Communications Officer

FIT makes grants to organisations and provides individual fellowships for work that promotes sustainable transport as a universal basic right, reduces the environmental impact of our transport system, and reduces the dominance of the car in society. The Foundation also makes loans, repayable grants and equity investments to selected projects and innovations. For further information about our work and examples of our projects, please visit our website.

The Communications Officer will manage the Charity's communications activities including PR/press, the website and social media, as well as helping organise various events. We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual who cares passionately about achieving our aims. The role offers an opportunity to help shape the Foundation’s priorities and strategy, to be part of a movement for change, and to identify and work with some exceptional individuals and organisations. 

 JOB DESCRIPTION

      1)      PR/ press:

• Promoting FIT and its work to a wider audience

• Publishing and promoting the work of FIT’s grantees, fellows and investees using blogs, social media, newsletters and press releases:

  • Communicating with grantees, fellows and investees to obtain relevant information

  • Drafting news articles for the FIT website and social media

  • Producing a quarterly newsletter detailing new grant awards, grantee news and upcoming events

  • Producing press releases and media articles

  • Liaising with external press and print media organisations

  • Creative use of other media as the post holder sees fit

• Creating a digital catalogue/ archive of all FIT-funded projects, fellowships and investments

• Adding FIT to directories of grant-giving organisations to allow us to be found by a wider audience.

2)      Website: 

• Maintaining and updating FIT’s website (in conjunction with the Executive Secretary & Grants Manager)

• Producing grant impact summaries for the individual project pages on the website using information provided in final project reports

• Adding missing past/ present funded projects to the website to create a complete online record of everything FIT has funded.

3)      Social media: 

• Managing FIT’s existing social media accounts including LinkedIn and X

• Setting up new social media accounts as necessary eg Facebook

• Drafting a social media policy for FIT.

4)      Events/ networking:

• Supporting the organisation of in person events and webinars to showcase the projects, fellowships and social investments which FIT supports, and to enable networking amongst those supported by FIT (in conjunction with the Executive Secretary & Grants Manager and Events Manager)

• Creating virtual sub-groups of grantees and fellows to further enable networking opportunities.

5)    Other: 

• Opportunity for drafting a communications strategy

• Other communications tasks from time to time as deemed reasonable by the trustees and Executive Secretary & Grants Manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Communications Officer will actively and passionately promote the work of the Foundation and will be aligned with the aims of FIT, which are public transport as a universal basic right, reducing the environmental impact of our transport system, and reducing the dominance of the car in society.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent copywriting skills and experience in drafting copy for technical and non-technical audiences in a variety of formats, including web, social media, news articles, press releases, formal reports, etc (E)

• Experience in web editing using WordPress (E)

• Ability to work and liaise with a wide range of people (E)

• Accuracy and excellent attention to detail (E)

• Ability to work independently under own initiative (E)

• High level organisational and administrative skills (E)

• IT skills: competent in the use of Google Workspace, Zoom and social media, etc (E)

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of working in a communications role (E)

• Experience of working with social media (E)

• Experience of working with mainstream media (E)

• Familiarity with the charitable, not-for-profit or campaigning sector (E)

• Experience of working within a committee environment, for example, with a board of trustees or elected members (D)

• Interest in and support for sustainable transport (E)

• Knowledge of the sustainable transport sector (D)

E = Essential; D = Desirable

To apply for the role, please submit your CV and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides A4) outlining your relevant skills and experience, together with details of how you fit the requirements of the person specification. The deadline for applications is 23:55 on Friday 14th February 2025.