Communications Officer (maternity leave cover)

IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation – is the regulator of most newspapers, magazines, and digital news in the UK. We are a small but influential and high-profile organisation with a clear and important purpose. We place a strong emphasis on personal development for staff and provide excellent training opportunities and a supportive work culture.

We are recruiting a Communications Officer to cover maternity leave within our committed, friendly, and dynamic team.

Reporting to the Head of Communications, you will play a key role in delivering IPSO’s communications activities, with a strong focus on digital channels and social media, internal communications, and day‑to‑day management of the IPSO website.

About the role

The key role responsibilities will be to:

• Plan, create and manage digital communications and social media content across IPSO channels, using analytics to monitor performance and support organisational priorities
• Manage and update the IPSO website using WordPress, including day‑to‑day communications, publishing rulings, and ensuring accuracy, accessibility and basic SEO standards
• Produce and edit a wide range of communications materials, including newsletters, news releases, internal updates, and briefings, ensuring alignment with IPSO’s purpose and regulatory role.
• Provide broader communications support, including media monitoring and reporting, handling press enquiries as directed, and assisting with IPSO events and conferences.

You can see a full job description on our website.

Skills and experience

We are looking for an experienced and proactive communications officer to cover maternity leave for a minimum of six months.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the postholder will create clear, engaging content, monitor media coverage, and help ensure IPSO’s communications are accurate, accessible and aligned with its role as regulator of UK digital news, newspapers and magazines.

A personal interest in current affairs and the news industry is a must, but there is no need for a degree or qualification in this area. You will have strong interpersonal skills, an ability to get things done, and you will enjoy working with a range of colleagues and stakeholders.

You will also have excellent written skills and superb project management skills.

At IPSO, we want to create a culture which recognises, values, and respects that people are different. We believe that representing the diversity of the society in which we work is fundamental to our goals of protecting people and promoting freedom of expression.

We are committed to promoting a fair and inclusive workplace where all our people can flourish and reach their full potential. We know diverse teams allow for a more creative and productive environment and we strongly encourage applications from a wide range of people regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender (identity, expression or reassignment), marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief and socio-economic background.

What we can offer you

This is a chance to deliver the communications of a high‑profile, independent regulator at the heart of the UK media landscape working on complex, high‑profile issues relating to journalism, regulation and press freedom.

This contract is for at least six months covering maternity leave. There is a competitive starting salary of £32,960, 25 days of paid annual leave (pro rata), and excellent additional benefits.

The role is full-time, and IPSO offers hybrid working to all staff. All staff work two core days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) in our Central London office; members of the senior management team work an additional day in the office. New staff may be asked to come in for more days while they familiarise themselves with the organisation.

How to apply

Candidates are required to attach a Diversity Monitoring form, which can be found on our website. Please note that although this form is required for applications to be considered, candidates are free to opt out of any questions.

To apply, please read the full job description and forward your CV and you must include a cover letter outlining briefly why you are interested in the role and how you are suitable, along with the Diversity Monitoring form  by 11.59 p.m. on 24 May.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 in London.

IPSO will reimburse reasonable travel costs for attending interviews. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please include that information with your application. In-person interviews are preferred but IPSO conducts interviews by video call where needed and candidates choosing this option will not be disadvantaged. The job description for the position can be found on our website.