You will need to login before you can apply for a job.
Job title: Communications Officer
Requisition ID: 047423
Salary: £39,818
Grade: 6
Location: City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE
Contract type: Permanent
Closing Date: 17/01/2025 at 23:59
Team: Labour Group
Directorate: London Assembly and Secretariat
About the team:
The London Assembly Labour Group supports the work of the 11 Labour Assembly Members in representing their constituents, scrutinising the work of the Mayor and championing the needs of Londoners. We achieve this by delivering three main functions:
1. Dedicated Research and Support Officers act as stakeholder engagement specialists for the Labour Group, dealing with casework, diary management, and events.
2. Senior Researchers provide policy support for the Labour Group across areas such as economy, environment, fire, health, housing, policing, transport, etc.
3. Press Officers promote the work of the Labour Assembly Members through writing local and regional press releases, helping prepare our politicians for TV/radio interviews, and creating social media content.
About the role:
In this role, you will work as part of our Press Office. Alongside our Senior Press Officer, you'll be responsible for generating proactive stories for the Labour Assembly Members to promote the work they do to champion the interests of Londoners. This will include:
1. Drafting ideas and writing stories for local and regional newspapers.
2. Setting up TV or radio interviews and preparing briefings for Assembly Members.
3. Providing reactive quotes on breaking news stories.
4. Monitoring media coverage on issues impacting London.
5. Collaborating with our digital communications officer on our social media campaigns.
What your day will look like:
This is a busy role that is a combination of proactive work to generate exciting media stories and reactive work to respond to breaking news stories. Your day might look something like:
1. Having a short catch up at the start of the day with the Senior Press Officer and Digital Communications Officer to go through the press grid and plan stories for the day ahead.
2. Writing a local newspaper column for one of our Assembly Members.
3. Meeting with one of our Senior Researchers to plan press ideas for their policy area.
4. Attending a constituency visit with one of our Assembly Members to take photos and write a press release on the event for the local newspaper.
5. Writing a reactive quote for one of our Assembly Members on a breaking news announcement.
Skills, knowledge and experience:
To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
2. Understanding of current affairs, the political context of London Government, and the major issues facing the capital.
3. Evidence of working successfully in a similar role in a high-profile organisation or for high-profile people.
4. Ability to interact with a multiple and diverse range of stakeholders and a good understanding of the media in London.
5. Demonstrate commitment and understanding of the role of the GLA in promoting equality and working with diverse groups in developing the work required to advance the needs of Assembly Members.
How to apply:
If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:
1. Up to date CV.
2. Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria and competencies outlined in the advert.
Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the 'Additional Documents' section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.
Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. "CV - applicant name - 012345")
Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.
The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework
If you have questions about the role:
If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager, Karl Hyndman, would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at karl.hyndman@london.gov.uk.
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.
Assessment process:
Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel. If shortlisted, you'll be invited to an interview/assessment.
The interview/assessment date is: 17/02/2025
Advert Closing Date is Friday 17/01/25 at 23:59
Equality, diversity and inclusion:
London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part-time work as this role is open to job share.
Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.
Benefits:
GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.
In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days' annual leave, interest-free season ticket loan, interest-free bicycle loan, and a career average pension scheme.
Additional Information:
Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.
Job description can be found below:
Job Purpose:
1. Working to the Group Manager, to provide media and communications support for Labour Assembly Members in all matters relating to press.
2. To support the development and implementation of the media and communications strategy of the Labour Group.
Principal accountabilities:
1. To provide wide-ranging media support to Labour Assembly Members, seeking and exploiting opportunities to raise the profile of Labour Assembly Members to promote their work and support their roles as an Assembly Member.
2. To produce timely and well-written media releases, media statements, newsletters, articles, and constituency reports, to publication standard, on behalf of Assembly Members, with the support of the Senior Stakeholder and Communications Officer.
3. To contribute to the team's digital media work, working with the Digital Communications Officer, and produce outputs including material for online campaigns and social media activity, to publication standard.
4. To use political awareness and good communication skills to undertake a range of media and communications activities.
5. To act as a first, primary point of contact for Assembly Members for members of the press and media.
6. To keep up to date with developments in current affairs to provide proactive public affairs support to the Labour Group Members, including working with colleagues to identify questions for Mayor's Question Time arising from, and leading to, local, regional and strategic press campaigns.
7. To manage resources allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority's policies and code of Ethics and Standards; to realise the benefits of London's diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London's communities; to realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, participating in multi-discipline cross departmental and organisational group and task teams.
Person specification:
Technical requirements/experience/qualifications:
1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
2. Understanding of current affairs, the political context of London Government, and the major issues facing the capital.
3. Evidence of working successfully in a similar role in a high-profile organisation or for high-profile people.
4. Ability to interact with a multiple and diverse range of stakeholders and a good understanding of the media in London.
5. Ability to utilise the latest information and communication technologies and formats for media purposes. Proficient in the design and production of newsletters/articles/reports for Assembly Members. Some experience of using the program InDesign would be useful.
6. Demonstrate commitment and understanding of the role of the GLA in promoting equality and working with diverse groups in developing the work required to advance the needs of Assembly Members.
Behavioural competencies:
Communicating and Influencing:
... is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.
Level 2 indicators of effective performance:
1. Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders.
2. Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication.
3. Persuades others, using evidence-based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively.
4. Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way.
5. Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally.
Building and Managing Relationships:
... is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.
Level 2 indicators of effective performance:
1. Develops new professional relationships.
2. Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement.
3. Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action.
4. Fosters an environment where others feel respected.
5. Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals.
Planning and Organising:
... is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
Level 2 Indicators of Effective Performance:
1. Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables.
2. Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones.
3. Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work.
4. Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team's work is delivered to a high standard.
5. Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met.
Organisational Awareness:
... is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the GLA and shaping our approach accordingly.
Level 1 Indicators of Effective Performance:
1. Understands the structure and statutory responsibilities of the GLA.
2. Understands how own role and work contributes to team and organisational objectives.
3. Understands the role of the GLA, the Mayor and the Assembly in relation to Londoners.
4. Is sensitive to the culture and political context of the GLA and uses it to work effectively.
5. Treats GLA information as sensitive and confidential.
Stakeholder Focus:
... is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others' expectations.
Level 1 indicators of effective performance:
1. Listens to understand requirements without making assumptions.
2. Demonstrates an enthusiastic and 'can do attitude' to all requests.
3. Provides timely, accurate and personalised responses.
4. Provides a polite and helpful first point of contact for stakeholders.
5. Learns from feedback to improve personal service to others.
Responding to Pressure and Change:
... is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.
Level 1 indicators of effective performance:
1. Stays calm in pressurised and demanding situations.
2. Responds flexibly to changing circumstances.
3. Recognises when unable to cope and asks others for help.
4. Demonstrates openness to changing work priorities and deadlines.
5. Maintains personal well-being and achieves a balance between work and home life.
#J-18808-Ljbffr