Media Officer

Liberal Democrats; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A major UK political party is looking for a Senior Media Officer to lead the development of proactive communication plans and secure impactful media coverage. The ideal candidate will have a track record in journalism or communications, strong networking skills, and the ability to manage complex narratives. This position is critical in shaping the party's national media output and requires exceptional written and verbal communication skills in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in journalism, public relations, or communications.
• Exceptional ability to write compelling narratives quickly.
• Deep understanding of the national media landscape and political context.

Responsibilities

• Lead proactive communications plans for impactful media coverage.
• Advise spokespeople and leverage social media for coverage.
• Spot emerging trends and maintain the communications grid.

Skills

Resilience

Networking with journalists

Creative content generation

Written communication

Verbal communication

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Liberal Democrat media team, supporting the record 72 Liberal Democrat MPs elected at the General Election. The Senior Media Officer will play a critical, leading role in shaping and delivering the party's national media output. Reporting to the Head of Media, the role holder will be responsible for developing and implementing proactive communication plans that support the party's spokespeople, MPs and peers in securing high‑impact, favourable national coverage. You will use your contacts and judgement to generate impactful stories, manage complex narratives, and mitigate media risks.

The candidate will be a resilient, enthusiastic, and ambitious communications professional seeking an opportunity to influence political news and debate significantly. You will thrive in a fast‑paced environment and have a proven track record of building and maintaining a strong network of contacts with leading journalists across national media. You'll understand the modern media landscape, its interplay with social media, and generate creative ideas for content to convey our message effectively. Your background will likely be in journalism, public relations, or communications. You will be an autonomous self‑starter with a deep understanding of the national news agenda and current affairs.

You will be motivated by developing and successfully pitching impactful stories to national media outlets. You must demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, the ability to translate complex policy issues into compelling narratives rapidly, and have a proven capacity to manage multiple, competing long and short‑term strategic tasks effectively.

The ideal candidate will sympathise with the aims and values of the Liberal Democrats. You will gain an excellent understanding of UK politics, the opportunities and challenges facing the Liberal Democrats in the current political landscape, and the methods the party can employ to maximise its presence in Parliament for a positive media impact across a range of channels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of proactive communications plans to secure high‑impact coverage promoting the party's work and national campaign priorities.
• Act as an expert adviser to spokespeople, MPs, and their offices, identifying and creating opportunities to generate influential national media coverage, and leveraging social media opportunities.
• Proactively spot emerging trends and risks, and use strategic planning to maintain and update the communications grid and ensure consistent, high‑quality coverage.
• Maintain strong relationships with a wide range of journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms.
• Take part in the media team's out‑of‑hours duty system, including handling breaking news situations and providing advice when required.
• Contribute to the overall goals of and professional development within the Liberal Democrat media team.

How to Apply

• A copy of your CV, including your complete work history
• A covering letter, no more than one A4 page in length, indicating clearly how your experience and skills meet the criteria stated in the job, key responsibilities, and person specification (please put your name at the top of the letter)
• A completed diversity monitoring form (linked)

We will review applications as they are received and reserve the right to appoint before the closing date.

Please note: We will not be able to employ you if you are not eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to obtain a work permit on your behalf.

Applicants are encouraged to inform us if any reasonable adjustments are needed during any part of the recruitment process.

The Party believes it is essential to foster equity, equality, diversity and inclusion within our workforce. We want our employees to thrive in an environment where everyone is welcome and supported to reach their full potential. It is essential to celebrate what makes us unique and to feel valued, appreciated and free to be ourselves.