Media and Communications Officer

IPPR is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and from applicants with a range of professional and lived experiences. As an organisation engaging in critical debate about a wide range of progressive policy issues, we value the creativity and range of perspectives that a diverse team can provide.

Media and Communications Officer, IPPR North
£33,404 to £42,785 per annum pro-rata plus benefits
Permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week - part-time will be considered)
Office based in Manchester with minimum two days a week attendance

Are you driven by a commitment to end inequalities? Do you want to play a role in towards building fairer, greener, and more prosperous regions in the UK? Can you harness the power of words to change hearts and minds? If so, we have a role that will give you the chance to shape political debate and policy and help secure lasting change.

IPPR North is part of an independent charity which - through rigorous research, analysis and public dialogue - works to make today's bold ideas tomorrow's common sense. We are recruiting a Media and Communications Officer to play a leading role in communicating that mission and our work - to the public, decision makers and opinion formers - and helping to shape the public and political debate for social, democratic, environmental, and economic progress.

Working alongside the IPPR North director and team, as well as across IPPR communications colleagues, you will take forward IPPR North's communications strategy. Spanning traditional and new media, you will plan, coordinate, and deliver media and digital communications outputs, identify opportunities to proactively shape policy debates, and help to secure impact and influence across a wide range of audiences.

As part of the wider IPPR-family, you will also have the opportunity to utilise your skills right across the UK - working closely with counterparts in the IPPR communications team, contributing to UK-wide communications planning, and helping to deliver UK-wide outputs.

If you have the ability to think creatively and work flexibly as part of a small team, we would like to hear from you. To be successful you will have some experience of working in a communications or media environment; knowledge of the regional media; and a keen interest in politics and public policy in the North and England's regions in particular. You will combine excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong political judgement and an eye for a good story - knowing when and how to engage with journalists and pitch stories. You will be able to interpret and communicate complex information, using this to frame compelling stories and craft clear and impactful communications products across a variety of mediums. Just as importantly, you will be passionate about our work and helping to secure a fairer and greener North of England.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, especially from those with lived experience of disadvantage, and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates who are currently under-represented at IPPR. Appointment will be made on merit.

The post is primarily based at IPPR North's office in Manchester but with some remote working and occasional travel (agreed in advance) to our London offices for cross-organisational work and the North, Midlands or other regions to work with partners.

To learn more about the role and IPPR North, email Zoë Billingham, North Director at .

For further information and full details on how to apply, please download the information pack from our website.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Thursday 28 August 2025

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 8 September 2025