Press Officer

Founded in 1681 by King Charles II, the Royal Hospital Chelsea has stood for centuries as a national symbol of gratitude to the soldiers who have served our country, and is home to the iconic Chelsea Pensioners. Today, the Hospital's role remains to ensure that those who have served are always supported.

We are now looking for a proactive and creative Press Officer to support the delivery of our press and media, helping bring the stories of the Chelsea Pensioners to life and ensuring they reach audiences across local, regional and national media.

If you're an excellent writer with a strong news instinct, some experience in PR or journalism, and a desire to work with meaningful, human stories - this could be the role for you.

Where you fit in

You'll join an ambitious Development, Marketing and Communications team focused on raising the Royal Hospital's profile, increasing fundraising income, and building new audiences through compelling, emotive storytelling.

Supporting the Communications and PR Manager, you'll play a key role in delivering an 'always-on' press office, ensuring our stories land where they matter and contribute to organisational objectives.

What you'll be doing

You'll support the delivery of proactive and reactive PR activity, helping to generate consistent coverage and maintain strong media relationships.

You will:

• Support the delivery of 'always-on' PR, securing regular local and national coverage
• Manage the observance calendar to identify opportunities around key dates such as Founder's Day and Remembrance
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and media contacts
• Draft press releases, media briefings and Chelsea Pensioner case studies
• Play a key role in the day-to-day running of a busy press office, handling media enquiries quickly and effectively
• Coordinate media visits, facilitating interviews with Chelsea Pensioners and spokespeople
• Monitor and evaluate coverage, maintaining tracking and reporting tools

Support the team with gathering of digital/social content to support the Royal Hospital's press and wider marcomms objectives.

• Ensure records are accurate, up to date and GDPR compliant

We're looking for someone who is:

• A strong writer, able to produce clear, compelling content tailored to different audiences
• Experienced in PR, communications or journalism (ideally within a charity or purpose-led organisation)
• Developing relationships with media and building a strong contacts base
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Confident working both independently and as part of a team
• Sensitive and empathetic when working with personal and beneficiary stories
• Calm under pressure, with a good understanding of reputational considerations
• IT literate, including Microsoft Office and media monitoring tools

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career in PR within a national institution, working on stories that have real impact and meaning.

To apply: please submit your CV and a covering letter of up to 500 words.

Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing applications and interviewing candidates throughout the recruitment process.