The Advertising Association promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. We represent UK advertisers, agencies, media owners and tech companies on behalf of the entire industry, acting as the connection between industry professionals and the politicians and policy-makers.

A A A

The Advertising Association focuses on major industry and policy areas that have huge ramifications on UK advertising. This section contains our work around public health, gambling advertising, data and e-privacy, trust, the digital economy and more.

Credos is the advertising industry’s independent think tank. It produces research, evidence and reports into the impact and effectiveness of and public and political response to advertising on behalf of UK advertisers in order to enable the industry to make informed decisions.

Front Foot is our industry’s member network of over 90 businesses across UK advertising. It aims to promote the role of responsible advertising and its value to people, society and the economy through a coalition of senior leaders from advertisers, agencies and media owners.

We run a number of events throughout the year, from our annual LEAD summit to the Media Business Course and regular breakfast briefings for our members. We are also the official UK representative for the world’s biggest festival of creativity – Cannes Lions.

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER OPPORTUNITY

/ July 15th 2021 / Matt Bourn

Senior Communications Manager, The Advertising Association

Advertising is a pillar of the creative economy and it is a UK service export success. Sports, media, arts and culture depend on advertising as a vital source of revenue. Advertising is what makes the web free. The Advertising Association is a tripartite organisation that represents the interests of the advertisers, the agencies and the media. Its purpose is to promote responsible advertising and its value to the wider society. The Advertising Association also provides a conduit between the industry and Government, working with our members, Parliamentarians, civil servants, and other trade associations on policy issues affecting the advertising industry.

Our Communications team delivers campaigns on behalf of the UK advertising industry across a wide range of industry issues, such as the economic performance of our industry, public trust and favourability towards advertising, as well as progressive workstreams dealing with climate action and inclusion. It is our job to manage, protect and enhance the reputation of the association, its members and of the industry itself, presenting a clear consistent set of messages in the most powerful way possible to all our key stakeholders.

We are looking to recruit an experienced Communications Manager to support all aspects of our communications work and strategy.

This is a full-time permanent role to join the AA team.

Why apply to this role?

We recognise that there many great companies out there but if you are passionate about the UK advertising industry (and the wider creative industries), this is a tremendous opportunity to help shape the long-term direction for the industry. You will get direct exposure to the industry’s biggest, most exciting companies from across its advertisers, agencies, media owners and tech companies, with first-hand experience of the issues directly impacting and shaping the future of advertising. This is a fast-paced, dynamic environment with the opportunity to make a real mark through the work you deliver.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, and supported by the Communications team, you will develop and deliver communications campaigns in support of the AA’s key workstreams – key responsibilities include:

  • Running a best-in-class press office service, proactively generating media opportunities across the AA’s workstreams and handing incoming media inquiries
  • Delivering brilliant media relations results across national, international and industry media titles, including those in key verticals of importance to the AA’s work
  • Proactively developing relationships with key journalists, consistently building out contacts to ensure maximum engagement and awareness with the AA’s work
  • Extending the AA’s reach and profile via the generation of speaker opportunities at key national and international events and through spokesperson placement within member events and at key stakeholder forums
  • Producing high quality, engaging communications materials as part of the press office function including news releases, social media scripts, speeches, spokespeople Q&As, website posts, plus support into reports including the AA’s Annual Review
  • Supporting the delivery of a best-in-class communications programme to the AA’s many members, using tools such newsletters, updates, briefings and the AA’s membership section of its website to provide excellent member value
  • Overseeing the production of presentation materials that are a brilliant representation of the AA’s work including decks for meetings with internal and external stakeholders
  • Managing and delivering the AA’s quarterly evaluation of its activities, including the communications outputs
  • Supporting the development of the AA’s communications capabilities with its members as the industry adopts best practice in hybrid working
  • Building and maintaining strong working relationships with comms leads at members across the industry and with key influencers and stakeholders

Skills required:

  • 4-5 years in a B2B comms role, ideally within the UK advertising industry
  • Proven media relations skills for businesses and their leadership teams at a national media level
  • Proactive approach to story generation, with the ability to demonstrate how this will build and enhance the reputation of the association, its members and the industry
  • Proven experience in issues management and crisis communications
  • Brilliant B2B written skills, with experience of publishing content on behalf of businesses and their leadership teams
  • Excellent presentation skills, acting as an ambassador for the association in meetings with members and key stakeholders and, where appropriate, speaking with media on behalf of the association
  • Demonstrable understanding of the UK advertising eco-system, its strengths and its pressure points and how this impacts across the membership base of the association
  • A design eye, with the ability to brief and manage the production of high-quality communications materials that reflect the values of the association to represent the very best of UK advertising.
  • A team player with experience of line management, developing colleagues and working with senior members of a leadership team
  • Either a degree, relevant college qualification or suitable work experience.
  • Self-motivated and eager to learn – especially when working from home.

The Advertising Association is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of gender identity, age, disability, race, sexual orientation or religious views and can accommodate any special requirements for an interview.

We are operating a flexible working system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time is it important for everyone to feel integrated so we’ve taken steps to provide a safe working space but we recognise everyone’s circumstances might be different and we are happy to accommodate them whatever they might be. Rest assured, our policy is continually under review taking into consideration the latest Government guidelines.

How to apply

Please submit a one-sided copy of your CV with a one-sided cover letter to AA@adassoc.org.uk by 5pm Friday 30 July.

About the Advertising Association

The Advertising Association promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. Responsible businesses understand that there is little point in an advertisement that people cannot trust. That’s why, over 50 years ago, the Advertising Association led UK advertising towards a system of independent self-regulation which has since been adopted around the world. There are nearly thirty UK trade associations representing advertising, media and marketing. Through the Advertising Association they come together with a single voice when speaking to policy-makers and influencers.