Communications Manager - Maternity Cover

Do you do have a passion for drinks education and creating impact through creative communications?

Are you a dynamic Communications Manager with experience in implementing communications strategies across a global organisation, with a proven ability to manage time, absorb complex information and create meaningful content for a range of target audiences?

If yes, we’d love to hear from you!

WSET is the global leader in drinks education. Our purpose is to empower people and support the drinks industry from producer to consumer .

We’re here for curious minds and ambitious organisations across the world, helping people seek more through learning and connection.

About the role

This is a one-year fixed term-contract (FTC) maternity cover role. Working in close collaboration with the global Marketing Director, you’ll lead and implement WSET’s internal, external and course provider communications plans for the next year.

You’ll manage WSET’s external voice in trade and consumer media globally, lead communications for the WSET Excellence in Education Awards, manage our global course provider communications, and support the promotion of key WSET events to both internal and external audiences.

What you’ll do

• Implement our existing internal, external and course provider communications strategies to strengthen the employer brand and raise its global profile in key markets.

• Ensure that WSET has a consistent voice in all internal and external channels, championing the refreshed brand and tone of voice guidelines to ensure colleagues across the organisation are confidently applying them.

• Collaborate with internal colleagues to ensure communication activities are coordinated, planned and aligned.

• Create and manage monthly reports on internal and external communication activity, clearly demonstrating value added to the business.

External Communications

• Implement the media relations strategy to strengthen the WSET brand globally in priority markets including managing our PR agency.

• Plan and deliver external events in support of the refreshed WSET brand, including a media and influencer event planned at WSET School London in September 2026.

• Support senior leadership visits to key markets, including working with Panthera to maximise media coverage for an event planned in the US in October 2026.

• Work with the global marketing team to support global campaigns, tailoring media activity to regional requirements and putting in place local support as required and within budget.

• Act as key contact for media enquiries, building and maintaining relationships with media, and providing day-to-day media relations advice and guidance across the organisation.

• Develop written content for PR purposes, including press releases and case studies.

• Identify and develop suitable feature opportunities for specific spokespeople from across the key business regions.

Internal Communications

• Implement internal communications plan, acting as the internal communications gatekeeper to ensure that all messages are consistent, engaging and written to a high standard.

• Manage, review and develop content for key internal channels, including streamlining our Microsoft Teams channels to ensure they are clearly structured and consistently used across our organisation.

• Advise senior management on creating and refining key employee messages.

• Manage the Connect+ internal events programme: coordinate the schedule, promote sessions across all regions and departments, and ensure speakers are fully briefed and prepared ahead of each session.

Course Provider Communications

• Manage the communications plan for our global network of course providers, producing and distributing two quarterly newsletters: one covering business-critical updates and one focused on events and Business Development activity.

• Act as the organisation’s key point of contact for all course providers communications, ensuring consistency in tone and language and managing information flow.

• Support the promotion of key WSET events to our course provider network, including the Global APP Summit (September 2026) and Graduation ceremony (April 2027).

• Lead communications for the WSET Excellence in Education Awards across all channels – internally, externally and to our course provider network – working towards the announcement and celebration of winners at the Global APP Summit in September 2026.

What you’ll bring

• Progressive experience in corporate communications, internal communications, press relations and/or journalism (in-house or agency) preferably in an international environment.

• Exceptional copywriting skills, with evidence of a successful track record of developing and delivering written content for a variety of audiences.

• Proven track record of achieving positive coverage in trade and consumer media, achieving significant PR impact and share of voice.

• Experience of appointing and managing PR agencies.

• Experience of building and managing relationships with a variety of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

• Proactive with strong planning, organisational and prioritisation skills, and the confidence to make decisions and operate under pressure.

• A collaborative team player with a positive and proactive attitude.

• Excellent budget management and reporting skills.

• Experience of working with drinks trade and consumer media in UK, US and/or key Asia Pacific markets.

• Proficiency in CRM and email marketing platforms, ideally Microsoft Dynamics and Dotdigital.

UK Benefits

• Annual Leave - 27 days p/a + public holidays, increases with service; ability to buy/sell 5 days

• Pension (generous options available after three months)

• Vitality health insurance (after probation):

  • Access to virtual GP appointments

  • Rewards include Caffe Nero drinks

  • Cinema tickets

  • Apple Watch (Smart Watch)

  • Cashback on Waitrose shopping

  • Up to 75% off at Champneys Wellness Spa Resorts

  • 12-month subscription with HeadSpace

  • Discounted partner gym memberships and WeightWatchers pass

  • Half-price health screenings

• Eye care voucher scheme

• Nespresso coffee machine and a range of other drinks, fruits, cereals, soups

• Season ticket loan scheme

• EAP

• 24/7 confidential help and support from trained counsellors and advisors

• Death in service - 4x annual salary paid to nominees with associated bereavement support for family

• Enhanced family-friendly maternity, paternity and parental leave and pay

• Cycle2Work scheme

• Development - WSET's in-house training and qualifications in Wines, Spirits, Sake and Beer, as well as other professional development opportunities

DISCLAIMER: This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned, at any time.