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LocationManchester, GBDepartment NameSC NW&C Region Communications Manager(115611) G2About Network RailJoin Our Team at Network Rail!Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce.Network Rail has been recognised as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth consecutive year!You can find out more about this here: The Times Top 50 Listmakers 2024 - Business in the Community (.uk)Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here .Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!About our people and the recruitment process -We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us , whilst you have a healthy work life balance.We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consist of three routes – North West, Central and West Coast South – and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.Brief DescriptionWe’ve got an exciting opportunity to join one of Network Rail’s busiest regional press teams!We’re looking for a Media Relations Manager for our NW&C region to show off the best of Network Rail’s work that’s upgrading the railway for our valued customers - passengers and freight.It’s a very exciting patch with some iconic railway and infrastructure, including the West Coast main line from London Euston to the Scottish border, the West Midlands and the Chilterns line, and key links across the North West’s growing city regions and world beating tourist destinations.We need someone with brilliant journalist contacts, someone who can spot a news story from 20 paces, and someone who can work well under pressure to quickly get understandable and accessible information out to journalists and passengers during times of disruption.It’s a job where we’ll encourage you to get out and about – filming and finding the stories we should be telling by going behind the scenes on some of our biggest projects. This is so our passengers understand the benefits of our work.That could be maintaining Victorian viaducts, going deep inside tunnels or scaling station roofs to see how we’re maintaining a reliable, safe and integrated railway for the future.Everyone has an opinion on the railway, let’s help shape them.This is a 12-month opportunity with the potential to be made permanent.About The Role (External)We're looking for a talented communicator who lives and breathes media and storytelling.If you have a strong background in media relations and social media, love connecting with people, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, this could be the perfect role for you.You know a great story when you see one, whether it’s a press release waiting to happen or the next social media hit. You’re confident turning technical jargon into a punchy radio clip or a tweet that keeps passengers informed and engaged. With strong media contacts and a knack for building relationships, you enjoy working with journalists to spotlight the railway’s vital work and impact.You’ll need sharp judgement, offering trusted media advice to senior leaders one moment, and crafting clear, timely messages for passengers the next. And you understand that the phone can ring at any moment with a story that needs telling - fast.This isn’t a desk job.It’s a job for someone who’s out meeting people, grabbing a camera to film a great piece, picking up the phone to pitch a story, or responding quickly when things don’t go to plan. Every day is different, and that’s exactly how you like it.Based inBirmingham or Manchester , you’ll join the NW&C Regional Communications team, supporting our three route businesses: North West, Central, and West Coast South. You’ll help run our 24/7 media desk, including taking part in out-of-hours on-call duties, and work alongside Network Rail’s national communications team and train operator partners to keep passengers informed during both planned events and unexpected disruption.If you're ready for a role where you’ll grow your career, never stop learning, and help shape the story of the railway, this is it.In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:Wide experience in media and digital work with a proven track record in journalism or public relations Excellent writing and broadcasting skills The experience and personal credibility to work effectively with senior managers Strong influencing skills Ability to work in a team Ability to work under pressureWe would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be:Experience with video production, including filming, editing and scriptwriting Educated to degree level Relevant professional qualifications Evidence of continuing professional developmentHow To Apply (External)Salary: £35,582 - £40,830.Closing date: Wednesday 25 June 2025. We are looking to recruit fast and late applications will not be accepted. We may close the advert early if we receive a large volume of applicants.This is a12-month fixed-termopportunity with the potential to be made permanent.The successful candidate can be based in Birmingham or Manchester, but occasional travel is expected.Candidates should be comfortable with frequent travel to client sites, regional offices, or other business locations as needed.Clickapply nowto apply.You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.Network Rail Benefits28 days annual leave – with the opportunity to buy and/or sell upto 5 days Access to a range of contributory pension schemes, and the potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train Privileged staff travel – Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75% We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted. A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance Hybrid working (2/3 days a week in the office/on site) and enhanced family-friendly support Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites 5 days of paid volunteering leave 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces communityTo find out about what benefits we offer, click hereAll offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more informationPlease be aware this role holds a mandatory requirement for the incumbent to hold valid security vetting clearance. Any offer will be conditional on the successful candidate obtaining clearance prior to a start date being agreed.If you have lived outside of the UK in the last 3 years, please notify us if/when you are invited to interview. #J-18808-Ljbffr