Press and external affairs officer jobs

Media and Public Affairs Officer

We are seeking a media and public affairs officer to help shape external profile, reputation and influence through impactful communications and stakeholder engagement.

Position: Media and Public Affairs Officer
Salary: £35,224 per annum (pro-rated for part-time)
Location: Hybrid and flexible working with once per month in office
Hours: Full-time (part-time requests considered)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Monday 8 June at 12pm
Interview Dates: Provisionally week commencing 15 June

About the Role

This is a varied and impactful role where you will manage day-to-day media relations, support public affairs activity, and help deliver integrated campaigns that raise awareness of psychotherapy and the work of members.

You will act as a trusted internal adviser on messaging and reputational risk, translating complex or sensitive issues into clear, balanced and engaging communications. Working closely with colleagues across policy and communications, you will contribute to campaign narratives, stakeholder engagement and media strategy.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing media enquiries and drafting press materials, briefings and statements
• Monitoring media coverage and identifying emerging risks and opportunities
• Building relationships with journalists and promoting the organisation and its members
• Supporting external communications on sensitive or regulatory issues
• Contributing to campaign development, messaging and public positioning
• Supporting stakeholder engagement, including parliamentary activity and events
• Providing guidance to colleagues on tone, messaging and reputational considerations

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape public understanding of psychotherapy and contribute to meaningful, mission-led work.

About You

You will bring experience in media relations, public affairs or communications, along with a strong understanding of the UK political and media landscape.

You will also demonstrate:

• Experience supporting communications on reputational or complex issues
• Strong relationship-building skills with media and stakeholders
• The ability to identify emerging issues and respond effectively in fast-moving situations
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
• An understanding of how communications support influencing and public engagement
• A collaborative, flexible approach to working across teams

You will share a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and be motivated by contributing to a purpose-driven organisation that supports mental health and wellbeing.

There will be scope for professional development and growth whilst working closely within a small team. In short, it is an opportunity to make a real difference.

About the Organisation

The organisation is a leading professional body representing psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors across a wide range of therapeutic approaches and modalities.

Its charitable objectives include promoting the art and science of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling for the benefit of the public, supporting research and education, maintaining high standards of training and practice, and improving access to psychotherapy services for all sections of the public.

Benefits

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Additional leave during December office closure
• Generous pension scheme with 8% employer contribution
• Occupational sick pay and enhanced maternity leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Learning and development opportunities
• Employee assistance programme
• Flu vaccination and eyecare vouchers
• Interest-free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme

Other roles you may have experience of could include:

Media Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Communications Officer, PR Officer, External Affairs Officer, Campaigns Officer, Policy and Communications Officer, Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Press Officer, Corporate Communications Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.

We work with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse. We want what you would want for your best friend. We listen to survivors, putting their voices at the heart of our thinking. We look at the whole picture for each individual and family to get the right help at the right time to make families everywhere safe and well. And we challenge perpetrators to change, asking ‘why doesn’t he stop?’ rather than ‘why doesn’t she leave?’ This applies whatever the gender of the victim or perpetrator and whatever the nature of their relationship.

Last year alone, nearly 13,500 professionals received our training. Over 70,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 85,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last four years, over 2,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start.

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

This is a broad and varied role across Policy, Public Affairs and Communications, with a specific focus on the Drive Project:

The Drive Project is the Drive Partnership’s flagship intervention for high-risk, high-harm and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse. The core mission of the Drive Project is to stop the cycle of domestic abuse and increase the immediate and long-term safety of adult and child victim-survivors. The Drive Project does this by partnering with agencies and local perpetrator services to disrupt, challenge, and change the behaviour of high-risk, high-harm and serial perpetrators, and working closely with IDVAs and victim-survivor services to always centre the safety and needs of victim-survivors, in line with the Respect Standard.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Communications

• Support the Drive Partnership’s communications and stakeholder engagement regarding the Drive Project.
• Lead central support on communications for Drive Project partners and build strong working relationships across network, ensuring both policy and communications expertise and input flows both ways.
• Work closely with internal and external partner colleagues to support the safe and effective roll-out of the Drive Project across England and Wales.
• Support the delivery of the Drive Partnership’s communications plan, including website content, social media, newsletters, and events.
• Develop and maintain communications and branding guidelines and support the Drive Partnership team and network of partners to use correctly.
• Support the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Manager in developing media relations, including media enquiries, drafting press releases and responses.
• Ensure the website is fit for purpose and up to date with relevant information and news.
• Ensure victim-survivor voice guides our communications thinking and output - engaging in a compassionate, considerate and effective way with victim-survivors through Pioneer interaction, colleagues and any other interaction we have in our daily work.
• Ensure service user (perpetrator) input is collated and utilised in a responsible and safe way – always centring victim-survivors and considering their safety within this work.
• Project and promote our values – through considered language, inclusivity and equality in Drive Partnership communications.

