Senior Communications Officer

Job Title: Senior Communications Officer

Responsible to: Head of Media

Salary: from £35,000

Hours: Full Time

Tenure: Permanent

Location: LDHQ, Westminster, London

Job Specification

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Liberal Democrat media team, supporting the party’s record 72 Liberal Democrat MPs. The Senior Communications Officer will play a critical, leading role in shaping and delivering the Liberal Democrats' national media output. 

Reporting to the Head of Media, the role holder will be responsible for developing and implementing proactive communication plans that support the party’s spokespeople and peers in securing high-impact, positive national coverage.

The candidate will be a resilient, autonomous, and ambitious communications professional looking for a chance to significantly influence political news and debate. You will have a record of building and maintaining a strong network of contacts with leading journalists across the national media and an expert understanding of the modern media landscape, including the interplay between traditional platforms and social media. You must demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills and the ability to rapidly translate complex policy issues into compelling narratives.

The ideal candidate will have an excellent understanding of UK politics, the opportunities facing the Liberal Democrats in the current political landscape, and the methods the party can employ to leverage its larger presence in Parliament for maximum impact across a range of channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of proactive communications plans to secure high-impact coverage promoting the party’s work and national campaign priorities.
• Act as an expert adviser to spokespeople and their offices, identifying and creating opportunities to generate influential national media coverage across print and broadcast platforms.
• Work closely with senior management to assist in the delivery of crisis communications during the normal course of duties, managing complex narratives and mitigating media risks.
• Drive the integration of media and digital outputs, generating creative ideas for content to get our message across and ensuring media stories are optimised for social channels.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior network broadcast journalists to secure agenda-setting interviews and news packages.
• Proactively spot emerging trends and risks, using strategic planning to maintain and update the communications grid and ensure consistent, high-quality coverage.
• Contributing to the overall goals of and professional development within the Liberal Democrat media team, including supporting more junior colleagues.
• Take part in the media team’s out-of-hours duty system, including handling breaking news situations and providing senior handling advice when required.
• Undertake any other ad hoc duties as required to support senior leadership and wider team goals and responsibilities.

How to apply

Please fully read through the requirements of the job before applying and take a few minutes to complete our Equality and Diversity Monitoring Forms then proceed with your application. 

• A full CV of no more than two pages and including a telephone number and email address;
• A covering letter (no more than one A4 page) setting out why you want the job and how your experience and skills are relevant to it;
• To be considered for this position, please submit your application to recruitment@libdems.org.uk

We will be reviewing applications as they come in and reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

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 to be made during any part of the recruitment process.

Please let us have 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 may not notify applicants if their application has been 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 that you feel valued, appreciated and free to be who you are.