PR & Media Executive

Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding leadership, strategic direction and support to some of the best schools in the country?  Do you want to play your part in delivering outstanding learning and teaching to young people in disadvantaged communities? If so, joining the Star team might just be the best career move you ever make.

About Star Central

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Institute and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community.  We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today’s young people and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.

We operate hybrid office and homeworking arrangements. Office working will be based in our Trust Headquarters in Blackburn or at one of the many Star schools located around the country (including Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bradford and Coventry).

​​​​​​​Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an experienced PR & Media Executive to work within the Communications team.

It’s an exciting time to join the communications team at Star Academies as our family of schools continues to grow at pace. Working for one of the largest and highest performing multi-academy trusts, the successful candidate will provide a media relations service to showcase our schools’ achievements and build their profiles in the local community. You’ll also play a key role in growing the Trust’s profile and reinforcing our reputation as an innovative, successful trust that inspires and nurtures young people to realise their potential.

We are seeking an outstanding individual to provide a professional and effective media relations service. You will be an exceptional and experienced writer with a nose for news and a flair for writing engaging stories that secure widespread media coverage, as well as being adept at handling reactive media enquiries and composing punchy statements. You will lead the production of our stakeholder magazine, write compelling content for a range of communications channels, and help to grow the reach and engagement of our social media channels.

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent in English, journalism, communications, PR, marketing or related discipline.
• At least 3 years working in a PR, journalism, communications or marketing role.
• First-hand experience of proactive and reactive media relations.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to write high-quality, engaging content for a range of channels.
• A proven track record of growing an organisation’s social media reach and engagement.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 25 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our learning and development centre, Star Institute. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level. 

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

​​​​​​​Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role.  For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact Star Central by calling 0330 313 9800.​​​​​​​

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 28 November 2021 at midnight

Interview Date: Friday, 10 December 2021

Proposed Start Date: ​​​​​​​As soon as possible.

Application Process

To apply for this vacancy please use the 'Apply for job' link below. You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.