionAid UK is committed to preventing any form of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse (including child abuse and adult at-risk abuse) and responding robustly when these harms take place. We expect all ActionAid UK staff and ActionAid UK representatives to share this commitment. We will not tolerate our staff or other representatives carrying out any form of sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse towards anyone we come into contact with through our work.

Working practices:

ActionAid is committed to supporting flexible working. If you would like to discuss flexible working options, including the possibility of a job share for this role, there will be space to do so during the interview process.

ActionAid UK has a hybrid working policy for many of our roles. The requirement will vary from team to team and the responsibilities of individual roles. As a minimum, all colleagues are expected to attend the office 12 days per year, plus additional time for induction, training, and company connection days. Some roles may require in-office attendance on all days and if so, these will clearly be marked as in-office roles.

Please note that ActionAid UK does not offer fully remote working options. We encourage you to discuss hybrid working expectations at interview.

Recruitment processes:

Please note that ActionAid UK may review, shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date so we encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible. If we receive a very high response, we may close the vacancy early and will not accept further submissions.