PR Manager

PR Manager

Chester Zoo is one of the UK's most visited attractions and one of the world's leading wildlife conservation charities. We've generated billions of media impressions, launched a BAFTA-nominated documentary series, and built one of the biggest zoo social media presences in the world.

Now, we're looking for a PR Manager to help write the next chapter in our story.

This isn't a job where you're pushing out product launches or managing corporate announcements. It's about telling stories that make people stop and pay attention — species on the brink of extinction, science that's changing the future for wildlife, and an organisation that’s been doing extraordinary things for 95 years.

As PR Manager and a key member of Chester Zoo's external affairs team, you'll lead the press office at one of the UK's highest profile conservation organisations — driving the earned media campaigns that keep Chester Zoo in the national and international conversation and bringing our conservation work to audiences around the world.

Reporting to the Senior Media Manager, you'll be part of a talented team of communications specialists — working alongside experts in content, social media, and science and conservation storytelling — with the shared purpose of promoting and protecting Chester Zoo's reputation, growing its influence as the national conservation zoo and telling the story of one of the country's most recognisable conservation brands.

Your focus will be the media — building and maintaining an enviable network of journalist contacts, spotting opportunities, briefing spokespeople up to director level and making sure Chester Zoo's story reaches the right people at the right time.

When things move fast, and they will, you'll be the steadiest voice in the room. You'll play a leading role in the zoo's crisis communications, provide counsel to senior leaders, and make clear, confident decisions when complex situations emerge.

Great PR here drives visits to the zoo, supports fundraising initiatives, attracts vital partnerships, influences a wide range of audiences and helps more people connect with our mission to prevent extinction. The impact of what you do will be visible — and significant.

• Lead proactive and reactive media campaigns from first idea through to delivery, generating international, national and regional coverage.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists across broadcast, print and digital media.
• Work with other colleagues in the communications team to produce high-quality press releases, reactive statements and other media materials.
• Act as a primary media contact, handling a high volume of media enquiries with speed, accuracy and sound judgement.
• Support our work with television, radio and documentary production teams, managing relationships from initial conversations through to broadcast.
• Brief and prepare spokespeople for media interviews, including at director level, helping build confidence and capability over time.
• Build effective media pitches for targeted journalists and media outlets to maximise reach and coverage.

• Play an active role in building and protecting Chester Zoo's reputation — monitoring the media landscape, identifying opportunities to strengthen our standing and spotting risks before they develop.
• Support Chester Zoo's crisis communications when required, advising senior leaders and making decisive calls during fast-moving situations.
• Coordinate communications to ensure consistent messaging across all channels.
• Maintain and continually improve the zoo's crisis communications procedures and plans.
• Be part of an out-of-hours on‑call PR rota.

• Develop and deliver communications strategies that support the zoo's mission, drive visitation and help achieve other organisational goals.
• Plan and deliver earned media campaigns around the zoo's biggest moments to maximise impact.
• Turn complex conservation work and scientific research into exciting stories journalists genuinely want to cover.
• Lead partner communications across multiple departments, including academic and corporate…