Policy and Public Affairs

• Support the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Manager to develop and promote policy positions, drawing on the expertise of the partnership.
• Lead and coordinate policy input into the Government’s strategic approach to perpetrators, particularly through influencing on the Drive Partnership’s key recommendations within its Call for Further Action.
• Identify and act on policy opportunities to promote best practice in perpetrator interventions – including both risk management and behaviour change, such as select committee enquiries, consultations, Bills, news developments.
• Build relationships with politicians, voluntary sector, civil servants and professional bodies, deputising for the Policy, Public Affairs and Communications Manager in key meetings where required.
• Support the coordination of sector and stakeholder forums to enhance collaboration towards a more strategic approach to perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Internal

• Play a role in the development of the team, nurturing and drawing on the talents of others.
• Maintain an accurate and secure audit trail of all relevant communication and ensure that all work is compliant with data protection law.
• Engage in a compassionate, considerate and effective way with all victim-survivors through Pioneer interaction, colleagues and any other interaction we have in our daily work.
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of communications planning and delivery:

• Digital communication and website management (E)
• Using data and evidence in communications (E)
• Experience in reactive and crisis communications (D)
• Experience of working with the media and journalists (D)
• Experience of developing a communications plan (D)
• Creative and innovative approach to presenting information across different formats and channels, for a range of audiences (D)

Experience of working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to influence policy:

• Experience of working in coalitions or partnerships (E)
• Experience of building and maintaining good relationships with a range of stakeholders (E)
• Experience working with policymakers/parliamentarians to influence policy (D)
• Experience of working with people with lived experience of the issue at hand (D)

Skills

• Creativity and fluency
• Organisational skills

Competencies

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication and relationship management
• Delivering quality
• Goal orientation
• Influence

Communications Officer - IPNEd 

We are looking for a Communications Officer to join the IPNEd Secretariat. This role will lead our internal and external communications, including copywriting, content creation, sharing and monitoring across all our communications channels. 

About IPNEd

The International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd) works to mobilise the political leadership necessary to accelerate the delivery of quality education for all.

As the first and only global parliamentary network dedicated to education, IPNEd seeks to grow and deepen political understanding of and commitment to quality education for all.

To do this, we work with parliamentarians individually and in groups at the national, regional, and global levels. 

The Network consists of more than 500 parliamentarians from around the world who are committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education - by increasing funding, improving learning, especially foundational early-grade literacy and math skills, and advancing global educational equity.

About Results UK

Results UK hosts the IPNEd Secretariat.

Results UK seeks to make change in the world by utilising a combination of grassroots, parliamentary, and policy advocacy to create the public and political will to end poverty.

Alongside IPNEd, ​Results UK hosts another organisation, Send My Friend to School, the UK’s umbrella body for organisations working on global education.

Role Description

The IPNEd Secretariat’s role is to ensure that IPNEd members can exercise their unique functions as Members of Parliament as effectively as possible to accelerate educational progress. Timely and effective internal and external communication is central to this work.

We are looking for a proactive and skilled Communications Officer to lead the delivery of content to expand IPNEd’s reach, grow audiences, and drive meaningful engagement with MPs and our wider stakeholders. 

You will develop and implement strategies to strengthen IPNEd’s communications channels, collaborate with our partners to design and implement communication strategies, and support our global priorities.

The role also involves supporting internal communications with our parliamentary membership, including maintaining our membership database.

You will also monitor the performance of our communications efforts, identifying and testing ways to improve reach and engagement to ensure continuous improvement and impact.

We are looking for someone who can be proactive, efficient, and flexible in supporting all aspects of IPNEd's internal and external communications. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment in which you will play a central role in identifying and responding to external developments.

This post will offer unparalleled opportunities to contribute to policy and advocacy in support of global education and to develop knowledge of policy development, advocacy, and the particular roles of members of parliament in delivering change.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Content Creation

Develop written and visual content, including blog posts, newsletters, social media posts, press releases, infographics, and videos. 

Tell strategic stories that highlight the importance of education and profile the work and impact of members of parliament in accelerating educational progress.

Draft op-eds, speeches, and press releases to shape conversations and advance IPNEd’s mission.

Lead on the development and publication of regular and occasional email newsletters and general emails.

• Media Relations 

Monitor external media and use this to inform IPNEd's external communications.

Build and maintain relationships with external media and other organisations, identifying opportunities to collaborate and to pitch content.

• Digital Communications

Manage the organisation's website, including development, maintenance, and continuous improvement. 

Implement and oversee digital communications channels, including our presence on X, Bluesky, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

Develop and produce performance data and reports for digital channels. 

