Communications Officer

Job Title: Communications Officer

Responsible to: Deputy Head of Media

Hours: Full Time

Salary: £28,860 + £2,800 on-call allowance per year

Tenure: Permanent

Location: Westminster, London

Job Specification

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Liberal Democrat media team, supporting the party’s record 71 Liberal Democrat MPs.

The Communications Officer will be integral to supporting the party’s spokespeople and peers in securing positive coverage promoting Liberal Democrat priorities and campaigns in the national media, using the tools at their disposal to generate impactful stories and narratives.

The candidate will be an enthusiastic, ambitious, and highly organised individual seeking an opportunity to shape mainstream politics and work in an exciting, fast-paced communications environment.

You will be a multi-skilled communicator, equally comfortable pitching a story to a national newspaper, briefing spokespeople for a live television appearance or drafting a script for a social media video.

You will be a self-starter with a strong interest in news and current affairs, motivated by developing and pitching news stories, and able to build effective relationships with journalists and colleagues.

The ideal candidate will sympathise with the aims and values of the Liberal Democrats. You will preferably have a good understanding of UK politics and the opportunities and challenges facing the Liberal Democrats, and how the party can use its larger presence in Parliament to secure more positive media coverage across print, broadcast, and digital channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate and pitch stories to secure positive media coverage promoting the party’s work in Parliament and national campaign priorities across print, online, and broadcast outlets.
• Work with and build strong relationships with national broadcasters; brief spokespeople for national media appearances such as Question Time, evening news bulletins, and radio packages.
• Work closely with the digital team to ensure media outputs are aligned across social channels and generate creative ideas to translate our stories and campaigns into engaging digital content.
• Support spokespeople and their offices, as well as peers, in using Parliament to generate media coverage, and work with policy colleagues to develop lines to take.
• Spot opportunities by planning ahead and regularly updating the communications grid; plan visits and visuals for the Leader and senior spokespeople.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
• Participate in the media team’s out-of-hours duty system, ensuring the party is equipped to respond to the 24-hour news cycle.
• Undertake other ad hoc duties as required to contribute to the team’s goals and responsibilities.

How to apply

All applicants must have the unrestricted, legal right to live and work in the UK. Please note that we are currently unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. 

To submit an application, please email recruitment@libdems.org.uk  attaching:

1. A copy of your CV, including complete work history
2. A Covering Letter: no more than one page of A4 in length, indicating clearly how your experience and skills meet the criteria stated in the job and person specification
3. A completed diversity monitoring form
4. Please ensure we have the means to contact you by phone and email

We will be reviewing applications as they come in on a rolling basis. We will not notify applicants if their applications are unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage.

Please note: We will not be able to employ you if you are not eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to obtain a work permit on your behalf.

Applicants are encouraged to inform us if any reasonable adjustments are needed at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please provide details of your current salary and two referees, including one from your current employer. If you would prefer us not to contact them until a later stage of the selection process, please let us know.

We will not notify applicants if their applications are unsuccessful at the shortlisting stage.

The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported to achieve their potential. It is important to celebrate what makes us unique and to feel valued, appreciated, and free to be who you are.