Sense about Science is a unique campaigning charity that has turned the case for sound science and evidence into popular campaigns such as Ask for Evidence. It has run effective global initiatives to expand and protect discussions of evidence, including Transparency of Evidence and AllTrials, and to equip the public, media and decision makers with 21st Century tools for understanding evidence.

Job description

The role of senior communications officer involves planning and delivering publicity for our activities and events, identifying and seeing through opportunities to communicate our mission and work and developing the voice of the organisation. The role involves:

• Planning and delivering communications across traditional and social media, for both our day-to-day activities and flagship events such as the annual Maddox Prize and Evidence Week
• Responsibility for recognition in the public engagement space of Sense about Science’s achievements and roles, our ‘public fingerprint’, Director profile, organisation profile, and thought leadership
• Writing engaging and informative newsletters and website announcements that inspire people to take action
• Developing media contacts and responding to media inquiries
• Proactively responding to the news agenda to pitch stories and comment
• Responsibility for maintaining and developing the website and adding new content.
• Supporting the communications activity of the senior staff team
• Representing Sense about Science at meetings and workshops.

You will be articulate, motivated and ambitious about our aims. It is a busy office and no two days are the same so you need to be able to plan well but adapt quickly. The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrable experience of writing engaging content including press releases and for social media
• Experience in a communications role within a campaigning organisation
• Experience successfully pitching stories and building relationships with the press
• Experience with working with web CMS systems, particularly WordPress
• Experience working with and implementing branding guidelines
• Experience of planning and delivering communications plans for both day-to-day activity and key events
• A university degree
• An appetite for science news, public debate and current affairs
• Confidence, unflappability and initiative
• The ability to effectively prioritise and manage workload in times of high activity and use quieter periods to plan ahead
• Skills and experience in Photoshop and/or InDesign and/or Canva.

However, if you don’t have a CV that matches all these requirements but you are absolutely convinced you are right for the post, feel free to write to us to make the case. There is great scope in this job to develop the role and make it your own.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Salary £28,000 – 30,000 p/a. Central London (W1). Will include some travel and out of hours activity.

To apply please address your application to Nita Pillai with a one-page letter and a 2 page CV. Email to recruitment@senseaboutscience.org. Please put the job title in the subject line.

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED. Please send applications by 11:59.pm, 2nd May 2021.

Interviews will be held w/b 10th May.

All shortlisted candidates will hear by COP on Thursday 6th May. Please note that we will not be able to notify those candidates who have not been shortlisted.

https://senseaboutscience.org/activities/vacancy-senior-communications-officer/