Use performance data to test new approaches to communications.

• Strategic Planning & Collaboration

Contribute to and implement communications and external engagement strategies. 

Work closely with the Executive Director and Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser to identify content and engagement opportunities. 

Represent IPNEd in meetings with Network members and external partner organisations, building strong working relationships.

• General

Maintaining systems necessary to support effective communications, including member, supporter and partner databases.

Supporting the Secretariat with research and writing.

The post-holder may be required to travel internationally.

The post-holder will also carry out other duties as necessary.

Essential skills and experience

All candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK. If you are made an offer of employment, this will be subject to verification. We are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Proven experience in a communications role within the not-for-profit, international development, or advocacy sectors.

Strong written communication skills, with proven experience drafting press releases, articles, comment pieces, blogs and social media posts.

Proven ability to craft engaging written, visual, and multimedia content for digital platforms.

Strong understanding of social media analytics to drive up engagement and increase our online visibility. 

Familiarity with digital content tools (e.g. Adobe Suite, Canva).

Skilled in managing websites, email marketing, and content management systems (e.g. Mailchimp, Squarespace).

​Experience of working with parliamentarians or in public affairs, campaigning or advocacy work in either a paid or voluntary environment, preferably in the context of international development or education.

​Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a wide range of people.

​Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

​Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.

​Willingness and flexibility to work across a range of tasks and activities.

Personal attributes

​A passion for politics, international development, and global education.

​Self-starting, highly organised, and able to manage multiple tasks.

​Confident and willing to initiate contact and discussion with parliamentarians and officials.

​Able to respond flexibly to changing priorities, and to both set and work to deadlines.

​A good team worker who enjoys supporting other members of a team and working together for common objectives.

​Willingness to work in an all-party, politically neutral organisation and to work enthusiastically with members of all political parties.

​Willingness and ability to travel outside the UK.

​Ability to quickly absorb information.

Desirable criteria

Ability to speak a second UN language: French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

Results UK is an equal opportunity employer.

Results UK is opposed to discrimination in employment as well as in society, politics and the economy, and seeks to avoid discrimination in its own employment and recruitment of staff and volunteers. We will not discriminate on grounds of creed, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.

We positively welcome the contributions of people from a wide range of backgrounds, skills, and abilities, recognising the value that different perspectives bring to the organisation.  As part of this commitment, we aim to attract and retain high-calibre staff of all backgrounds by offering a range of people-centred policies to support our staff, including options to work from home, flexible working and agile contracts, training and professional development opportunities, and membership of the disability confidence scheme. Further information about these is available on request.

As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring that our recruitment policies and processes are inclusive, equitable, and fair.

Personnel policies are available on request.

Salary, benefits, and other key information

IPNEd is hosted by Results UK. The line manager for this role will be IPNEd’s Senior Policy & Advocacy Adviser.

1. Starting date 

The position is available immediately, and is offered as an initial 12-month contract with the intention of being extended if funding permits.

2. Salary 

This role is graded at Results Professional Level Two with a salary of £32,785 per annum.

3. Hours of work

This is a full time role 35 hours a week. These hours will be worked as agreed with the line manager, but some flexibility may be required to meet the needs of the job. There is no paid overtime, but Results UK offers a flexitime system for all staff. 

4. Holidays 

25 days per year plus bank holidays. Holidays increase by one day per year of service to a maximum of 30 days. Holidays are earned in arrears. 

5. Notice Period and Probationary Period

This role has a one-month notice period. The employee will have a probationary period of three months, during which time the notice period is one week.

6. Location

The post is a hybrid role with the expectation that the postholder can work from Results’ office at Clarence Centre for Enterprise and Innovation, 6 St George’s Circus, London, SE1 6FE when required.

Currently, most Results UK staff are combining working from home with time in the office. 

7. Travel

Occasional International travel will be required. The post holder must be able and willing to travel to Global North and Global South countries.

8. Additional Benefits

Staff joining Results are automatically enrolled in our company pension scheme unless they choose to opt out. A legally mandated minimum employee contribution applies, and all employee contributions to the pension are matched 1:1 by Results up to a maximum of 5% of gross salary.

Staff may receive a tax-efficient loan for the purchase of a bike, through which the final price of the cycle is lower than on the market.

Staff may receive a loan for the purchase of a travel season ticket. 

Recruitment Process

Applications should be made using our online application portal using the apply now button above.

As part of the process you will be asked to submit:

• A CV.

• A covering letter setting out how you meet the selection criteria. 

• Examples of previous communication products that you have been responsible for before. This should be provided as a separate document with the content shared as you see fit, but could include links to material available online.

• The application deadline is midnight on Friday, the 19th of June 2026.

  First-round interviews will be held online on the 25th and 26th of June.