communications associate United Kingdom
Job description
Job Title: Communication Officer (Wales)
Responsible To: Acting Operations Director of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Salary: £29,747 pro rata (3 days per week). Please see also a similar role (2 days per week) currently being advertised by Jane Dodds MS.
Tenure: Permanent
Hours: Part Time (22.2 hours per week)
Location: Cardiff Bay
Closing Date: 17:00, Friday 28th July 2023
Interview Date: tbc
Purpose of job:
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are looking for someone who can build and maintain the profile of the Party, by helping produce positive coverage in Welsh print, broadcast and online.
The successful applicant will be enthusiastic about being part of the next stage of building the Welsh Liberal Democrats, have a great sense of what makes a good story, how to successfully secure media coverage and be able to turn this into digital content.
It is recommended that you read the full job description before applying for this role.
Jane Dodds MS is advertising a similar role (2 days a week) which you may wish to also apply for.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work with Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds MS, and our spokespeople to help maximise positive press opportunities and coverage for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, including drafting statements and opinion pieces.
- Develop and ‘sell in’ proactive stories for both national and regional/local press based on Welsh Liberal Democrat campaigns, positioning and policies, as well as reactively responding to media enquiries.
- Use Freedom of Information requests to generate a range of relevant stories for use across Welsh print, broadcast, and online media. Assist in production of template press releases on the back of FOI requests.
- Build good working relationships with Welsh journalists and pro-actively secure slots on broadcast media for campaign leaders.
- Take a lead role in organising media coverage for campaign visits and work with party staff to support party conferences and other events.
- Ensure strong and effective communications between the Welsh Party and its spokespeople and the LDHQ media team as appropriate, identifying opportunities to deliver a Welsh angle on UK-wide campaigns.
- Content production for social media, including graphic design. Supporting digital campaign activities, both during election periods and for non-election campaign and differentiate between use of press and digital platforms and identify opportunities to utilise digital platforms.
- Assist with advice and training for spokespeople, candidates, and volunteers.
Person specification:
The successful candidate will bring optimism, enthusiasm, and a thorough understanding of the Welsh political media environment to the role.
They will have a strong news sense, knowledge of current political issues, and understand the importance of media to a campaigning organisation.
They will have a strong personality, a positive attitude, eager to learn and the confidence to take initiative and make quick judgements.
The ability to juggle a demanding workload, work with others to develop new ideas, and to be a team player is essential.
They will be able to take a complex issue and explain it in an engaging and simple way.
Prior experience of work in journalism or a press office at a campaigning organisation is preferable.
Essential Knowledge and Experience:
- Experience of working effectively within the written press, broadcast or online industry, or public relations sector
- Knowledge and understanding of media handling techniques including designing a communications plan and selling stories to journalists.
- A thorough understanding of the political media environment in Wales.
- Good knowledge and understanding of current political issues, and the ability to condense into briefings for others.
- A knowledge of digital media including use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and email marketing.
Essential Qualifications:
- Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject or;
- Formal Qualification eg NVQ level 3 or 4 or equivalent in media or communications or;
- Experience in a similar role.
Essential Skills and Behaviours:
- A commitment to the principles, aims and objectives of the Liberal Democrats.
- Effective interpersonal skills and the ability and confidence to build relationships across professional boundaries with politicians, the media, staff at all levels of the Party and party members.
- First rate written and oral communication skills, and the ability to produce briefings and press notices.
- Ability to understand and effectively communicate the work and policies of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Understanding of the media law
- Effective organisation, planning and presentational skills
- Ability to work on own initiative to tight deadlines, with the ability to work flexibly and juggle a range of tasks
- Effective IT Skills particularly using Microsoft packages such as Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Sound judgement and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure.
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and ensure that the highest standards of confidentiality are upheld.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
- Experience of working in a political environment.
- Contacts and relationships in national and regional media.
- Experience in handling crisis communications.
- Clear record of securing positive coverage for a campaigning organisation.
- Grasp of current Liberal Democrat policy and campaigns.
- The ability to work in both Welsh and English
To Apply
Please apply by completing an application form and returning it either by:
- Email to [email protected], or
- Post to Elgan Morgan, Welsh Liberal Democrats, Pascoe House, 54 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AF
Closing date: 17:00, Friday 28th July 2023
Applicants are encouraged to inform us if any reasonable adjustments need to be made during any part of the recruitment process.
Please let us have details of your current salary and two referees, including your current employer – if you would prefer us not to contact them until a later stage of the selection process, please let us know.
We will not be able to employ you if you are not eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to obtain a work permit on your behalf. The Liberal Democrats are equal opportunity employers and particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently under-represented in our staff.
The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversion and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported to achieve their potential. It is important to celebrate what makes us unique and that you feel valued, appreciated and free to be who you are.
