About Demos

Demos is a highly respected cross-party think tank with a unique approach to making policy to solve our long term problems. Building on nearly 30 years of creativity, ideas and impact, Demos is working to shape a more collaborative democracy, in which power is devolved, citizens participate in policy making, and together as a nation we find answers to the challenges of our century.

Our work focuses on: 

• Public Service Reform, to liberate citizens and public servants and prevent problems
• A Citizen Economy, where people, businesses, charities and government work together to achieve growth that works for people as well as profits
• More Trustworthy Technology, in which technological progress aligns with the needs and values of citizens
• A more Collaborative Democracy, in which politicians, experts and citizens partner to tackle the challenges facing our country

About the role

Are you an innovative communicator, energised by the opportunity to work in the heart of Westminster on the big political challenges of our time? If you bring compelling storytelling skills, excellent media networks and a creative, entrepreneurial approach, we would love to hear from you.

At a time when political, social and economic challenges are growing in the UK and abroad, the stories Demos is here to tell – of the power of democracy, citizen voice and radical new approaches to technology, public services and the economy – have never been more important. This is a career-defining opportunity to play a key role in shaping the voice of one of the UK’s most dynamic and influential think tanks, as we enter an exciting new phase of growth.

You will report to the Director of Policy and Impact, and will be responsible for designing and delivering a compelling communications strategy to grow Demos’ profile, reach and external impact. You will be excited by the opportunity to work on some of the most pressing and complex policy challenges, such as national renewal, growth and mission-led government, ensuring Demos’ voice is heard by the audiences that matter most to us, including MPs, journalists, civil society organisations, and industry.

Line managing our Content and Production Officer to provide high-quality design and content production support across our project work, you will be experienced working across media, socials and in-house channels (e.g. newsletters) to create and respond to opportunities for impact. A skilled storyteller, you will write, edit, coordinate and publish content across multiple channels, ensuring consistent, distinctive tone of voice and strong and clear narrative in the crowded communications spaces we work in.

You will bring keen understanding of the power of brand, including visual identity, to drive impact, and will be confident using data and analytics to inform and improve our communications strategy.

What you’ll be doing

You will work with the Director of Policy and Impact to develop and deliver an impactful communications strategy to ensure the proactive and reactive promotion of Demos’ work across the media, socials and other channels.

Media

• Act as a first point of contact for media enquiries, ensuring Demos is able to maximise both proactive and reactive influencing opportunities.
• Horizon scan, identifying appropriate media outlets, timings and nature of approaches to launch the varied range of Demos research across press and broadcast.
• Write and distribute press releases, blogs and statements as needed.
• Develop a network and database of media, politics and public affairs contacts.
• Improve Demos’ visibility by strategically securing media coverage both for and in between research report launches.
• Support and brief spokespeople, and arrange media training for staff as required.
• Monitor press and media coverage and keep the team informed and updated.
• Work across the Demos team to advise on communications strategy for project work, forming part of the core project team as appropriate.

Digital

• Support the Content and Production Officer to continuously improve the Demos website and digital presence.
• Develop and support the Content and Production Officer to deliver an impactful social media strategy.
• Monitor the performance of digital content using analytics tools.

Brand

• Support Demos’ brand management initiatives.
• Help maintain and build Demos’ reputation as a champion of people, ideas, and democracy.
• Support the public profile development of the Chief Executive and research team.
• Contribute to the intellectual capital of Demos via blogs, staff meetings and away days and by supporting colleagues as required.
• Identify and manage areas of reputational risk.

Other

• Line management of the Content and Production Officer.
• Help market and publicise influential events and research publications, supporting with the livestreaming of events where appropriate.
• Provide creative, editorial and operational support for projects across Demos.

What you’ll need to be successful  

The types of knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for are below. We welcome a range of applications which include at least some of these attributes.

Skills

• Able to capture complex research findings to present to a variety of audiences, using accessible and impactful language for media consumption.
• Excellent written communication skills, able to confidently copy-write and edit under pressure while maintaining consistent attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to build and manage fruitful relationships with information-rich, time-poor senior stakeholders.
• Highly organised and able to manage a varied workload, such as the planning and execution of numerous simultaneous research report launches.

Knowledge 

• Retains knowledge of and active interest in politics, policy making and journalism –  keeping abreast of relevant political debates.
• Good understanding of social media and website analytics.

Experience

• Experience of working in a policy environment, think-tank or related charity
• Has demonstrable experience of producing high quality, creative content for a variety of media channels including Linkedin and Bluesky.
• Experience using MailChimp, Eventbrite, WordPress, Microsoft Office/G-Suite and media monitoring sites.
• Experience managing proactive and reactive media opportunities.
• Existing media connections in the political/policy space (desirable).

Behaviours

• An enthusiastic, entrepreneurial, proactive and tenacious person with good judgment
• Highly collaborative in approach to working with colleagues and external partners
• A commitment to centring diversity, inclusion, equity and justice in your work and across all external affairs activity
• A passion for the kind of politics we want to promote, coupled with an open mind and inclusive approach to working with people whose ideas and opinions differ