Head of Media Relations

Full time: 35 hours per week

Permanent contract

This role is predominantly home-based with regular travel to locations across the UK. Office facilities are available at our Newark office (Tuesdays to Thursdays) for those within easy travelling distance. There is a requirement to attend in-person the monthly team meeting at the Newark office.

Closing date for applications: 31st May 2026

First interview: 15th June 2026 (In person at Newark office)

Second interview: 26th June 2026 (Online)

About Us:

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 945000 members over 33000 volunteers 4100 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations starting where they live and work.

Every Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation and a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912 and one of the founding members of IUCN the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts.

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work not least in how we mobilise others and support them to organise within their own communities

About You

Can you use your expertise in shaping powerful media narratives to help drive natures recovery with one of the UKs best-loved environmental charities The Wildlife Trusts experienced Media team plays a vital role in shaping the public conversation about nature.

We create compelling authoritative stories for broadcast print and online national media outlets and generate billions of opportunities each year for people to see hear and read about The Wildlife Trusts important work to restore wildlife and reconnect people with nature. Our work spans a wide and ambitious agenda. We respond to and comment on Government policy we champion bold solutions for natures recovery and we spotlight the impact of our work across issues as varied as peatland restoration nature for mental health and whale and dolphin conservation. Through interviews opinion pieces press releases video content and expert commentary we regularly appear on flagship programmes including BBC Countryfile Springwatch ITV News and BBC Radio 4s Today programme as well as international media.

Our high-profile coverage ensures that The Wildlife Trusts remain at the heart of the national conversation about the urgent need to tackle the nature and climate crises. Our work continues to grow and adapt. The scale and pace of the challenges facing our wildlife demand even greater ambition clarity and leadership in how we communicate. We are now seeking a strategic and operationally experienced Head of Media Relations to lead the next phase of our media work who can continue to strengthen our national profile in the media identifying new opportunities for The Wildlife Trusts and ensuring our message continues to cut through to drive awareness and meaningful action.

You are an experienced and credible media professional with a track record of leading and supporting high-performing teams in a fast paced high-profile environment.

You will have demonstrable expert knowledge of the media landscape with a wide network of trusted media relationships that you use thoughtfully and effectively to achieve impact. You are equally confident developing and placing softer news stories as you are managing complex or high-stakes situations exercising sound judgement and acting decisively when it matters most.

You will have substantial experience of reputation management including advising senior leaders and stakeholders on sensitive or contentious issues. An understanding of the issues affecting UK wildlife and nature recovery is highly desirable alongside a commitment to using the power of media to inform engage and drive positive change

INDAD

We need nature and it needs us. Were here to make the world wilder and make nature part of life for everyone. Were helping to make life better for wildlife for people and for future generations.

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of 870000 members 38000 volunteers and 2800 staff across the UK. We are at an exciting moment in our 110-year history with an ambitious new strategy in development setting out a vision of nature in recovery with abundant diverse wildlife and natural processes creating wilder landscapes where people and nature thrive.

Each Wildlife Trust is an independent charity formed by people getting together to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations starting where they live.

The next 10 years will be critical in determining what kind of world we will all live in. We need to reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale as a matter of urgency if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. This will require big bold changes in the way we think and operate and the development of a strong collaborative culture. It will require key stakeholders and the public to take action for natures recovery.

We want our people to be as diverse as society so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

As a Disability Confident employer we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.