Salary: £11.55 per hour (The IWGB has a flat wage policy of London Living Wage + £1 per hour, with increases every year in November)

Timescale: 3 days (21hrs) per week

Benefits: 23 days holiday per year including bank holidays (38 days pro rata), 13% employer pension contribution.

Reporting to: Head of Communications and Media

To apply: Send a copy of your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role to sebastienflais@iwgb.co.uk

Application deadline: 23:59 on 26 August

About the role

We are looking for a press officer to join our communications team. The press officer plays a vital role for the union, not only by helping shape and execute communications strategies for individual campaigns, but also by ensuring that the IWGB’s wider strategic objectives are advanced through clear messaging in the media and social media.

Most importantly, the press officer will help amplify the voices of members, by telling their stories, but also by giving them the means and confidence to communicate effectively about their experiences.

Your responsibilities will include writing press releases, pitching stories, managing relationships with journalists, monitoring IWGB media coverage, ghost writing comment pieces, assisting with social media and helping train our rank and file reps.

The press officer should be comfortable working to tight deadlines and managing several tasks at the same time. You should have an excellent command of written and spoken English and an ability to write clear concise copy.

Key responsibilities

  • Writing and sending press releases to relevant media
  • Pitching stories to the press and broadcast media
  • Dealing with media inquiries and requests for comment
  • Monitoring the IWGB’s media coverage
  • Ghost writing comment pieces for members and officers
  • Assisting in running the IWGB’s social media accounts
  • Helping the head of communications and media develop effective comms strategies by liaising with branch officials and activists
  • Creating and maintaining relationships with journalists
  • Training members and activists

Person specification (Essential)

  • At least one year’s experience in journalism, communications, media relations or a role that incorporates these skills.
  • A burning passion to fight against injustices
  • An ability to write clear, concise copy to tight deadlines
  • A capacity to manage multiple priorities
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English
  • Good IT skills

Person specification (Preferred)

  • Experience shooting and editing video and/or photo
  • Experience clipping media content or creating social media content
  • Knowledge of UK employment law
  • Knowledge or experience in the trade union movement

Inteviews will be conducted on the morning of 9 September and afternoon of 11 September

About us:

The IWGB is the leading union for precarious workers in the UK. Founded by a handful of Latin American cleaners in 2012, it now has over 5000 members working across a number of sectors. It has led campaigns and/or launched landmark lawsuits against employers such as Uber, Deliveroo, Addison Lee, Ernst & Young, The University of London, The Doctors Laboratory and others. The union has a flat wage policy, where all employees, including the General Secretary and President, make the same hourly wage of London Living Wage + £1 (£11.55).