Campaigns Officer – Job Description

Background

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is the umbrella body representing nearly 1,400 independent schools educating more than 540,000 children. ISC schools are diverse, ranging from well-known boarding schools to non-selective day schools serving local communities. The great majority of children in UK independent schools are in ISC schools, allowing us to speak for the sector as a whole. It is strictly independent of all political parties and acts to support member schools in the interests of all children.

ISC’s team is friendly and collaborative. We are flexible in our approach and warmly welcome colleagues of any background or profile who can contribute to our wide range of interesting activities, working closely with others in a positive and good-humoured atmosphere.

The team:

This role sits jointly between the ISC communications team and the policy and public affairs team. The Campaigns Officer will report to the Head of Policy (also Deputy CEO). Recruitment will be for a fixed term contract to April 2025.

The ISC communications team is made up of the Head of Media and Communications, the Communications Officer and the Assistant Communications Officer. The team is responsible for the organisation’s external and internal communications, including press engagement, publications, social media, and communicating with member schools. It is tasked with building, developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders and members of the media, as part of the ISC’s efforts to promote and protect the sector.

The ISC policy and public affairs team is made up of the Head of Policy (also Deputy CEO), and the Public Affairs and Policy Officer. The team is responsible for engagement with government, parliament and political stakeholders, and working with schools and member associations on policy development. It is tasked with building, developing and maintaining strong relationships with politicians of all parties, our member schools and key stakeholders across the education sector.

Main Purpose of the job

Independent schools remain firmly in the political and media spotlight as we approach the next general election. The Campaigns Officer will provide additional capacity to both our public affairs and communications teams as we gear up for a busy period. The ISC’s focus will be on promoting the good work done and education provided by our schools.

This multi-skilled role calls for a self-starter with strong written and verbal communication skills. Planning and organisation is key, as well as an ability to adapt to changing priorities or situations.

Person Specification

• Compelling, credible and confident communicator.
• Comfortable dealing with a range of internal and external stakeholders, often at senior level.
• Good working knowledge of parliamentary and Whitehall processes.
• Knowledge and experience of using social media in a professional capacity.
• Used to dealing with complex and changing issues in a challenging environment and able to respond flexibly and quickly as priorities change.
• Excellent planning and project management skills, with ability to prioritise and meet demanding deadlines.
• Experience of working in a political or communications role is desirable (but not essential).
• Knowledge of – and interest in - education policy would be an advantage.

Specific responsibilities

Communications

• Social monitoring: analysing conversations and trends about and around the sector, picking up lines of argument and identifying new or prominent voices in the debate. Tracking ISC’s social media reach and reporting data back to the senior leadership team.
• Social assets: designing, commissioning and deploying infographics and videos that showcase ISC data and activity.
• Reactive and proactive social media activity: responding to social media queries and mentions, inviting more engagement across platforms and getting ISC involved in the conversation.
• Individual school support: helping schools with communications by proactively reaching out about ISC projects or responding to queries as they arise.
• Support the other members of the communications team with projects when necessary, including media enquiries, press releases, and finding case studies and expert commentary – often to tight deadlines.

Public Affairs

• Support schools on local political engagement with MPs
• Maintain political tracker of national and local engagement with MPs and Peers.
• Review output from ISC’s political monitoring service – highlighting key issues and distributing internally.
• Help prepare and draft ISC briefing papers.
• Write background briefings on Parliamentarians ahead of meetings; and more generally help gather political intelligence.
• Support campaign work in run-up to election.
• Support members of the policy and public affairs team with other projects as necessary.

Other details

Contract type: Fixed term to April 2025
Salary: £25,000 - £28,000 depending on experience
Other benefits: Hybrid office working.

To apply

Please send covering letter and CV to jess.harling@isc.co.uk.

Closing date for applications is 26 May 2023 at 23.59. Please note: Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.