Communications Officer

Institute of Physics; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading scientific organization in the UK is seeking a Communications Officer to support its media and digital strategies. The role requires strong writing skills, experience in media relations, and a passion for science. Key benefits include flexible working and generous leave. Ideal candidates should be confident communicators comfortable with digital and traditional media, and possess a willingness to engage with complex scientific topics.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme – up to 12% contribution

Private medical insurance

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience dealing with the media and confident writing.
• Experience using social media and developing digital content.
• An understanding and sensitivity for the policy and political environment.

Responsibilities

• Work with the media as a point of content.
• Support digital and social strategy.
• Engage with external channels for communication.

Skills

Media relations

Social media development

Writing skills

Digital content creation

Job description

What will I be doing?

• Working with the media as a point of reactive and proactive content, supporting and advising colleagues on their projects and providing a full communications service for IOP policy work.
• Supporting our digital and social strategy, filming content for social media, and helping with our online engagement.
• Supporting out of hours and monitoring work as required, playing a full role in horizon scanning and planning within communications and marketing.

Projects I work on may include:

• IOP policy work and influencing programme
• IOP campaigns and advocacy
• Department support – building relationships and developing a proactive body of work within a specific IOP “patch.”

Who will I work with?

• Comms and marketing team
• Wider advocacy team at the IOP
• Senior colleagues and IOP members – note that the content of job ads is posted by recruiters, and we aim to resolve reported issues and improve ad quality.

We are looking for a communications officer who can help us deliver this mission by working with a full range of external channels.

You will have a passion for telling powerful, important stories and enjoy pitching to some of the UK’s highest profile journalists. You are a quick, accurate and confident writer with experience responding to the news agenda and advising colleagues. You’re comfortable creating video and social media content as well as traditional media, and familiar with commissioning digital communications. An understanding and passion for science is an advantage, but a willingness to learn and engage, and the ability to convey how physics transforms our world to scientific and non‑scientific audiences, are essential.

In the last 12 months the IOP communications team has led the UK in celebrating the UNESCO International Year of Quantum, produced agenda‑shaping policy work on the need for specialist physics teachers, and raised the alarm about financial challenges facing university physics departments. We are a busy, ambitious team that offers a stimulating environment for personal and professional growth.

Key Qualifications

• Experience dealing with the media and confident writing
• Experience using social media and developing digital content
• An understanding and sensitivity for the policy and political environment

Nice to Have

• A background in a similar organisation to the IOP
• Understanding and grounding in scientific principles, terms, and language
• Experience working on public advocacy campaigns

The Institute of Physics is an open and inclusive organisation that welcomes and celebrates diversity. We are a charity committed to ensuring physics benefits society, and we promote a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. We offer a “work anywhere” policy, competitive salaries, professional development, generous benefits and a flexible working model.

Benefits

• Excellent pension scheme – up to 12% company contribution
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, dental insurance, health care cash plan via salary sacrifice, eye‑care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long‑service awards, employee assistance programme
• Floating bank holidays – choose where to take your holiday throughout the year
• Generous annual leave (25 days starting as a standard)
• Flexible working