Press officer jobs

Would you like to play an important role in improving science coverage in the news?

We are looking for a Press Officer with a passion for science and the media to help us make, break and react to some of the biggest science stories in the national news. Working on everything from genome editing and vaccination to climate change and AI, the SMC is an independent press office for science specialising in the science, health and environment stories that hit the headlines.

Our Press Officers are immersed in the most controversial, politicised and messy science stories in the news. This is not a role for the faint-hearted; but if you're passionate about accurate media coverage of the science stories that define our times, and you can work with a calm head when things are busy and demanding, this is the job for you.

What we are looking for

You are someone who is passionate about science in the news being accurate and evidence-based, and who is genuinely excited by the SMC's work. You are able to work fast and reliably on multiple subjects and collaborate effectively with your colleagues. You are someone with a science background who can demonstrate good judgement, good media awareness, and a strong understanding of the difference between evidence and ideology. You are excited to progress your career as part of a small but high-impact, office-based team in a fast-moving environment.

What we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + Christmas closure, increasing after 5 years’ service
• Annual performance-related pay reviews
• Generous pension, healthcare, and family-friendly provisions
• Free gym and discounted lunch options

Selection process

• Application (CV and cover letter)
• Interview consisting of a 40min task and 40min panel interview, at our London offices on Monday 8th June
• References

This is an on-site role based at our offices in London (Euston). Staff are expected to be in the office five days a week. Start date asap (exact date to be agreed).

How to apply: please submit your CV and a covering letter via this platform detailing why you want this particular role and how you fit the role requirements. You can also email your application to the jobs@ address listed on our website. Your CV and covering letter should not be more than one side of A4.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role you can find contact details on the job listing on our website.

Applicants must have a pre-existing right to work full time in the UK as we are unfortunately unable to sponsor visas.

We know that some demographics are less likely to apply for roles if they don’t feel they meet every requirement. We encourage all applicants who have a strong interest in our work and believe they have the right skills to succeed to apply for the role.

Based: EJF office in London

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Salary: £38,000-£45,000, dependent on experience

Position overview

​​This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF): one of the world's leading non-profits working at the intersection of environmental conservation and human rights. We are lean, agile, creative, strategic and most of all results-driven.

This is a varied and fast-paced role for an outstanding Senior Press Officer. The successful applicant will be fluent in English and Spanish, with a proven track record of impactful journalism and/or securing high-level media coverage as part of a press office.

We are looking for someone with a passion for our work and the drive, experience and skills to build our audiences, raise the profile of our campaigns and get our perspectives in front of key decision-makers. This role would suit someone who would look forward every day to placing impactful stories which drive real-world progress for a more sustainable planet.

You will have a demonstrable ability to understand our audiences and develop communications strategies to reach them. You will enjoy meeting and briefing journalists, enthusiastically reaching out to 'sell' our key stories. You will gain significant media coverage for EJF’s messages in key, influential international media outlets such as the Financial Times, New York Times and El País.

The successful candidate will work independently to ensure a steady flow of high-quality press outreach, as well as pitching and writing articles and op-eds to promote our perspectives. You will know which outlets key political decision-makers read, and how to place material with them.

You will be an outstanding writer, and possess superb adaptability and inventiveness to respond to a rapidly changing policy landscape.

This is a challenging but rewarding and dynamic role, providing an opportunity to work at the forefront of critical issues of global environmental justice and unique opportunities for growth and development.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated communication plans and campaigns to support EJF’s campaigns around the world

• Ensure impactful and consistent coverage of our campaigns, and the issues they cover, in high-profile ‘gatekeepered’ media outlets

• Prepare press releases and media packs for report launches and external developments, ensuring both proactive and reactive coverage

• Respond swiftly to media enquiries

• Research and actively engage media contacts and outlets, remotely and in person, to increase EJF’s reach, building a database to record and evaluate this outreach

• Work with our communications team around the world to develop coordinated media strategies across geographies and languages

• Evaluate and report on our press performance, making recommendations for ongoing improvement

• Create engaging and impactful content for our various communication channels. This includes writing op-eds and blog articles on core EJF campaign areas

• Uphold the highest standards of scientifically rigorous but engaging writing at all times

• Host press briefings at events with external stakeholders

Essential skills and attributes

• Professional fluency (including excellent writing and editing skills) in English and Spanish

• At least 3 years of experience working in communications, a press office, journalism or similar, with a particular focus on placing stories with, or writing for, high-level traditional media outlets

• Knowledge of media relations, developing communication materials, writing content for different channels and developing social media campaigns

• Experience of and confidence in dealing with journalists from different types of media to ensure effective coverage

• An effective knowledge of the media outlets read by political decision-makers internationally, and how to place articles in them

• Excellent copywriting skills, including under time pressure, and the ability to identify a good story, linking current affairs to EJF campaigns

