Digital Communications Officer

Transport for London; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Digital Communications Officer to enhance the online presence of the Labour Group. This dynamic role involves crafting engaging digital content, managing social media campaigns, and collaborating with Assembly Members to promote their work effectively. You'll be at the forefront of shaping the narrative around key issues affecting London, ensuring that the voices of the Labour Assembly Members resonate with the public. If you're passionate about digital communications and want to make a tangible impact in a vibrant political environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in running online media campaigns is essential.
• Understanding of London government and current affairs is crucial.
• Proficiency in communication technologies and media formats is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead on digital content for social media and website.
• Support drafting press releases and media stories.
• Monitor social media for collaborative opportunities.

Skills

Online media campaigns

Current affairs knowledge

Political context understanding

Communication technologies

InDesign proficiency

Tools

Social media platforms

Video editing software

Newsletter design tools

Job description

Job Description - Digital Communications Officer (047422)

Organisation

Labour Group Support

Job

Administration

Position Type - Full Time

Job title: Digital Communications Officer

Requisition ID: 047422

Salary: £39,818 per annum

Grade: 6

Location: City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE

Contract type: Permanent

Closing Date: 10/01/2025

Team: Labour Group

Directorate: London Assembly and Secretariat

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

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, and transport.
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. Working with our Senior Press Officer, you’ll lead on our digital content, ensuring our social media channels and website reflect the work our Labour Assembly Members are doing to champion the interests of Londoners. You will also support the rest of the Press Office in drafting regional or local newspaper stories as required.

What your day will look like

This is a busy role that combines 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 Communications Officer to go through the press grid and plan stories for the day ahead.
2. Producing a video clip of one of our Assembly Members speaking at a London Assembly Committee.
3. Attending a constituency visit with one of our Assembly Members to record a video, edit the footage, and help them post this on social media.
4. Monitoring the social media content of key stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaborative work.

Skills, knowledge and experience

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

1. Experience and evidence of running online media campaigns.
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. Demonstrate commitment and understanding of the role of the GLA in promoting equality and working with diverse groups 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. 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.

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 [e-mail].

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: 03/02/2025.

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.

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.

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 purpose

To work as part of the London Assembly Labour Group press team and to support the Members in all matters relating to the press, with a specialism in digital communications. Key to this role will be to raise the online profile of the Members to promote their work.

Principal accountabilities

1. To contribute to, and implement, an online media strategy for the London Assembly Labour Group Members. To set up and manage Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other social media outlets for Members and to work with members on online campaigns.
2. To seek and exploit opportunities to raise the profile of Labour Members online to promote their work and support them in their roles as Assembly Members.
3. To provide wide-ranging media support to Assembly Members, the Press Team, and Group Manager as necessary. This will include drafting press releases, letters, and policy and constituency reports to publication standard and keeping an audit of coverage.
4. To act as the first point of contact for the allocated Assembly Member(s) for all people within and outside the organisation, representing the views and interests of the Member(s) in an effective and professional manner, and dealing with a wide range of internal and external people and organisations. This includes acting as a primary contact for members of the media.
5. To assist with the development and production of newsletters and other written communications for Members as directed by the Group Manager and Stakeholder and Communications Officer.
6. To keep up to date with developments in current affairs to provide proactive public affairs support to the London Assembly Labour Group Members, including working with colleagues to identify questions for Mayor’s Question Time arising from, and leading to, online and social media campaigns.
7. To act and 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 groups and task teams.

Key contacts

Labour Group Assembly Members; Labour Group Manager, Senior Press Officer, Communications Officer.

Accountable to: Group Manager

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

1. Experience and evidence of running online media campaigns.
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 utilise the latest information and communication technologies and formats for media purposes. Be proficient in the design and production of newsletters and reports for members. Some experience of using the program InDesign would be helpful.
5. Demonstrate commitment and understanding of the role of the GLA in promoting equality and working with diverse groups to advance the needs of Assembly Members.

Communicating and Influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

Building and Managing relationships

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Organisational Awareness

… is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the GLA and shaping our approach accordingly.

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.

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.

Research and Analysis

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion, and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Working Patterns

May occasionally be required to work out of office hours to respond to urgent media requests.