Communications Manager

Role Overview

• Proactively work with football club charities and Premier League Foundation programme teams to identify potential stories and content ideas for use by the Premier League and other funders, using programme data and insights, with particular focus on content that supports the League’s year-round More Than A Game activity.
• Apply journalistic skills to draft and edit accurate, engaging, community-focused content for premierleague.com, written publications, research documents and media use, including first-person features, success stories, news articles, profile interviews, infographics and thought-leadership pieces.
• Manage the end-to-end production of official Premier League Foundation publications, ensuring high-quality, on-brand, and accurate content.
• Lead on the upkeep and evolution of the Premier League Foundation Communications Toolkit, supporting and monitoring funded club charities output to ensure they deliver compelling content that meets the Premier League Foundation’s minimum operating standards.
• Use communications tools to strengthen the Premier League Foundation’s presence, ensuring alignment with Premier League and Premier League Foundation strategic priorities and wider marketing and communication’s activity.
• Work with Premier League and Premier League Foundation programme teams to deliver and evaluate a refreshed email strategy for Premier League-funded and partner-funded community programmes (including the Professional Footballers’ Association), ensuring GDPR compliance. Manage the newsletter schedule, quality checks and on-time delivery in line with best practice.
• Work with the Head of Communications to set the strategic direction for how the Foundation uses LinkedIn to build reputation and influence across the charity and sport for development sector, and supports Premier League Foundation and More Than A Game content on Premier League social channels.
• Work with Premier League colleagues to track and report to the Premier League Board on the Premier League Foundation’s digital performance, providing monthly insight and recommendations to senior stakeholders, funders and the wider network where required.
• Actively contribute to effective internal communications elements, developing processes for information sharing within the Premier League Foundation and with others across the Premier League, other funders and external stakeholders.
• Commission and brief external communications partners and suppliers (e.g., photographers, filmmakers, resource providers, influencers) working with Premier League Foundation Safeguarding colleagues to conduct appropriate due diligence and ensuring alignment with organisational standards.
• Lead communications for the Premier League Primary Stars education media agency contract, promoting the Premier League’s year-round commitment to primary education and coordinating delivery across relevant departments (including Talent Management, Policy, Marketing, Digital and Communications).
• Build strong relationships and networks with key external stakeholders, colleagues, partners and media outlets.
• Stay up to date with developments in relevant areas of expertise and adapt to the evolving needs of the team and organisation through participation in performance reviews, 360 feedback and ongoing learning opportunities.
• Champion innovation across the organisation by identifying, evaluating and where appropriate adopting new techniques, including use of artificial intelligence systems and tools.
• Represent the Premier League Foundation in a professional and positive manner when engaging with internal and external stakeholders, reflecting the organisation’s values at all times.
• Provide advice and guidance on communications best-practice support to colleagues across the Foundation and the wider club charity network. enhancing capability and contributing to a culture of shared learning.
• Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required, and are commensurate with the job role, in furtherance of the objectives of the Premier League Foundation.

Requirements

• Proven communications experience in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Demonstrable experience in one or more of the following areas: strategic communications, public relations, digital communications, or internal communications.
• Experience working with multiple partners and managing competing priorities across a varied workload.
• Proven writing, editing, proofreading, publishing and report development skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and relationship management skills.
• Proven ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement and demonstrating strategic leadership without close supervision.
• A collaborative team player with excellent communication and organisation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with different audiences, including children and young people, across different formats, with written communication to an excellent standard.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage complex stakeholder networks.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, make informed decisions and solve problems proactively.
• A strong understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion, including best practice in inclusive communications.
• A commitment to safeguarding and an understanding of its importance within communications activity.
• High level of computer proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Office. Experience with Pulse CMS (or a similar system) is desirable but not required.
• Willingness to travel within England and Wales as required.
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS check.