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Press and External Affairs Officer
Job Posted: 3 hours ago
Salary: £ 38,524/Annum
Job Type: Contract
Location: EC1Y, Old Street, Greater London
Expire in: a month
Job Description
We are looking to recruit an ambitious, proactive Press and External Affairs Officer to join our small, dynamic and friendly communications and external affairs team as maternity cover.
In this role, you will lead on our day-to-day press and media engagement and support our high-profile policy, campaigns and external affairs work. You will also manage our Twitter, LinkedIn and Bluesky social media accounts.
The role is a hybrid role, based in our Old Street office for two days a week.
Benefits:
* 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
* Enhanced sickness pay, employer and employee contribution pension scheme
* Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
* Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
* Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
* A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
* Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
* Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
* A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being
Main duties:
* To act as the Alliance’s first point of contact for the local and regional media.
* To lead on the drafting and dissemination of both proactive and reactive press releases and comments. To gather evidence, case studies and other information as required to support the Alliance’s strategies for press, public affairs and campaigning.
* To draft briefings for MPs, journalists and other opinion formers, both directly and through support networks in order to influence and persuade.
* To implement the regional and local press and campaign strategies, as agreed by the Communications and External Affairs Director, liaising as appropriate with Alliance staff, members and volunteers.
* To identify opportunities for positive media coverage to ensure that the Alliance increases and maintains its profile across national, sector and consumer media.
* To develop and maintain an effective database of media and parliamentary contacts and their interests.
* To lead on the management of the Alliance’s Twitter, LinkedIn and BlueSky social media channels.
* To monitor relevant policy updates, and disseminate these through relevant communication channels including the Alliance website.
Essential criteria:
* Experience of working in a media / press role and sub-editing and writing articles, briefings and reports.
* Demonstrate effective and creative communication skills.
* Excellent knowledge and understanding of press and public affairs issues.
* Experience of carrying out research to support media and/or campaigning activities.
* Able to give clear press and public affairs guidance to the Alliance’s members and employees.
* Able to draft briefings for MPs, journalists and other opinion formers.
* Excellent interpersonal skills in order to influence and persuade MPs, journalists and other opinion formers.
* Knowledge of how to effectively use social and digital media.
* Experience of using IT to produce own correspondence and effectively maintain a database.
* Effective time management, planning and organisational skills.
* Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
This post is a maternity cover until April 2026 with the possibility of an extension
Hours per week: 35
Weeks per year: 52Before You Apply
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