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This position offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the success of EPI and our impact by ensuring that our research reaches a wide and diverse range of audiences across a variety of channels.

You will lead on coverage and dissemination of our research, articles and policy briefs as well as producing engaging content in order to help maintain and build on EPI’s position as one of the country’s leading commentators on education policy.

In this role you will support our mission to influence policymaking, and ultimately to improve the life chances of children and young people in England.

You will be part of a small, dynamic team working alongside our Partnerships and Events Manager. While you will report to our Director for Partnerships, Events and Communications, you will also work closely with the CEO and Executive Chair on media handling and communications.

This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to work in the education sector and, despite being a relatively small organisation, we offer lots of development and progression opportunities.

About EPI

The Education Policy Institute is one of the country’s leading public policy research organisations. We aim to promote high quality education outcomes for all children and young people, regardless of social background.

Our authoritative, impartial research has proven both timely and influential, reaching a large and diverse audience including parliament, government, practitioners and the general public. Our high-quality programme of data-led research generates powerful evidence that is able to shape policy.

About you

Your work at the Education Policy Institute will build on the experience you already have. You will:

• Have at least 18 months experience working in a communications or public affairs role
• Have exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Have a good understanding of how to draft and issue press releases and statements and be confident when engaging with senior journalists
• Have some experience managing websites and digital content
• Be able to work at pace, sometimes to tight deadlines
• Have good political awareness and at least a basic knowledge of education policy
• Be highly organised and efficient with excellent attention to detail
• Be an enthusiastic team player who can work collaboratively and flexibly
• Be committed to EPI’s mission to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and young people through timely, impactful and evidence-based analysis.

Responsibilities:

• Communicating EPI reports, analysis and policy positions across print, broadcast and digital media, and to a wide range of stakeholders.

• Writing press releases, quotes, statements, briefings and op-eds for publications, and forming timely and reactive media responses to announcements and policy developments.

• Liaising with journalists and editors to pitch forthcoming reports, research findings and policy positions. Working with the media to ensure coverage is accurate, informative and engaging.

• Building relationships with key stakeholders including government, parliamentarians, and sector groups, including representing at key events and meetings.

• Produce content for our website, social media channels and all other external digital materials.

• Distilling complex quantitative research findings and policy issues for non-specialist audiences

• Developing multi-channel communications campaigns to inform the launch of new research

• Developing long-term communications and engagement strategies designed to support the growth of the organisation.

• Working closely with partner organisations and funders to help deliver projects

Benefits

• We offer a salary of £34,000 to £38,000 depending on experience, plus 8 per cent employer pension contributions.
• We offer flexible working hours, including the opportunity to work from home for part of the week, because it’s the outputs that matter, not the hours you spend sitting at a desk, and we know you have a life outside of work.
• You’ll get 30 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays. EPI also shuts between Christmas and New Year, and that won’t count towards your 30 days.
• We offer season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme.
• We are a Time to Change employer and we provide an employee mental health assistance programme.

Working arrangements

We are ideally looking for someone who can do this role full time, but we will also consider applicants who prefer to work 4 days per week.

This post is currently based in our London offices with the option to work flexibly, including from home at times.

Other requirements

All positions at EPI are subject to reference checks and a DBS check. We ask you to provide two referees in your application. References will only be sought, and a DBS check carried out once a job is offered.

Please note that all EPI roles are subject to a 6-month probation period.

EPI’s commitment to having a diverse workforce

EPI is committed to having a diverse workforce and eliminating discrimination. Our aim is that each employee within the organisation feels respected and able to give of their best. This commitment is in keeping with EPI’s mission and purpose to improve the outcomes for all children and young people regardless of background.

We need your support, so we especially welcome applications from candidates from Black, Asian, Mixed or Multiple and Other Minority Ethnic backgrounds. We especially welcome these candidates to discuss the role and any questions they have with the hiring panel prior to application.

We also ask all candidates fill out an optional and anonymous diversity monitoring form alongside their application form to help us understand how we can improve the fairness of our recruitment process. Staff involved in sifting and interviewing candidates will not have access to this data. The form is entirely voluntary so if you would rather not disclosure this information please click through to the end of the form.