Digital Communications Officer for the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group

The Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group are looking for a Digital Communications Officer 

Location: Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh

Hours: Full-time; 35 hours

Salary: £33,500 to £37,163 (dependent on skills and experience)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative and highly motivated individual to join the communications team supporting the parliamentary work of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group in the position of Digital Communications Officer.  

The successful applicant will be part of an effective and inclusive team focused on delivering a clear communications strategy on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group. This role is responsible for designing and delivering high impact visual content to help us communicate online. Working with the press and policy teams the Digital Communications Officer will be expected to make a significant contribution to the crafting and disseminating of online Parliamentary communications for the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group. The successful individual will have a broad range of design and visual communications skills and will be expected to deliver distinct and engaging content over a variety of platforms.

The role will be demanding but also gratifying, working in a fast paced and constantly evolving political environment, as part of a supportive and highly motivated team.  Some weekend work will be required as part of an on-call rota.

Ideally applicants will have a background in design, video production or content generation. Prior experience of working in a political environment is not a requirement for this job - we’re more interested in seeing how you communicate political ideas to a broad audience. We welcome applications from recent graduates and those without formal training, and ask that you send examples of recent graphic or video work (see “ The Selection Process” below).

Responsibilities

Implementing online communications activity for Scottish Labour MSPs and their offices across all social media channels. 

• Confirming all MSPs have online profiles on the main social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
• Establishing creative, high-quality content; specifically designing graphics, and video content for MSPs to use on their Parliamentary website and across their social media platforms.
• Identifying creative and clear ways of communicating policy positions, and responses to national political developments across all social media platforms.

Ensuring Scottish Labour MSPs are aware of the current and upcoming trends in social media and are well versed on the most effective forms of digital communications.

• Working with the communications team to train and support MSPs offices in developing a social media strategy which encourages greater engagement with constituents, community organisations, and members of the media. 
• Interacting with colleagues to ensure all MSP offices are regularly utilising digital platforms to share the core messages of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group.
• Issuing technical advice and support to MSP office staff in the creation of content for Parliamentary websites and social media; including the production of video clips from online footage of Parliamentary speeches, adding subtitles to videos to allow for inclusive sharing of communications, supporting the designing of graphics and formatting content for use on various social media platforms.

Requirements

You will:

• Be expected to demonstrate an in depth understanding of the effective use of social media, and how to communicate effectively with target audiences.

• Have excellent design or videography skills and a willingness to pick up new creative skill sets. 

• Be familiar with design software, in particular the Adobe Creative Suite, for producing content in addition to experience in website creation, video production and editing 

• Be expected to have good judgement and excellent attention to detail.

• Be able to work well in a time sensitive and high-pressured environment, managing workloads effectively with competing demands on time.

• Be expected to work productively and proactively as a member of a team but also demonstrate the ability to work on own initiative.

• Have the creative drive, commitment, and expertise to produce accurate, engaging and influential online communications.

For any questions about the role please contact adele.black@parliament.scot

To apply, click on "send CV" and upload your CV and supporting statement as one document.  When you've clicked "send CV" use the text box to provide wording for the cover email.   Your supporting statement should outline how you meet the requirements detailed above for this role.  Applications that do not include a supporting statement may not be considered.