PR Manager (maternity cover)

job description

Hours of work Full time

Contract Type Fixed Term (FTA)

Contract start date Provisionally 19 January 2026

Contract end date 12 months from start date

Salary £46,556 per annum [Band E]

Directorate Marketing & Commercial Enterprise

Location Kew Gardens, Richmond, Hybrid

Closing Date  26/10/2025

The role is a senior role within the Communications team and line manages a Media Officer and guides them in their work across all the science, visitor facing, and institutional campaigns running simultaneously at Kew. The role requires the post holder to attend events and travel to support core communications activity in the UK and overseas and take part in a press on-call rota.

This is an exciting time to join the Communications team as we prepare for the release of Kew’s flagship science report in 2026. This role would be pivotal to its success, leading the communications campaign from start to finish.

Person specification

To succeed in this role, the candidate will bring strong PR experience as a professional, gained either in house or with an agency. They will have a proven track record of delivering high impact PR campaigns from concept to completion – from pitching and negotiating with the media, to setting up interviews and guiding filming with senior staff. The candidate will be confident in managing sensitive issues and leading on crisis communications.

The ideal candidate will be a motivated, a self-starter, highly organised and comfortable with juggling multiple projects and deadlines. They will also ideally have line management experience. Strong presentation and interpersonal skills will allow the role holder to represent the Communications team with credibility, including delivering clear, engaging presentations to senior leadership. Outstanding writing skills are essential, especially the ability to translate complex science into compelling stories for a wide range of audiences.

Just as importantly, the ideal candidate will bring a genuine appreciation for biodiversity and a sound understanding of today’s environmental challenges, along with how Kew’s mission fits within the global response to the climate and biodiversity crises.

First round interviews will take place on 12 November. Second round interviews will take place during w/c 17 November.

This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi. 

The salary for this position is £46,556 per annum [Band E]

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply for this job”.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.