• An exceptional level of creativity and drive to seek out new opportunities to promote EJF’s work

• Outstanding attention to detail and factual accuracy

• Reliable, determined, self-motivated, resourceful and able to work effectively with a small, dynamic, and international team

• Superb organisational skills, able to work quickly and prioritise efficiently to deliver timely outputs

• A passion for ensuring environmental justice

We offer you:

• Annual leave that increases with length of service

• Home working two days a week. Flexible working arrangements can be considered

• Cycle to work programme

• A highly motivated and open-minded team of committed colleagues, and the opportunity to develop and implement compelling propositions that can deliver campaign and organisational goals

• Great opportunities for your professional growth and personal development in close collaboration with our diverse team across Europe, Africa, Asia and South America

About EJF

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) exists to protect the natural world and uphold our fundamental human right to a secure environment. We work at the frontlines of environmental injustice, alongside communities most affected by climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and exploitation - transforming evidence into action, and injustice into lasting change.

EJF is a global non-profit driven by a powerful belief: that environmental protection and human rights are inseparable. Through courageous field investigations, rigorous research, and strategic international advocacy, we expose environmental crime, challenge impunity, and catalyse systemic reform. Our work delivers real-world impact, shaping policy, strengthening governance, protecting vital ecosystems, and defending those who risk their lives to safeguard them.

Our campaigns span four deeply interconnected areas: oceans, climate, forests and wetlands, and the training, protection, and empowerment of environmental defenders and journalists. From illegal fishing and forced labour to deforestation, land grabs, and climate displacement, we confront some of the most complex and urgent crises of our time - always with a focus on accountability, equity, and durable solutions.

EJF is an international organisation with a diverse team working across four continents, united by a shared ambition: to protect people by protecting the planet. We are bold, evidence-led, and impact-driven. We speak truth to power - and we build pathways to a fairer, more resilient future. Join Us.

Applications

Please apply here.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. If you feel you would be a good fit for this role but are unsure if you meet every single requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Closing date for applications: We will consider incoming applications until 09:00 UK time, 30/05/2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You must hold the legal right to work in the UK for this role.

Location: London or ITF Regional Hub
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

We are looking for an experienced professional with a blend of communications and media experience who can push forward a union-led strategic communications agenda, and who can also enhance the ITF’s position in the media as the global voice of transport workers. This hands-on role will span communications and media work across the ITF.

You will be part of a team delivering solidarity and support to local, national and global disputes, building communications that reinforce the critical role of transport workers around the world, developing strategies to support union-led policies on everything from health and safety to sustainability, and raising the volume on the global struggle to advance the rights of transport workers everywhere.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, this role will work collaboratively to implement communications strategies for the ITF’s industrial work programmes and their priority campaigns. The role will include targeting diverse audiences including transport workers, employers, media, policy makers and political leaders. The role will also play a crucial role in ensuring that industrial priorities and issues are reflected and integrated in organisation-wide communications.

The Communications and Press Officer will lead on the implementation of the ITF’s global media strategy: the role is pivotal to securing media coverage that raises awareness of the work and priorities of the ITF internationally, across broadcast, print, online media and trade press, while also monitoring the media coverage we gain, evaluating impact and providing insights to help shape future media work.

The role will also be central to developing communications content across the ITF’s industrial sections, from website news stories to in-depth reports and communications support for ITF conferences, meetings and other events: you will need to be able to develop expert knowledge of policy and industrial issues facing transport workers, and effectively interpret and analyse issues and challenges and translate them into compelling and engaging communications outputs.

We are looking for someone who is able to develop, manage and maintain strong relationships and operate in a politically charged environment, someone who has a growth mindset, thinks globally, works with a relational approach, is receptive to feedback, actively values diversity, and who acts with integrity and transparency.

If you’re driven to improve the lives and livelihoods of workers through undertaking innovative and bold communications work, we invite you to apply. 

About the team

The role of the ITF Communications Team is to elevate our work on global issues and drive collective action to improve the rights of all transport workers.

The Communications Department leads strategic thinking around communications across the ITF’s industrial sections, global regions and key areas of focus, including women and young transport workers, sustainability, health and safety, the future of work and supply chain accountability. The scope is vast.

You’ll join a team committed to using its skills and knowledge to push the envelope for worker and people-driven change ― working to advance the ITF’s current strategic directions:

• To grow and activate our membership.
• To position the ITF at the forefront of innovative campaigning.
• To influence global and regional policy.

The team sets and delivers strategic communications, setting the creative and strategic vision for digital engagement, content production, design, branding, media relations and building stronger networks and collaboration with our affiliated unions.

This position is based at our London headquarters, though we warmly welcome applications from candidates who would prefer to work from one of the ITF's regional offices around the world; in such cases, salary and benefits will be aligned with the relevant regional office location.