Head of Communications and Policy (Cardiff Bay)

Job Description

Role: Head of Communications and Policy

Hours: 37.5 hours per week*

Responsible to: Chief Executive *Includes some hours working for the Party Leader’s Senedd office, responsible to the Party Leader / Party Leader’s Senior Advisor.

Salary: £50,000+ depending on experience

Location: Cardiff Bay at least 2 days per week, remote/home working an option for the other days.

Purpose of the job: To increase the profile of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Party Leader Jane Dodds MS, ensuring that their messages are fully developed and communicated both internally and externally.

Closing date: Friday 4th July 2025, 12pm (noon)

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead the delivery of the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ messaging and communications, including the Party Leader communications.
2. Ensure that all media, including press, broadcast, social media, emails and other channels are utilised effectively to promote the Party Leader and the Welsh Liberal Democrat message.
3. Line manage the Digital Media Officer, ensuring that the Party’s digital interventions are swift, effective, and provide measurable acquisitions including email addresses and new members.
4. Directly lead the Party’s press and broadcast media operations, including writing press releases, handling media bids, building relationships with journalists, and proactively promoting the Party Leader and other spokespeople for media slots.
5. Coordinate the Party’s internal communications strategy and operations, working with the Chief Executive, Leaders' Office, Campaigns Manager, Party Coordinator and others to ensure the delivery of a program of internal communications that motivates and mobilises our members and supporters.
6. Lead the delivery of the Party’s 2026 Senedd manifesto, coordinating staff and volunteer input, ensuring that the output is in line with our strategic communications objectives.
7. Line Manage the Senior Policy Officer and Policy Officer, ensuring that they are supporting the Party Leader in her political interventions, are contributing to policy and manifesto development, and are providing suitable briefings for the Party Leader and other spokespeople.
8. Build strong working relationships with the federal Lib Dem HQ communications teams, with key volunteers in the Welsh Liberal Democrats (e.g. Party President), and with key candidates and spokespeople.
9. Contribute to the Party’s strategic decision making, especially as regards political framing, as a member of the Senior Management Team.
10. Any other tasks as required.

Person Specification:

1. Excellent knowledge of the UK party political and electoral context.
2. Considerable experience of delivering political communications across multiple channels.
3. Able to craft effective political messaging for general and target audiences.
4. Experience of managing teams and projects in a high-pressured environment.
5. Goals-orientated with a record of success.
6. Capable of building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders.
7. Up-to-date understanding of and engagement with digital media.
8. Exceptional organisational skills and ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
9. Able to work flexibly and respond to breaking news stories at evenings or weekends as required.
10. Sympathy with the aims and values of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

To Apply

To apply, please write a cover letter of no more than 900 words, outlining:

• Why you want to work for the Welsh Liberal Democrats
• Your relevant skills and experience.

Please also provide a CV of no more than 2 pages A4.

Please send your CV and cover letter to enquiries@libdems.wales by Friday 4th July 2025, 12pm (noon).

You don’t need to be a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, but we do expect employees to have sympathy with our aims and objectives.

Applicants are encouraged to inform us if any reasonable adjustments are needed to be made during any part of the recruitment process.