Public Relations Lead

Following the acquisition of The Co‑operative Bank, we are bringing together two powerful, purpose‑driven organisations to shape something new and exciting for the future of UK financial services. The scale of the opportunity is significant; the ambition is real and the work ahead will set the tone for years to come.

The Public Relations Lead plays a pivotal role in that journey. This is a senior, high‑impact position responsible for setting and delivering the Group’s external communications and PR strategy across both corporate reputation and consumer PR. Acting as the strategic focal point for all media engagement, the role shapes how the Group shows up to the world - protecting and enhancing our reputation, influencing opinion and helping establish the Group as a dynamic, confident and meaningfully different voice in financial services.

Operating at the heart of the organisation, the role provides trusted, expert counsel to Group leaders and spokespeople, including leadership during moments of heightened reputational risk. It leads issues management in fast‑moving, high‑pressure environments and plays a central role in defining the Group’s media strategy at moments that matter most.

Alongside corporate reputation, the role is instrumental in building brand fame and relevance as the organisation moves towards its future‑state Group brand. Championing the power of earned media, the Public Relations Lead works in close partnership with commercial, marketing and social teams to deliver bold, integrated, purpose‑led campaigns that drive clear brand and commercial impact.

The successful candidate will ensure that earned media plays a defining role in building brand equity, consumer trust and advocacy through confident, inclusive and values‑led communications.

This role is suited to an experienced, ambitious PR leader with deep financial services expertise who wants to shape, not maintain reputation. Someone who combines strategic vision with sound judgement under pressure, who uses insight and data to spot opportunities as well as risk and who understands how to influence complex stakeholder environments. The role also represents the organisation externally at trade bodies and regulatory forums, operates within strong governance and compliance frameworks and exerts significant influence over public perception and sector‑wide conversations.

We operate on a team led hybrid approach with ideally 2 days a week in the Coventry & / or Manchester office

Our benefits include:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays and a holiday buy/sell scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Personal pension with matched contributions
• Life assurance (6 times annual salary)
• Company car allowance
• Private Medical Insurance

Find out more about the fantastic benefits of joining Coventry Building Society here

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications

You’ll bring a strong track record in delivering consumer and brand PR, working closely with marketing and brand teams to develop fully integrated campaigns. Experienced in collaboration, you’re comfortable creating shared content across earned media and brand social channels, maximising reach and impact. You’re confident setting clear targets and KPIs and measuring PR performance against them, following AMEC best practice, and you excel at managing stakeholders at all levels. With proven team leadership experience, you can lead with confidence while driving results.

For this role you’ll need to have:

• Track record of leading corporate and brand-led PR campaigns that resonate with both corporate and consumer audiences, ensuring consistency across channels.
• In-depth knowledge of the UK financial and business media landscape and ability to leverage insights to shape proactive and reactive media strategies.
• Experience in managing high-level stakeholder engagement, including strategic briefings, events and face-to-face influencing activities.
• Established network of business and consumer journalists, with ability to nurture and leverage relationships to support brand and reputational goals.
• Strong collaboration skills to partner effectively across the business for coordinated and impactful external representation.
• Experience in coaching and developing internal spokespeople for confident and consistent brand representation.

Experience in these areas would be helpful:

• A relevant specialist qualification
• A good knowledge of the UK financial services, the technical and regulatory environment, current trends and issues plus experience of working with senior figures in the financial services industry

In 2025, Coventry Building Society purchased The Co-operative Bank. Bringing together our purpose-led building society with the UK’s original ethical bank was the start of an exciting journey.

Trusted by over four million people, we’re a mutually owned business free from shareholders, and with our combined experience of almost 300 years, our ethics and dedication will continue to guide us. Together, we have shared values and an ethical approach towards our members, customers and colleagues.

We’re officially recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ and our benefits go beyond basic pay, with a discretionary bonus scheme, a culture of reward and recognition and comprehensive support for wellbeing. 

We’re serious about equality, of race, age, faith, disability, and sexual orientation and we celebrate diversity. By working together, we know you’ll build more than just a career with us.

Flexibility and why it matters

We understand the need for flexibility, so wherever possible, we’ll consider alternative working patterns. Have a chat with us before you apply to see what the possibilities are for this role.                                                                                                  

Proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer

We’re proud to offer an interview or assessment to every disabled applicant who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As part of the application process, disabled applicants can opt in for the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. If there are ever occasions where it is not practicable to interview all candidates that meet the essential criteria, such as when we receive a high number of applications, we commit to interviewing disabled candidates who best meet the minimum essential and desirable criteria.