Public affairs administrator jobs in Edinburgh

Make a difference every day with PDSA  

About Us   

Join us to help keep even more people and pets together when times are tough. For over a century, PDSA have provided vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship.    

We’re now on a journey to expand our reach to support even more people and their beloved pets. To achieve this ambitious goal, we need passionate and driven individuals who are ready to embrace change and help shape a future-focused PDSA. Together, we'll build a stronger organisation to ensure our services help those who need us most for the next hundred years.    

If you're ready to make a real difference and be part of a team that's creating positive change, we want you to join us. Let's build a brighter future for pets and their owners, together.   

About you  

We’re looking for a Communications Officer to help promote and protect our charity’s reputation, raise awareness of our pet health agenda and highlight the vital work we do to keep people and pets together during difficult times. You’ll craft clear, engaging messages across print, broadcast, digital, and social media, building strong relationships with journalists and partners to secure positive coverage and strengthen our brand.

In this role, you’ll lead proactive communications activity, support reactive and crisis responses, and coordinate media opportunities such as events, photo shoots, and site visits. You’ll proactively seek out and capitalise on topical media and cultural moments including newsjacking opportunities to secure impactful coverage. You’ll also support the Communications and PR Manager, and wider internal stakeholders, to research, build, and manage celebrity relationships, leveraging PR opportunities where appropriate. Alongside this, you’ll monitor media trends, identify opportunities, and ensure consistent, high‑quality communication across all channels while safeguarding PDSA’s reputation.

We’re looking for someone with proven experience delivering successful media campaigns, excellent communication skills, and confidence representing an organisation externally. You’ll work well under pressure, respond quickly to urgent communication needs and be comfortable working independently. A relevant degree or CIPR qualification, along with knowledge of the charity sector, would be an advantage but not essential. 

This role is home‑based, with occasional travel required for team meetings, events and visits to PDSA sites.

Rewards, support and benefits    

We’re really passionate about being a great place to work, somewhere people feel proud of what they do, connected to a meaningful purpose, and able to make a genuine difference every day. Our teams are collaborative and supportive, and we encourage everyone to bring their ideas, individuality and passion for pets to work with them.  

As well as a rewarding role and a positive, people-focused culture, we also offer a wide range of benefits, including:  

• Flexible working options to support your work–life balance and individual circumstances.  

• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays, with option to buy or sell an extra five days. 

• Three paid special days off: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day annually.  

• Generous pension options, with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%.  

• Life assurance providing four times your annual salary for added peace of mind.  

• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, with 24/7 wellbeing support   

• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts available through our staff Fetch benefits platform.  

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to support you and your family.  

• 15% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance plus access to staff veterinary services.  

To apply for this role, click Apply Now at the top of the page, create a candidate account and complete our simple application form.     

PDSA is committed to embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion within our teams that reflect the communities we serve. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and opportunities for flexible working arrangements to support team members from different backgrounds.   

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss via email or telephone reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the recruitment process.   

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.   

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous. All appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.   

Monitoring and developing our Covid-19 Inquiry Recommendations Tracker, you will be an essential conduit for influencing policy and campaigns, part of a small but highly effective team. 

Job description

• Take overall responsibility for the Inquiry Recommendations Tracker, including its development, structure, accuracy and upkeep.
• Ensure the tracker is kept fully up to date, with progress on each recommendation accurately recorded and supported by relevant evidence.
• Monitor developments relating to Inquiry recommendations, including government responses, implementation activity and public statements, and provide colleagues with clear analysis to inform campaigning and parliamentary engagement.
• Gather and assess information from a range of sources to inform the tracker, including official publications, parliamentary material, stakeholder engagement and direct correspondence.
• Draft policy reports following module report publications, including analysis of recommendations and supplementary recommendations where appropriate, and provide briefing material to support campaign and parliamentary activity. 
• Engage with members to ensure their feedback and lived experience inform reports, supplementary recommendations and the Recommendations Tracker.
• Work with colleagues to ensure policy outputs support wider campaigning, parliamentary engagement and communications activity.
• Help identify gaps, weaknesses or areas of concern in implementation, and support the development of evidence-based proposals for further action.
• Maintain clear internal records and documentation relating to recommendations, progress updates and evidence gathered.
• Contribute to team meetings, planning discussions and wider organisational work as required.
• Undertake other duties reasonably consistent with the role, recognising that this is a small team and flexibility is important.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of policy research, policy analysis, public affairs, or related work.
• Strong drafting skills, with the ability to write clearly, accurately and persuasively for different audiences.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage complex information carefully and systematically.
• Experience of maintaining records, trackers or monitoring systems to a high standard.
• Ability to analyse complex material and present it in a way that is accessible and useful.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.
• Confidence in engaging professionally with external stakeholders, including parliamentarians, officials or partner organisations.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a small team.
• Commitment to working in a member-led way and ensuring lived experience informs policy work.
• Personal belief in and support for the aims of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK

Desirable

• Experience of working in Parliament, government, the charity sector, campaigning, or a policy-focused organisation.
• Experience of producing briefings, reports or recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Experience of engaging with members or people with lived experience in shaping policy or campaigns.
• Familiarity with spreadsheet-based trackers or similar monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of public inquiries, accountability processes, or pandemic preparedness policy.

Covid-19 has affected us all, but some communities were disproportionately impacted, including Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and disabled people, so we particularly welcome and encourage applications from candidates from those backgrounds.

Please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the essential criteria for this role.