Policy & Communications Officer
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Salary: £25-27,000 p.a. depending on experience
Location: London, with occasional UK travel
Reports to: CEO
Job Description
The Sheila McKechnie Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to
equipping campaigners with the skills they need to change the world, and
connecting individuals and groups to increase their campaigning impact and
influence.
The post of Policy and Communications Officer is a key role in the
organisation, responsible for supporting the policy work and profile of SMK,
carrying out background research, preparing briefings and being involved in
various activities.
You will play a central role in SMK communications, planning and organising
our press and media work, our website content and preparing corporate
materials (e.g. annual impact report) and briefings.
This is not a job for someone who likes to work in a ‘box’. You will have an
opportunity to get involved in a range of tasks and activities, that may
enhance your existing skills and C.V., and means that you won’t ever get
bored.
The successful candidate will need to be flexible, creative, enthusiastic, selfmotivated, with strong communications and interpersonal skills.
Purpose of role:
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Working closely with the Chief Executive and other staff members to
publicise and raise the profile of the Foundation, including its’ role,
purpose, and services.
To project manage key communications tasks
To support the planning, development and implementation of
communication strategies
To liaise with and answer enquiries from media, individuals and other
organisations
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Specific duties
Core Communications Work
 Contributing to and overseeing the SMK websites, e-bulletins and other
marketing and communications mechanisms as required
 Drafting core SMK materials such as the annual impact report, etc.
 Planning and supporting SMK’s press and media work as required
 Developing and delivering a social media strategy to engage existing and
potential supporters on social media such as Twitter and Facebook
Core Policy Work:
 Preparing briefings relating to policy or practice
 Representing SMK as necessary in relation to external policy work and
coalitions
SMK’s overall mission
 Monitoring and evaluating progress against work areas and making
adjustments where required
 Developing and maintaining systems in line with agreed SMK standards
 Taking on specific tasks within SMK’s small team as required
 Contributing to the overall delivery of SMK’s aims
Person Specification
The Foundation is looking for a policy and communications officer who is
thorough, organised and efficient with excellent interpersonal skills.
Essential
 Experience of effective research or policy work in a paid or voluntary
capacity
 Experience of working in a communications or media role in a paid or
voluntary capacity
 Strong administrative skills and experience of using Microsoft Office
 Excellent communication skills; written, verbal and face to face. Ability to
communicate at all levels within the organisation and produce clear and
compelling written reports targeted to their appropriate audiences
 Experience of using e-communications and traditional and social media in
implementing communications and publicity strategies
 Excellent attention to detail
 Ability to work under own initiative and meet deadlines
Desirable
 Journalistic, communications, media relations or PR experience
 Broad knowledge of all media
 Experience of policy development
 Demonstrable experience of gaining media coverage or profile
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