PR Manager – Automotive

Salary: Negotiable + Bonus + Company Car + Benefits

An outstanding opportunity has arisen for a seasoned Public Relations Manager to lead the UK communications strategy for an exciting new global automotive brand entering the UK market.

This is a genuine “0-to-1” opportunity, giving you the chance to help build the public profile, reputation and voice of a new automotive brand from the ground up.

Working closely with UK and international teams, you will take a leading role in shaping the brand narrative, developing media relationships and delivering integrated communications across multiple channels.

For an ambitious PR professional, this is an opportunity to make a highly visible impact at an important stage in the development of a new automotive business.

The Role

As PR Manager, you will take ownership of the UK PR and communications strategy, helping establish and grow brand awareness and reputation.

Your responsibilities will include:

PR Strategy & Brand Development

• Develop and implement the UK PR and communications strategy to build brand awareness and reputation.
• Help define and develop the brand narrative as the business establishes itself in the UK market.
• Translate wider global brand objectives into relevant, engaging communications for UK audiences.
• Identify opportunities to create differentiation and build credibility within the highly competitive automotive sector.

Media Relations & Content

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with UK automotive, consumer, business and national media.
• Proactively identify opportunities to generate positive and meaningful media coverage.
• Work with internal teams and external agencies to develop press releases, media materials, corporate communications and compelling brand stories.
• Act as a key point of contact for journalists and media partners.
• Build a strong and influential network across the UK automotive media landscape.

Launches, Campaigns & Events

• Plan and deliver high-impact PR campaigns supporting the introduction and growth of the brand in the UK.
• Manage media events, vehicle and brand launches, press days, exhibitions and other key PR activities.
• Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders, agencies and external partners to ensure successful delivery.
• Evaluate campaign and event performance, providing insights and recommendations to improve future activity.

Reputation & Crisis Communications

• Help protect and enhance the reputation of the brand within the UK.
• Lead crisis communications activity when required.
• Develop appropriate communications plans and responses for emerging issues.
• Provide clear, considered communications advice to senior stakeholders.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across Brand, Marketing, Digital, Product and Aftersales to deliver consistent and integrated communications.
• Collaborate with international stakeholders to ensure UK activity supports the wider global brand strategy.
• Ensure communications are relevant to the UK market while maintaining consistency with the overall brand position.

Agency & Budget Management

• Manage external PR agencies and specialist partners, ensuring outstanding quality, creativity and value.
• Oversee PR budgets and resource allocation.
• Set clear objectives and ensure agency partners deliver measurable results.

Requirements

About You

We are looking for an experienced PR professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to make things happen.

You will be comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment where not everything has already been established. Rather than simply inheriting an existing PR operation, you will have the opportunity to help create one.

Ideally, you will have:

• A degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Journalism or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience within public relations, corporate communications or media relations.
• Strong experience within the automotive industry, an OEM or a closely related sector.
• A proven track record of developing successful media relationships and securing positive coverage.
• Experience of creating and delivering integrated PR and communications campaigns.
• An established network within the UK media would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong strategic planning, organisational and execution capabilities.
• The ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach and the confidence to operate within an entrepreneurial environment.
• Additional language skills would be advantageous.
• Experience of working with or within Chinese automotive brands or corporate cultures would be particularly valuable.

Benefits

Why This Opportunity?

This is not simply another PR management position.

It is an opportunity to be involved at an early stage in the development of a new automotive brand in the UK, helping determine how it communicates, how it engages with the media and, ultimately, how it is perceived by the market.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Shape the UK narrative of a new global automotive brand.
• Build PR and media activity from the ground up.
• Work within an ambitious, entrepreneurial and internationally focused environment.
• Collaborate with teams spanning marketing, product, aftersales and global operations.
• Have a genuine voice in how the brand develops in the UK.
• Join at an exciting stage with significant opportunity to make an impact.

Package

An attractive senior-level remuneration package is available, including:

Negotiable Salary + Bonus + Company Car + Benefits

If you are an experienced automotive PR professional who enjoys building relationships, creating stories and shaping brand reputation, this represents an exciting opportunity to put your stamp on a new entrant to the UK automotive market.

Apply now for a confidential discussion.