Public affairs officer | high wycombe (united kingdom) | full time (40 hours) | permanent

Assists in building strategic relationships with opinion leaders who affect the reputation of the Church, and whose actions and influence can help or hinder the Church's mission.

Providing information, insights and perspectives by:

• identifying problems, challenges, and opportunities facing the Church,
• providing information and analysis to help Church leaders make informed decisions,
• recommending possible effects of those decisions on specific publics
• communicating in ways that build effective relationships for the Church and help solve problems.

Primary audiences for this position include the Public Affairs director to whom this person reports; Public Affairs directors' council, the Public Affairs committee.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drafts press releases, news and feature articles, position papers, training materials, speeches, etc.
• Drafts responses to journalists, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, inquiries
• Drafts news and feature stories for release to the worldwide media
• Familiarity with and use of Internet "new media" outlets such as "bloggers, others
• Assists with "News Room" web-site messaging and maintenance
• Provides research and evaluation for pre and post public relations initiatives
• Reviews and analyzes social, political and economic trends
• Drafts reports/articles to provide strategic analysis of worldwide information and trends
• Drafts, edits, and proposes material for brochures, leaflets, press packets, video news releases, public service programming, etc.
• Assists in production of videos, audio visual presentations, etc.
• Develops materials to train priesthood leaders, public affairs directors and missionaries
• Has increased responsibility for special events such as General Conference, temple open houses, Tabernacle Choir receptions, dedications, centennials, etc.
• Enables/supports those who work strategically to create positive relationships for the Church with media, government and community leaders
• Assists in the creation and implementation of crisis management plans

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelors degree in communications-related field or equivalent (i.e., public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, government relations, international relations, political science, social science). Minimum 5 years, Prefer 6+ years, In areas related to Public Affairs; Communications; Marketing; Media; Government Relations; International Relations, etc. Equivalent experience may replace education. Ability to think strategically and assist in bringing people together. Understanding of Church organization and priesthood governance. Ability to represent the department well with individuals at or below his own level. Ability to manage and coordinate numerous tasks and assignments concurrently. Good organization skills are required to balance competing priorities within time constraints, often under pressure. Comfortable with word processing, presentation graphics, data base and Internet access and utilization. Public Relations Society of America certification desirable.