Communications Officer

LeedsGraphicDesigners.co.uk; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government institution in London is looking for a Press Officer to work with Assembly Members, drafting press releases and responding to media inquiries. The ideal candidate should have excellent writing skills and a strong understanding of London's political landscape. This role is hybrid, involving up to 3 days of office work weekly and includes a competitive benefits package like 30 days of annual leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

30 days annual leave

Interest-free season ticket loan

Interest-free bicycle loan

Career average pension scheme

Qualifications

• Ability to produce timely and well‑written media releases and statements.
• Good understanding of the political context of London Government.
• Demonstrate commitment to promote equality and work with diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Plan news content with the Senior Press Officer and draft press releases.
• Respond to journalist inquiries and draft local newspaper columns.
• Generate stories related to London Assembly Members.

Skills

Timely media releases

Understanding of current affairs

Knowledge of national media

Proactive public affairs support

Commitment to equality

Job description

London Assembly and Secretariat

The London Assembly scrutinises the Mayor's activities by questioning the Mayor about their decisions. The Assembly also investigates issues of importance to London.

There are 25 Assembly Members, elected every four years at the same time as the Mayor. The Secretariat works for the Assembly to support its activities.

Communications Team

The Communications Team supports the work of the Assembly through the press office, social media, publicity and events.

About the Labour Group

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

• Dedicated Research and Support Officers act as stakeholder engagement specialists for the Labour Group, dealing with casework, diary management and events.
• Senior Researchers provide policy support for the Labour Group across areas such as economy, environment, fire, health, housing, policing and transport.
• 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. Working with our Senior Press Officer you'll plan news content and write press releases on stories that showcase the work our Labour Assembly Members are doing to champion the interests of Londoners. You can also expect to answer inquiries from journalists on the political events of the day and draft local newspaper columns for Assembly Members.

This role is based at City Hall, in the Royal Docks (Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE).

What your day will look like

Role: 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:

• 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
• drafting a local column for one of the Assembly Members
• meeting with the Assembly Member and Senior Researcher to discuss your idea for an upcoming press release
• writing a reactive quote after a journalist contacts you asking for a quote on the top story of the day.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Ability to produce timely and well‑written media releases and media statements
• Understanding of current affairs and the political context of London Government
• Good understanding of media at national level and in London
• Provide proactive public affairs support to politicians or high‑profile figures
• Demonstrate commitment to promote equality and working with diverse groups

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5 MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the CV and Cover Letters 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).

As part of GLAs continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

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 atkarl.hyndman[at]london.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment[at]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: week commencing 6th January 2026.

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 under‑represented 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.

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam[at]london.gov.uk.