Senior Communications Officer (Media Relations)
Job Title: Senior Communications Officer (Media Relations)
Directorate: Communications, Policy and Research
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Salary: £44,755 per annum
Location: London
Are you interested in bringing your communication and media skills to an organisation that plays a vital role in the democratic process?
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and to ensure its integrity.
The role
We are looking for a proactive and skilled communications professional to help raise the profile of the Electoral Commission and deliver a high-quality media and communications service.
You will develop proactive and creative media strategies to communicate the Commission’s priorities, securing media coverage which helps us achieve our strategic aims and underpins confidence in the Commission and our work. You will be responsible for drafting press releases and other media content to a high standard, spotting media opportunities, and generating and pitching new ideas.
You will also play a key role in our busy and fast paced press office, responding to reactive media enquiries and ensuring coverage is accurate. You will provide expert advice and insight to colleagues on the Commission’s messaging and media handling approach, and prepare senior colleagues for media interviews.
The Commission makes and advocates for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency. We want to see improvements made to voter registration, the rules governing political finance, and the accessibility of elections. You will join the team making the case for these vital changes to the political and electoral systems.
The successful candidate
You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, on your own initiative, as well as part of a collaborative and dynamic team. You will have excellent knowledge of the UK media landscape; experience of distilling complex information into digestible messaging; and excellent interpersonal skills that enable you to build strong relationships with the media and other stakeholders, both internal and external. You will be an engaging and persuasive communicator, with experience of contributing to creative and proactive communication campaigns. You will have experience of developing and pitching creative ideas that lead to positive media coverage for your organisation.
Working at the Electoral Commission
Please note that we use flexible job descriptions for roles in our external communications team, which work across both public affairs and press roles. You should refer to this job advert for details of the specific activities and responsibilities connected to this post.
The closing date for applications is Monday 27 November at 23:59. Interviews will be held on 5 and 6 December.
We offer excellent terms and conditions, including flexible working hours, hybrid working and the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements. Commission staff are required to work a minimum of two days a week in the office. If you are interested in applying for this role please visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/jobs to download the job description before applying online.
The successful candidate will be required to participate in the out of hours press office rota, providing evening and weekend cover approximately one week in every four. Financial compensation is payable for on call duties and out of hours work.
We would like to continuously increase the diversity of our employees. Applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates are particularly welcomed.
Video conferencing tools will be available for the interviews and may be required. We will confirm details with shortlisted candidates.
Please contact Orla Hennessy - ohennessy@electoralcommission.org.uk if you have any queries.