Head of Media

Global Witness is looking for a Head of Media.

Overview:

• Full-time role
• Language: English
• Location: London, UK (Hybrid)
• Salary: £63,665 per year
• Applications closing: 14th April

Job Description

We are an independent, global organisation of investigators and campaigners using cutting edge investigative methods. We shine a light on the financial and political systems that enable corporate abuses of power that harm people and planet.

The Head of Media manages the development and delivery of our media strategy, ensuring Global Witness achieves impactful, high-profile coverage that supports our campaigning, fundraising and brand goals. You will be responsible for managing both proactive and reactive media work across the full breadth of our work. You will also play a central role in managing reputational risk, crisis communications, and cross‑organisational coordination.

The role will be vital in ensuring our media output is evidence‑based, values‑aligned, and informed by audience insights. You will oversee rigorous evaluation of media impact and performance, supporting a culture of learning, agility and audience‑first thinking across the organisation.

Responsibilities

Media strategy

• Oversee the development and implementation of a clear, ambitious and coordinated media strategy to support Global Witness’s goals.
• Oversee proactive media planning across campaigns, fundraising and brand objectives to ensure we land powerful stories with the right audiences.
• Ensure we present a clear, coherent narrative about the organisation that can also accommodate varied messaging as required.

Press office management

• Manage and oversee a responsive, well‑coordinated press office function that delivers timely and impactful media engagement.
• Act as senior point of contact for all high‑stake or sensitive media enquiries, ensuring our response aligns with our mission and values.
• Provide media support and preparation for senior spokespeople and campaigners, including briefings and training.
• Providing practical and hands‑on quality control of written content, including press releases and media statements, as well as drafting of such content as and when required.

Proactive and reactive work

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to shape compelling media moments from Global Witness’s work and identify opportunities for outputs that will support our fundraising and profile‑raising objectives.
• Respond to emerging news stories and external events, ensuring our voice contributes meaningfully to public discourse.
• Develop and maintain positive and deep relationships with key journalists and editors in mainstream, specialist and international outlets.
• Work closely with Communications colleagues to ensure that our media outputs are creatively compelling and able to work across different formats (e.g. video, audio).

Evaluation, insight and learning

• Oversee media tracking, analysis and reporting, ensuring robust evaluation of reach, influence and impact.
• Oversee audience insight and media performance metrics, using these to inform and adapt strategy.
• Share insights and best practice with colleagues to support organisational learning and media literacy.

Manage resources

• Assign responsibilities to team members, move team members onto different area of work as and when required.
• Responsible for the delivery of the team’s objectives.
• Manage budgets and ensure value for money in team expenditure including regular re‑forecasting and financial reporting requirements.

Crisis communication

• Serve as key point of contact on reputational risk and crisis media management, working closely with senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain robust protocols for crisis communications and rapid response scenarios.

Team management

• Responsibility for all aspects of team management including regular performance reviews (continuous learning framework), objective setting, managing performance issues in a timely manner, recruitment and individual and team development.
• Responsible for ensuring team members support the development of Global Witness’ culture and values.
• Ensure contribution of team to organisation is aligned to Global Witness’ methodology and does not reinforce silos.
• Responsible for cultivating a team culture where creativity, collaboration and curiosity across different issues is typical.

Cross‑organisational coordination

• Oversee the planning and delivery of a cross‑organisational communications and media grid to align messaging and maximise impact.
• Collaborate closely with Campaigns, Fundraising and Communications colleagues to integrate media into wider engagement strategies.
• Ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment across all media outputs, and work closely with Internal Communications to ensure internal and external communications are consistent.

Fundraising

• Ensure the team provides information requested by the fundraising team for reporting internal and external processes on time.
• Support fundraising proposals.
• Ensure the team regularly develops content, messages and stories that describe the positive contribution of our work towards our overall impact.
• Regularly represents Global Witness to donors and potential donors.
• Proactively engages donors in our work.

Role Requirements

• Significant experience working in a senior media, press or communications role, preferably within an advocacy, campaigning or NGO setting.
• Proven track record of securing impactful media coverage across a wide range of international outlets.
• Strong news judgement, storytelling instincts and an understanding of what makes stories land with different audiences.
• Demonstrated experience managing reputational risk and leading crisis communications, as well as working with Senior Leadership in an organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility internally and externally.
• Brings proven experience managing and supporting teams across different countries and institutions.
• Builds teams where people feel respected, supported and motivated, and where everyone’s contribution counts.
• Displays sound financial literacy and has experience managing budgets.
• Shows self‑awareness, with a good understanding of your strengths, areas for growth and impact on others.
• Experience using media monitoring and evaluation tools to assess impact and inform decision‑making.
• Fluent in English and able to demonstrate attention to detail and quality even under time pressure.
• Shares our values and is committed to contributing to our diversity, equity and inclusion journey.
• Is well organised, able to prioritise, solve problems, and keep projects on track.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of international environmental and climate issues.
• Experience working with spokespeople, including media training and message development.
• Experience of commissioning audience insight (e.g. quantitative surveys to gauge perception).
• Experience engaging with media in multiple regions or languages.

How to apply?

To apply, we welcome a CV and a 1‑2 page covering letter detailing your interest in the role. Please send this to anna@valued‑recruitment.co.uk.

Please download the job pack for the full details of the role.

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