Media and PR Assistant

Location (UK): Office Hybrid - London/Chesterfield (potential office relocation to central Sheffield in 2026)
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Travel: Occasional travel to Versus Arthritis offices (London, Chesterfield, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow)

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.

We re seeking a Media and PR Assistant to join our busy press office working to grow the charity s profile and media reach. This role would suit a team player with a proactive attitude who has a keen interest in, and knowledge of, the media. Strong communication skills both written and verbal - are a must.

About the role

As the Assistant PR and Media Officer, you will work across the media and PR team to support the delivery of impactful media coverage that will build understanding of the issues affecting people with arthritis, increase awareness of Versus Arthritis and drive change.

This will include acting as a point of contact for journalists seeking information and working with colleagues across the charity to provide timely and accurate comment, requiring occasional out of hours work. As well as responding to reactive media enquiries, you will have the opportunity to help deliver proactive media work and write press releases.

Central to increasing awareness and understanding of arthritis is through sharing the experiences of people with lived experience. Alongside the Stories Officer, you will support people to share their stories with media and help manage these important relationships.

A key part of the role is to provide administrative support and to lead on media monitoring and evaluation, ensuring this supports team performance and learning. We re a friendly and supportive team, keen to help you progress and thrive.

About you

If your knowledge, skills and experience include the following then we d love to hear from you:

• Experience writing in different styles and producing content for different audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident working with internal and external stakeholders at different levels.
• A proactive, can do attitude and desire to learn and develop.
• The ability to work on different priorities and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• An interest in improving the lives of people with arthritis and the willingness to gain knowledge of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.

As a hybrid worker the expectation is that you will spend around 40% of your working time in our office spaces or working in community settings. As an inclusive employer we will consider home-based working for anyone where office-based hybrid working would be a barrier to being able to work for us, for example for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

Benefits

Your excellent benefits include:

• Flexible hours, environments and working practices to promote a healthy work/life balance.
• Health and wellbeing support including the Employee Assistance Programme (free confidential 24/7 support with mental health, legal and financial queries).
• Simplyhealth cash plan.
• Supportive and inclusive culture, with a wide range of employee networks and support groups available to join.
• Learning and personal development opportunities.
• Competitive annual leave, with the option to buy/sell up to five days per year.
• Generous pension plan, with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Life Assurance plan (4 x salary).

Application deadline and shortlisting

• We advise candidates to apply early as we reserve the right to close applications ahead of the advertised date.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We do not wish to receive contact from agencies or media sales.

Please note that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) during our recruitment and selection processes, and we would respectfully ask that you also refrain from using AI during the selection process. Whilst we do recognise that AI may be a beneficial tool for some when aiding research and preparation for an application or interview, we want to maintain a fair, inclusive and positive recruitment experience at Versus Arthritis where candidates can feel supported to demonstrate their experience, knowledge, and skills without the use of AI generated answers.

Interview

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee you will be offered an interview if you disclose a disability and demonstrate sufficient evidence within your application that you meet the essential criteria for this role. We will also make any reasonable adjustments you may require for your interview.