Policy and public affairs officer jobs in Edinburgh
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The Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) is the UK’s first charity that exists to promote high-quality journalism. Last year, we launched an ambitious ten-year mission to regenerate local news in the UK. We believe that local news is a vital part of the fabric of local communities, drawing people together around shared facts and pride in place at a time of disinformation and division.
We are pursuing our mission by (1) sourcing new funds for local news; (2) advocating for supportive government policies; and (3) celebrating local news providers from the UK and around the world that are Accountable, Sustainable, in the Public interest, Innovative, Representative and Engaging (ASPIRE).
Over the last year, we have successfully encouraged the UK Government to launch an unprecedented new £12m Local News Fund. We have also built support for our mission from US and UK donors. And we have launched initiatives such as the Tenacious Journalist Awards, to recognise and support independent news providers who are having a significant social impact.
We have a small and professional staff team and a dedicated board of trustees, and we are now looking to recruit a Programmes Officer to support our work. I hope that you will consider joining us on this exciting and important mission.
Jonathan Heawood, Executive Director
Summary of the Role
Title: Programmes Officer
Salary: £30,000
Benefits: 33 days annual leave including Bank Holidays; 7% employer pension contribution; professional development budget; flexible working
Type: Fixed-term renewable 12-month contract
Time commitment: 35 hours per week, with some scope for flexible working
Location: Remote, with occasional meetings in London or other UK locations, for which PINF will pay travel expenses from within the UK
Reporting to: Deputy Director, who will provide overall line management and lead 60% of the Programmes Officer’s work
Working closely with: Campaigns & Communications Manager, who will lead the remaining 40% of the Programme Officer’s work
Purpose of the Role
The Programmes Officer will support the PINF team across our three workstreams: the Local News Fund; Local News Campaign; and Local News Futures programme.
· Through the Local News Fund, we work with grantmakers and social investors (including government-backed fund managers) to unlock new economic resources for local news across the UK.
· Through the Local News Campaign, we work with the BBC, big tech firms, central and local government, MPs, Peers and regulators to shape a positive enabling environment for local news across the UK.
· Through the Local News Futures programme, we work with academics, civil society organisations, journalism support organisations and local news providers to showcase models of local news with the most positive impact.
The Programmes Officer will provide support with events, research and campaigns across these workstreams, and will also provide support with our organisational functions, including communications, fundraising and governance.
By providing efficient and effective support to the team, the Programmes Officer will unlock new potential for PINF to deliver our charitable purpose.
Key Responsibilities
Events
· Support the Deputy Director with the successful delivery of the annual Local News Forum by:
o Maintaining a comprehensive and up to date project plan
o Contributing to the effective marketing of the event within PINF’s network of independent local news providers and stakeholders
o Managing ticket sales and maintaining an accurate database of invitees and participants
o Contributing to effective working relationships with partners and suppliers, including venues and sponsors
o Managing speakers
o Supporting budget administration, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Deputy Director
o Responding promptly and efficiently to queries
o Providing on-the-day support including registering participants, liaising with the venue and catering providers, ensuring smooth technical support and troubleshooting any issues as they arise
Research
· Support the Deputy Director with our research objectives by:
o Organising and minuting twice-yearly online meetings of our Research Advisory Group
o Working with colleagues to ensure the Local News Map is comprehensive and up to date
o Liaising with independent local news providers to support the new Local News Audit
Campaigns
· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our campaign objectives by:
o Managing relationships with independent news providers participating in our annual Indie News Week
o Supporting budget administration for campaign activity, including tracking agreed expenditure and processing spending in line with approved budgets and under the oversight of the Campaigns & Communications Manager
o Supporting key campaign moments including parliamentary events, party conferences, roundtables and other online and offline events
o Providing logistical and administrative support for key campaign moments, including by maintaining participant and invitation lists, tracking RSVPs and preparing background information for colleagues
Communications
· Support the Campaigns & Communications Manager with our communications objectives by:
o Managing the ‘contact’ email inbox
o Supporting the delivery of engaging content across PINF’s blog and newsletter, including gathering stories, opportunities and other relevant material, in collaboration with the Campaigns & Communications Manager
o Managing PINF’s social media channels including LinkedIn, BlueSky and Instagram
o Updating elements and pages across our website
o Supporting PINF’s WhatsApp community of independent local news providers by sharing relevant content, helping eligible participants to join, and assisting with day-to-day moderation
Fundraising
· Support the Deputy Director with our fundraising objectives by:
o Maintaining the fundraising database and keeping records up to date based on information provided by colleagues
o Facilitating monthly internal fundraising meetings
Other
· Any other tasks as reasonably requested by the Deputy Director
Essential skills and experience
· Experience in an administrative, coordination or project support role
· Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and priorities
· Strong written and verbal communication skills
· Confidence using Microsoft Office and other common digital tools to organise work, manage information and communicate effectively
· Ability to work collaboratively in a small team and to support colleagues across different areas of work
· A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
· Support for PINF’s mission and charitable purpose
· Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Desirable skills and experience
· Experience of supporting events, campaigns, communications or fundraising activity
· Experience of working in a charity, membership body, media organisation or other mission-driven organisation
· Familiarity with website, newsletter or social media content management
· An understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local and independent news providers in the UK
How to apply
· Please apply through CharityJob.
