Press Officer

Overview

Royal Hospital Chelsea, established in 1681 by King Charles II, has long served as a national expression of appreciation for soldiers who have given service to the country. It is also the home of the well-known Chelsea Pensioners. The organisation continues to focus on supporting those who have served.

The team is seeking a proactive and imaginative Press Officer to help deliver press and media activity, share the stories of the Chelsea Pensioners, and secure coverage across local, regional and national outlets.

This role suits someone with strong writing ability, a good instinct for news, some background in PR or journalism, and an interest in working with purposeful, people-centred stories.

Team and role context

You will be part of a dynamic Development, Marketing and Communications team that works to raise the profile of the Royal Hospital, grow fundraising income, and reach new audiences through engaging and emotional storytelling. Working with the Communications and PR Manager, you will help maintain a responsive press office that supports wider organisational goals.

Key responsibilities

The role supports both proactive and reactive public relations work, with a focus on generating regular coverage and strengthening relationships with the media.

• Contribute to an ongoing press office approach that secures consistent local and national media coverage
• Maintain an observance and awareness calendar to spot opportunities linked to important dates such as Founder’s Day and Remembrance
• Develop and nurture relationships with journalists and other media contacts
• Write press releases, media briefings and case studies featuring Chelsea Pensioners
• Help run the press office day to day by responding promptly and effectively to media enquiries
• Arrange and support media visits, including interviews with Chelsea Pensioners and organisational spokespeople
• Track, assess and report on coverage, keeping monitoring and reporting systems up to date
• Assist in collecting digital and social content to support press activity and broader communications goals
• Keep records accurate, current and compliant with GDPR requirements

Candidate profile

The ideal applicant is a confident writer who can tailor messages for different audiences and produce clear, engaging content. Experience in PR, communications or journalism is important, preferably in a charity or mission-led environment.

You should be comfortable building and maintaining a media contact base, managing several priorities at once, and working both independently and collaboratively. The role also calls for empathy and tact when handling personal stories and beneficiary experiences, along with calm judgement under pressure and awareness of reputational risk. A good level of IT literacy is needed, including Microsoft Office and media monitoring tools.

Application information

Applicants are asked to send a CV along with a covering letter of no more than 500 words.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews may take place during the recruitment process, so early submission is encouraged.

Additional information

This position offers the chance to build a PR career within a nationally significant institution, working on stories that have meaningful impact.