External Relations Officer

We are seeking to fill a new role with someone who is proactive and has previous experience in a communications and external relations role. A newly created role, you will work closely with the Head of External Relations creating and executing plans to promote and increase the awareness of the institute and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders.

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) is an educational research institute established to help improve later life outcomes. We are independent and an expert across all elements of the UK pension system. We contribute facts, analysis and commentary to help stakeholders, decision-makers and law-makers take informed policy positions and decisions on pensions and retirement income provision.

Reports to:                         Head of External Relations

Contract Type:                  Permanent

Responsibilities

• Assist with the development of the institute’s communications strategies: Work with management to create strategies to improve the institute's image and voice.
• Write content: Create press releases, newsletters, blogs, articles, social media posts and website copy.
• Simple design: Create graphics or infographics to be used on various platforms.
• Dissemination: Work with projects and assist with the release of outputs in its various forms to stakeholders. Ensure the copyright libraries are notified when research is published.
• Manage stakeholder relations: Build relationships with the media, parliamentarians, government officials and other stakeholders to promote the institute.
• Monitor communications: Monitor and respond to messages.
• Monitor external engagement: Maintain a record of the wider teams external engagement activities (events, presentations, representation on various boards).
• Measure impact: Record and evaluate the effectiveness of communication campaigns. Assist in the preparation of the annual report.
• Manage social media and website: Maintain the website and social media accounts.
• Ensure brand alignment: Make sure all outputs and content aligns with the institute’s brand identity. Assist with liaising with external suppliers – designers, website hosts etc.
• Contact database: Researching, maintaining and updating stakeholder contact lists.

Essential skills

• Experience in drafting correspondence to all audiences including government (MPs and officials) and other senior stakeholders.
• Experience in planning and delivering successful communication plans.   
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.   
• An ability to take and process complex information, address any gaps, and produce appropriate, clear and effective communication materials.
• A working understanding of media, digital, and external relations.
• Working knowledge and experience updating websites, social media platforms and using design software (Canva, Adobe Suite, Umbraco, Squarespace etc).
• An ability to take and process complex information, address any gaps, and produce appropriate, clear and effective communication materials.
• Experience in distilling long and complex documents into short summaries.  
• A track-record of building relationships with stakeholders. 
• A working knowledge of the UK’s political system including how government and Parliament operate and the ability to use this understanding in our external relations strategy. 
• A working knowledge of or understanding of the pensions landscape.
• An understanding of effective political, social and media monitoring, including the use of a range of digital tools and use of Parliamentary tools (e.g. Hansard) to support this. 
• A team player with good co-ordination skills, sharing and escalating opportunities, risks, and challenges where appropriate and liaising with colleagues.
• Ability to work flexibly in managing a range of activities and able to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Organised and good at prioritising often competing deadlines.

The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of the right to work in the UK and two referees.  One should be the current/most recent employer and/or prior employer but they will not be contacted without prior consent. The successful candidate will also need to maintain an independent point of view to fit with the PPI’s non-political, fact-based stance.

The PPI takes the security of your data seriously. It has internal policies and controls in place to ensure that your data is not lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed, and is not accessed except by our employees in the proper performance of their duties.

Location

We are a hybrid organisation and operate a remote working policy which means staff spend some time working in the office and some time working remotely. It is important that the successful candidate builds strong relationships across the team as a whole and with our stakeholders.  As most of our stakeholders are mainly based in London, there will be a strong case for the successful candidate being London based, or able to come to London as frequently as required. We therefore anticipate that the normal place of work will be at the PPI office in Central London.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build, develop and retain a talented workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences. We welcome and actively encourage applications from anyone who feels they’d be a good fit for our organisation, regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity or any other protected characteristics.

No contact from agencies.