· In your application, you will be asked to provide a short example of how your previous experience makes you a strong candidate for this role. We encourage applicants not to use generative AI to draft this part of the application, as we are interested to hear about your own experience in your own words!
· If you require any adjustments to support your application, please let us know when you apply.
We particularly welcome applications from people whose backgrounds and perspectives are underrepresented in charities and the news sector.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
We are working to regenerate local news in the UK - because everyone should benefit from journalism that speaks to, for and with them
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
External Communications Manager
Salary: £40,000–£42,000 FTE
Hours: 30 hours per week
Location: Remote, with regular travel to FitzRoy services, team and stakeholder meetings as agreed. The role requires attendance in London once per month and applicants must be able to commute to services in Norfolk, Nottingham and Hampshire.
Reports to: Head of Communications
Directorate: Business Development and Partnerships
FitzRoy is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs to live lives rooted in choice, meaning and happiness.
We are strengthening our external voice and looking for a confident, perceptive and warm communicator to help more people understand FitzRoy’s work, expertise and impact.
This is a moment of change for social care. We want to play a more active role in shaping its future, ensuring the people at the heart of it are seen, heard and involved in the decisions that matter.
About the role
As External Communications Manager, you will help build FitzRoy’s profile and reputation by identifying the stories, insight and opportunities that show what good support looks like in real life.
You will work closely with the Head of Communications, fundraising, business development and operational colleagues to turn external communications priorities into practical plans, content and opportunities.
This is a delivery role with real influence. You will not be expected to set FitzRoy’s external strategy alone, but you will be expected to bring ideas, advise colleagues, shape practical plans and turn opportunities into action.
What you will do
You will:
- develop proactive external communications activity that raises awareness of FitzRoy’s work, expertise and impact
- spot opportunities for FitzRoy to contribute constructively to sector conversations
- identify realistic opportunities for media, sector press, partner or local coverage
- gather stories, photos, video and quotes that help people understand what good support looks like in real life
- use social media, website content, audience insight and analytics to strengthen FitzRoy’s external profile
About you
You may come from charity communications, PR, journalism, public affairs, stakeholder communications or another external communications background.
You do not need to have worked in social care before, but you will need to be interested in people, willing to learn quickly and able to handle stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement.
We are looking for someone who is:
- an excellent writer and editor
- confident developing clear, accessible content for different audiences
- warm, curious and able to build rapport quickly
- able to spot strong stories, ideas and opportunities
- confident creating social media and website content shaped by audience insight
- comfortable working independently and managing competing priorities
- able to think strategically about audiences and influence, while being practical about what can be delivered in a small team
- confident gathering content including photos, videos and quotes
- willing and able to travel to FitzRoy services and meetings as needed
A full clean driving licence and access to a car for work travel are required, as some services are not easily accessible by public transport.
Working at FitzRoy
You will join a small, friendly communications team with big ambitions. This role will suit someone who enjoys a mix of planning, writing, relationship-building, story-gathering and hands-on delivery.
You will help us show the difference good support makes – and help ensure the voices, experiences and achievements of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs are seen and heard.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your application and a covering letter.
