Job Description
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Position Type: Full time
Location: The PFA has facilities and offices in Manchester, London and St George’s Park. We are flexible in terms of where the ‘home’ office will be. This is a hybrid role and so, alongside the capacity for some home working, regular periods of travel will also be required.
Salary: £27,500 + benefits
The PFA is currently looking to expand its communications department and recruit a Copywriting and Communications Officer.
Reporting to the Head of Communications, this will be a varied role that suits someone who is a confident and effective writer on a wide range of issues and briefs across different channels. The position will also require someone who has experience working with media in a press officer role or similar.
As a significant part of their work, the Communications Officer will work alongside other departments at the PFA, identifying stories, events and people that illustrate our work and turning these into compelling, newsworthy features for our website, social output and membership communication and campaigns.
The Communications Officer will also work with national and regional print media, broadcast and online media, proactively communicating the role of the Union and playing an important part in our reactive work. You will need to have experience managing and responding to enquiries from journalists, writing media releases, arranging broadcast appearances and providing PFA spokespeople for media.
The role will suit a creative self-starter who can generate ideas for content and see these through, whilst also having the discipline and organisational skills to effectively manage media relationships on behalf of the team.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
Essential
An excellent writer with demonstrable experience in a content writing role or similar
The ability to write for a range of briefs and for different channels
Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects to short deadlines.
Experience with interviews, with the ability to get the best out of people and identify good stories.
Experience working with media in a press officer role or similar.
Research and analysis skills
A passion for football and an understanding of the work of the PFA.
Desirable
Experience of working in football or other sports
A journalism background
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) is the union for all current and former footballers and scholars in the Premier League, the Women’s Super League and English Football Leagues.
We are committed to helping each member understand their purpose both as a professional player and a person. We provide the information, advice and support you need to help maximise the opportunities that come with playing professional football.
We’re the only football organisation that solely prioritises players’ needs. We offer a variety of educational, financial and wellbeing support services.
Throughout our history, the PFA has been instrumental in supporting the women’s game, decreasing mental health stigma across the sport, leading the fight against discriminatory abuse of players and pushing for research into the links between neurodegenerative conditions and playing football.
We proudly amplify the players’ voice to ensure their views are represented to the game’s stakeholders and governing bodies.
We also protect and enhance their rights and working conditions by holding stakeholders and governing bodies to account.
Our team is passionate about helping footballers navigate personal or professional challenges, and we use our own experiences to relate to players and help prepare them for the future.
We are here to protect and support players, for football and for life.
How to apply
HOW TO APPLY To apply, please email an up-to-date CV, Covering Letter (which expresses your motivation for the role and highlights your relevant experience) to: recruitment@thepfa.com. The closing date for applications is: 17th July 2022 You should also include (as an attachment or a link) an example of your writing. This can be on football or any other subject, but it should represent something you are proud of and are happy to talk us through. The PFA is an equal opportunities employer. Our employment policies for recruitment ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.