PR and Communications Officer

Key details

Application closing date: Sunday 26 January 2025, 23:59 GMT
Start date: As soon as possible
Reports to: Head of Communications
Contract: Fixed term to 31 December 2025
Hours: Part time 60% (22.5 hours per week)
Salary: £22,232/€25,783/$27,842 to £26,185/€30,367/$32,792 actual for 60% hours (£37,054/€42,972/$46,403 to £43,642/€50,612/$54,653 full time equivalent)
Location: Home-based and globally flexible (subject to contractual ability). We currently have employment contracting arrangements within France, Germany, Israel, Spain and the UK otherwise alternative contracting arrangements will be made. Candidates must have the right to work in their country of residence.

About the Tax Justice Network

The Tax Justice Network is an independent international organisation dedicated to high- level research, analysis and advocacy around international tax and financial regulation. We analyse and explain the harmful impacts of tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax competition, and support the engagement of citizens, civil society organisations and policymakers towards a more just tax system. We pursue systemic changes that address the international inequality in the distribution of taxing rights between countries; the national inequalities – including gender inequalities – that arise from poor tax policies; and the national and international obstacles to progressive national tax policies and effective financial regulation. The Tax Justice Network is supported by grants from Norad, the European Union, Open Society Foundations and others. We are a virtual organisation, with staff working from home across multiple countries and continents.

Role Description 

The PR and Communications Officer will be part of the communications team at the Tax Justice Network which is led by the Head of Communications, who this post will report into, and includes the Content and Communications Officer, the Creative Strategist/Podcaster and the Podcast Producer. The team leads and delivers the Tax Justice Network’s communications, including the organisation’s media work, blog, website, social media and newsletters.

The primary functions of the PR and Communications Officer role will be to contribute to the organisation’s media advocacy by working with colleagues to ideate, develop and publish compelling messaging and narratives around the organisation’s research and advocacy, and by delivering the day-to-day duties of the press office. Another key function of the role is to edit and proofread content generated by colleagues, including reports, blogs and other materials. A smaller share of the role is dedicated to carrying out and supporting with day-to-day “core” communications work, such as maintaining content on our website and contributing to our content planner. These general communications duties are flexibly shared across the communications team to enable team members to support each other’s workloads.

The communications team is a busy team in a fast moving and agile organisation. The communications team works closely with teams, individuals and partners across the organisation, supporting the planning, development and publication of all external outputs. Therefore, you need to be self-reliant and a top multi-tasker, who enjoys independent writing as well as supporting colleagues with developing and polishing their work into the best possible shape. You will need to be able to provide constructive feedback to colleagues on their work in an encouraging and respectful manner that helps develop skillsets. Given the nature of the work, you will need to have an exceptional eye for detail.

The Tax Justice Network is a virtual organisation with all the team working remotely. You therefore need to be self-motivated and comfortable working alone. Alongside being thorough, diligent and independent you should have strength and confidence to judge when to reach out to colleagues to assist and support.

Key Responsibilities 

Media and messaging

• Work with the Head of Communications and colleagues to identify and create compelling stories, headlines and messaging around our research and advocacy, and to identify and target media opportunities and moments.
• Write and publish proactive and reactive press releases and statements.
• Write and place op-eds in leading media outlets to boost the visibility and support the aims of our research and advocacy.
• Develop messaging and copy about complex and technical economic issues that is easy to understand for non-specialists, resonates with our target audiences and is line with our organisation’s voice and views.
• Take on the day-to-day duties of the press office, including responding to, signposting and liaising media enquiries.
• Support a roster of media spokespersons with messaging and talking points, and with delivering mock interview training and providing useful resources.
• Maintain and develop relationships with journalists and keep up-to-date our journalist database and CRM.
• Engage with and help boost the visibility of partners’ and allies’ media profiles and activities.

Proofreading and editing

• Proofread and edit blogs, reports and research materials to ensure clarity, accessibility, accuracy, appropriateness, flow and structure of content, alignment with organisational voice and views, as well as spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax.
• Make sure content adheres to house style guide, branding and referencing style. Compile and update style guides when required.
• Invite and liaise with guest bloggers and proofread and edit their content for our blog.

Monitoring

• Use our media monitoring tools to monitor and research relevant media activity, to record data on our media performance and towards our funding deliverables
• Use monitoring data to inform and improve our communications work and planning

Communications

• Work with Communications team colleagues on campaigns, publication launches and events, and support with our day-to-day work in general, including maintaining and updating content on our websites
• Work with the communications team to ensure a holistic approach to our communications and to achieve our strategic objectives together
• Contribute to our communications planning, and add to and help maintain our content planner, making sure content is published in a timely manner
• Work with the communications team to develop and maintain communications resources like the audience library, house style guide, branded templates and so on
• Support colleagues with accessing and uploading content to our website, and train colleagues to able to do so independently when needed
• Support the Content and Communications officer and Head of Communications with social media activities and content generation when needed

Person Specification 

Skills and experience

• Experience in PR and communications, or similar roles.
• Experience in media work on social, economic or policy issues, or proven ability to grasp and write compellingly about specialised topics
• A sharp understanding of framing and messaging techniques
• Ability to tailor content to different audiences and to write in the voice and style of a brand
• Proficient writing and editing skills in English
• Ability to write content without the use of AI or LLM tools
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
• The ability to work remotely in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects concurrently
• Strong IT skills with knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office 365 suite

Attributes

• Ability to work independently, and comfortable working with a fully remote team
• Highly organised with excellent time management, forward planning and prioritisation
• Comfortable working at times under pressure and to regular deadlines
• Can work cooperatively and collaboratively both as part of a team and when engaging with external partners
• Can respectfully, clearly and supportively communicate constructive feedback to colleagues on their work
• Open to feedback and review with the ability to adapt work and working style accordingly
• Commitment to own professional development
• Passion for tax justice and human rights issues

How to apply 

Please upload a CV (resume) and answer a set of questions addressing some of the skills and attributes listed along with your motivation for applying at this link by 23:59 GMT on 26 January 2025. Please apply in English.

Note on AI

Please write your answers to the questions in the application form in your own words without the assistance of AI or LLM tools. This role strictly requires original writing. AI-reliant writers need not apply.