We do not expect your covering letter to address every point in the person specification. We would like you to tell us:
- what interests you about this role and FitzRoy
- three things you would bring to the role
- a piece of communications work you are proud of and why
- how you approach using social media, website content and audience insight to build external profile
- how you would approach telling stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement
If you are using AI tools to write your application, please use them with caution. We are looking for your own voice and writing style.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Our vision, mission and values guide us each step of the way, and are as important now as when the charity first began. Our vision A society where p
Thank you!
We believe that change for people affected by ME won't just happen; it must be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.
As Communications Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, impactful communications that advance Action for ME’s work, improve understanding and recognition of ME and support fundraising efforts
The Communications Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the communications strategy, leading a team of two other communications staff. You will work closely with colleagues across the fundraising, policy, research and services departments, delivering clear and compelling storytelling, and maximising visibility across media, digital platforms and key stakeholder networks.
Key duties
Leadership and Management
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Work to ensure that people with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of communications and marketing.
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Contribute to the development of, and then lead implementation of, the Communications Strategy, ensuring the appropriate involvement of key stakeholders, scoping, evaluating, and improving our practice.
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Maintain a data-insight led approach to the communications work providing regular management information and key performance indicator reports.
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Work as a member of the Extended Leadership Team.
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Line manage Communications Team members, supporting them to set and achieve performance objectives through regular one-to-ones and 12-monthly appraisals.
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Be responsible for Communications budget and the relationship with services providers required for the production of the charity’s digital and printed information and support resources.
Communications and Marketing
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Raise the profile of the impact of ME, and of Action for ME and its work, to enable the organisation to reach more people and better support need, by establishing a regular cadence of appropriate but innovative product across all main social media channels.
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Ensure fundraising is supported by embedding clear calls to action around donations and membership growth as a matter of course.
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Under the direction of the Director of Fundraising, develop all website, press and social media content for charity appeals.
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Market the charity’s Support and Healthcare services, including key digital and printed information and support resources, to the ME community and the professionals working with them, working closely with respective service leads.
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Contribute to income generation by working closely with the Director of Fundraising to develop the communication and marketing materials needed to implement the organisation’s Fundraising Strategy.
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Coordinate the charity’s response to any crisis communications, including developing appropriate crisis management plans and working outside of office hours as required.
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Establish effective systems/processes for gathering, supporting, maintaining, and managing case studies for a range of purposes (including press and media opportunities, public affairs and policy work, and fundraising).
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Draft and issue press releases and media statements and ensure appropriate follow-up by telephoning journalists, contacting picture desks etc. as appropriate.
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Alongside the CEO and any commissioned agency, develop relationships with key press, media and communications stakeholders to enhance the charity’s work.
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Oversee the production of the annual report, on budget, to schedule, taking overall editorial responsibility for content.
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Oversee the ongoing development of our digital engagement including our website and social media and being the point of contact on website issues.
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Fulfil the role of brand gateway keeper, ensuring all digital and printed communications, including information and support resources, adhere to brand guidelines, house style and organisational tone.
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Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and oversight of how ME and related key issues (e.g. Long Covid) are discussed in the media and wider ME community.
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Build networks to enhance the charity’s strategic communications and marketing work.
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Build and maintain an effective social media monitoring regime, ensuring fit for purpose rules of engagement are in place and applied consistently.
Other Key Accountabilities
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Ensure that all relevant service standards are met including compliance with best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal standards.
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Ensure best value in all our work.
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Undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required, from time-to-time, at the discretion of your line manager.
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On occasions, provide management support and cover within the organisation, as needed.
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Act as an advocate for the charity and its work.
Person specification
Experience, Knowledge and Understanding
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A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a communications management role
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Experience of developing integrated, insight and audience-led communications plans including social media
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Experience of website and brand management
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Experience of delivering successful campaigns
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Experience of engaging with press and/or media including writing press releases and media briefings
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Experience of working collaboratively with different teams/departments
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Experience of working in charity communications (desirable)
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An understanding of ME and the impact on people affected by it (desirable)
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Experience of integrating fundraising with communications (desirable)
Skills, Behaviours and Values
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Adaptable and highly organised with an ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload, use your own initiative, work independently, and work well in a team.
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Strong MS Office skills including the ability to use Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.