Salary: £25-30k per annum (including London weighting) DOE

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Parliamentary Office, Constituency Office, Green Party National Office

Contract: Fixed term, to end of current Parliamentary term

Closing Date: 31st March 2014

This is a challenging and exciting role which focuses on the Green Party’s first ever UK parliamentary seat and contributes towards furthering both her profile in the constituency and the Party’s national profile. As such, you will be working in the parliamentary office of Caroline Lucas MP, her constituency office in Brighton Pavilion and partly in the Party’s head office within the national media team.

MAIN AIMS/OUTLINE OF THE POST:

You will:

• Work with colleagues in the MPs Westminster and constituency offices to effectively communicate the MP’s work to a wide audience, including via broadcast, print and social media.
• Carry out research into local, regional, national and international issues as required, and be able to brief the MP on relevant issues
• Work as part of the Green Party’s national media team, including building relations with journalists, drafting press material and organising campaigning activities – overseen by the Party’s External Communications Coordinator
• Be a self starter who is able to work independently and liaise confidently with senior level contacts

RESPONSIBLE TO: Caroline Lucas MP via Cath Miller, Chief of Staff, & to Green Party External Communications Coordinator via Green Party Chief Executive.

DUTIES

• Liaise on behalf of the MP with relevant groups/personnel at Westminster, within the Constituency, as part of the Green Party’s national media team, and with external organizations and the general public
• Contribute to the development of the MP and the Party’s working relationships with key national and local media contacts
• Respond effectively, courteously and independently to routine correspondence and enquiries from the media, lobbyists and pressure groups , including prioritising and sometimes referring enquiries to other elected representatives
•  Draft high quality press releases, quotes and articles for the MP and, on occasion, other Party spokespeople or elected representatives
• Advise the MP on policy issues and all media appearances
• Develop and maintain strategic forward planning systems; contribute to the Party’s forward planning system as required
• Deliver proactive planned communications about the MPs priorities and balance this work with the high volume of reactive work that’s typical of a fast paced Westminster office
• Monitor local and national media coverage and prepare reports
• Adhere to the Data Protection Act principles and respect the confidentiality of data at all times
• Competent use of IT including Microsoft Office, Outlook email and ModX website platform to draft correspondence and reports, undertake research and contribute to digital communications including social media and relevant Party websites
• Contribute to the provision of the Party’s duty press officer service outside normal office hours; attend Party conferences
• Spend an average of a day a week supporting the national media team
• Any other duties related to the post and appropriate to the pay band as directed and agreed by the MP/Chief of Staff

Internal liaison

• Work closely with the MP’s Chief of Staff; the National Party Press team; the External Communications Coordinator and other members of the national executive committee
• Work closely with national, regional and local levels of the Party's media operation, including parliamentary, assembly and local authority contacts
• Regularly keep Party members informed of the MP’s work and associated media activity
• Contribute to the development and implementation of communications strategies in national party office, in the offices of other elected Green members and in Brighton and Hove

General office duties

• Contribute to the supervision of volunteers
• Attend occasional meetings outside office hours
• Contribute to the smooth running of the national and Westminster office in general

To apply complete an application form and Equal Opportunities form found at the bottom of this page and email to recruitment@greenparty.org.uk or print and post to Recruitment c/o Green Party, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street LONDON EC2A 4LT

• Application Form
• Equal Opportunities Form