Multi-Sport Press Officer

THE ROLE:

To provide communications and media support that will enable Team England athletes participating in media to have a positive and comprehensive experience that maximises their profile, their sport, and Team England at the home Commonwealth Games, Birmingham 2022.

Multi-sport Press Officers will play an active role in the Team England communications team at Games time and will be assigned to a sport(s) to cover the exciting programme at Birmingham 2022. Clear, transparent, and effective communications is a key element of creating the optimal environment for Team England to perform.

The candidate must be a talented, dedicated and knowledgeable communications professional with press officer experience from sporting events and proven skills of working successfully under pressure.

The role holder will need to have a positive attitude, be a creative thinker, strong team player and great people motivator.

The successful candidate will work with the sport Team Leader to coordinate the media requirements to deliver maximum positive publicity and ensure there is no conflict with an athlete’s training or competition schedule.

We are looking for candidates with good knowledge and experience of working with high profile athletes and the media, ideally in the environment of a major sporting event.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support preparation and delivery of the sport’s team announcement, media event, and associated press material in close coordination with Commonwealth Games England (CGE) communications staff
• Attend and assist in facilitating media opportunities at Kitting Out/Team England Immersion Camp
• Maximise all positive publicity opportunities and co-ordinate and facilitate interview requests from TV, radio and print media as well as photo opportunity requests and commercial partner activity immediately pre-Games and during Games
• Act as the first point of contact on all media matters for the sport’s Team Leader, support team and athletes, assisting with messaging and briefs
• Facilitate mixed zone, i-zone and post-performance interviews of Team England athletes at training and competition
• Facilitate interviews for the sports’ appropriate spokespeople on communications issues
• Collect and feed flash quotes to the Team England News Service Team and/or Digital Content Team
• Assist with the organisation of and/or host Team England press conferences and other media opportunities and work with the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee to fulfil any required media obligations as host team
• Disseminate information to relevant media and sports’ Team Leaders in relation to communication matters
• Inform the Chief Press Attaché of all potential media issues and monitor media coverage
• Liaise with non-Games based NGB communications staff as needed
• Liaise with the Celebrating Victory team to arrange a smooth transition into the Celebrating Victory programme post medal/competition
• Work with Team England’s digital team to identify content creation opportunities and ensure access to athletes and contribute behind the scenes content for online use
• On the ground management of kit requirements as stated in the Team Members Agreement
• Draft press releases/quotes as needed
• Assist with other required duties as needed

KEY SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• A knowledgeable communications professional with media officer experience at sporting events
• Proven skills of working successfully under pressure, managing multiple requests and demands including during normal and anti-social hours 
• Very good understanding of media operational matters, the UK media landscape and working with sports media
• Experience of working with high profile athletes
• A strong understanding of sport in England, the UK and internationally
• An understanding of the key aspects of performance sport and multi-sport competition
• Interpret and anticipate change and respond effectively
• Exceptional organisational skills
• Complete an enhanced DBS check
• Attend a Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop

APPLYING:

• Applicants will need to fill in an online application form, including uploading a current CV and Cover Letter 
• Please also complete our anonymous Equality and Diversity Monitoring Survey when you apply: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZP5THQQ
• Applications close at 9am on the 22nd September
• Interviews will take place on 23rd, 23rd, 30th September and 1st, 4th and 6th October
• Successful candidates will be informed by 11th October

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS:

Press Officer roles are voluntary. The cost of travel, uniform, accommodation, meals, and associated expenses will be covered by CGE. Accommodation will be twin share and located in either the Athletes Village or a Team Hotel, depending on the role.

During Games-time, working hours will be as required to fulfil these demands. The post-holder will be required to work in a flexible manner to accommodate the nature of the role and the environment of a multi-sport event.

Successful applicants must commit to:

• Attending two pre-Games Workshops:
  • 16th and 17th November in Birmingham
  • 2nd and 3rd March 2022 TBC
• Being available for the duration of the Games Time period which falls between approximately 18 July 2022 and 10 August 2022, depending on the role, and likely based in Birmingham for the duration of this time
• Signing the Team Members agreement, Entry & Eligibility form, and the Team Code of Conduct
• Working within a non-smoking environment

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY

Commonwealth Games England is proud to be a member of the Sporting Equals Charter, which has been designed to support organisations in the sport and physical activity sector to tackle the ethnicity gap.

This commitment aims to provide equal opportunities to all employees and potential employees. This includes the recruitment, selection, training, work conditions and career management/ promotion of employees.  Commonwealth Games England opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status and civil partnership, gender reassignment, religion or belief, and disability and is committed to eliminating discrimination and harassment in the workplace.