Marketing & Communications Officer

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a long-term (chronic), fluctuating, neurological disease that causes symptoms affecting many body systems, more commonly the nervous and immune systems. ME affects an estimated 250,000 people in the UK, though research suggests there are roughly 1.3 million people living in the UK with ME or ME-like symptoms.

Action for M.E. is the only charity in the UK providing direct support, including healthcare services to children and adults with ME. We provide vital support services, campaign for change and invest in ground-breaking research to help put an end to the ignorance, injustice and neglect experienced by people with ME.

In this role, you will play a vital role in promoting the charity and its work and engaging with the ME community to ensure they can access the support and services they need; and that those around them have a better understanding of ME and its impact, including professionals, policy-makers, and the public.

You can choose to be home-based anywhere in the UK, work from our Bristol office, or a hybrid of the two.

Duties for the role include (this list is not exhaustive, please refer to our Recruitee page, by clicking 'Apply via Website', for the full job description and person specification):

Marketing & communications

• Assist with developing content to promote our work across the organisation, including the impact of our services, our policy and public affairs work, and our brilliant community fundraisers.
• Create content for, monitor and respond to comments and direct messages across our social media channels (Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and TikTok).
• Ensure that website content is regularly reviewed and updated, using SEO-optimised content.
• Engage positively with the ME community through our digital channels to improve support, reduce isolation, and increase awareness and understanding of ME and its impact; and to raise the profile of the charity.

Experience & knowledge

• Demonstrable experience in a marketing and/or communications role, ideally within a charity.
• Demonstrable experience of website content management (understanding of SEO preferable, previous use of WordPress also preferable).
• Demonstrable experience of managing a range of social media channels.
• Demonstrable experience of sourcing, writing and scheduling engaging online content across a range of social media channels.
• Demonstrable experience of creating engaging graphics for social media channels (experience of Canva preferable).
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with an online community, ideally within a disability or health context.
• Knowledge and understanding of the impact of long-term health conditions such as ME.
• Demonstrable experience of reporting, measuring impact and outcomes and using this to inform your work.

All the following person specification criteria are essential unless otherwise stated.

• Educated to A level standard or equivalent experience in a similar role is preferred, however no one specific qualification is required. 
• Ability to source and produce dynamic, engaging, outcomes-focused content, tailored to the needs of our audiences, taking a story-telling approach.
• Ability to set objectives and work creatively towards achieving these.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to use audio and video recording and editing software to produce high quality digital content (desired but not essential).
• Ability to use own initiative, work independently and to work well in a team.
• Ability to engage online with stakeholders at all levels, to build relationships and create a sense of community.
• Strong MS Office skills, including Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software; experience of media monitoring software (such as Hootsuite) desired but not essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent planning skills.