Communications Manager / V&A East + Young V&A

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for a brilliant and experienced Communications Manager to join our friendly and hard-working Communications team.

Working with the Senior Communications Manager, V&A East + Young V&A, you’ll develop + manage innovative PR campaigns for the V&A’s family of sites. With a big focus on V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering V&A East Museum’s launch PR campaign, and the campaign for our first exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story.

You’ll also work on Young V&A in Bethnal Green and with colleagues in the Communications team working across the V&A’s family of museums.

Using audience insights and taking a creative and collaborative approach, you’ll work seamlessly with the V&A’s Communications, Marketing, Social Media, and Digital teams, and key stakeholders, to shape integrated campaigns that build our audiences and reputation, drive brand awareness and generate stand-out media coverage.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

• PR Strategy: Develop and deliver PR/Communications strategies across the full spectrum of media, managing all aspects, leveraging partnership opportunities + sponsor relations.
• Media Liaison / Network Development: Continually develop + maintain excellent contacts across a broad spectrum of international,
  national and local media with focus on target audiences.
• Stakeholder Management: Develop relationships + liaise with key stakeholders to shape and implement PR initiatives, including East Bank partners, project stakeholders, donors, and sponsors. Manage appointed PR agencies, temporary staff/volunteers as required.
• Line Management: Line manages the Communications Assistant, overseeing + prioritising their workload, training, welfare and performance management.
• Event Management: Oversee /coordinate a range of events, elevating campaigns, including press views, launches, photocalls, private views, activations + more.
• Digital Comms + Influencer Engagement: Contribute to social media strategies, including identifying opportunities for influencer engagement, partnerships, digital campaigns, content shares, cross-promotion with partners and media outlets, to support PR campaigns.
• Broadcast/Filming: Contribute to the delivery of the V&A’s broadcast + content strategy, managing and supervising proactive and reactive filming opportunities at the V&A’s east London sites.
• Issues Management: Support on crisis + issues communications including fielding media enquiries and advising on social media responses as required. As part of PR strategies, identify any areas of risk, develop reactive lines and Q&As, and organise media training for spokespeople.
• Image Clearance: Research + clear collection, loan, and exhibition images for press use, negotiating with external parties to secure the best possible outcome.
• Campaign Analysis/Reporting: Use audience data + insights to monitor and pivot campaigns + track effectiveness against KPIs.
• Audience Strategy: Be an ambassador for audience-led thinking, working collaboratively with colleagues across the V&A.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Curious + culturally engaged, up to date with trends / developments in the communications, digital + cultural space.
• Positive problem-solver + passionate about arts, culture + using communications to engage new audiences.
• Experienced manager working in PR/Communications + delivering insights-led, high-impact PR campaigns and activations across print, digital + social media.
• A strong copywriter/storyteller with a high standard of written English.
• Detailed knowledge of the media landscape + excellent media relations skills across arts, news, consumer + broadcast.
• Organised, results driven + confident communicator with interpersonal and consultative skills
• Ability to communicate, present, negotiate + influence. Some influencer engagement experience or brand/media partnerships experience.
• Understands the local context + V&A East’s target audiences.
• Shares our values

Potential Start Date:  August / September 2025

Location: V&A East Storehouse, V&A East Museum, Young V&A

To view the full job description, please click here –> V&A – Communications Manager – Job Description

Application tips: How to write a winning museum job application

Interviews: W/C 14th or 21st July 2025 and will include a formal panel interview asking competency-based questions and a task to complete in advance.

You will be emailed by a member of Sadler’s Wells recruitment team usually 2-3 weeks after the application deadline with an update on your application