Communications Officer for SNP Parliamentary Group

Scottish National Party (SNP)x; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent Scottish political party is seeking a full-time Communications Officer to manage media relations and promote its objectives. Responsibilities include producing effective communication materials, building relationships with stakeholders, and keeping up with media developments. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, creativity, and the ability to navigate the media landscape. Applicants should have a strong interest in Scottish politics and demonstrate the capacity to handle multiple tasks effectively within tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Confidence in making representations in a media-related capacity.
• Ability to monitor media developments from various channels.
• Excellent working relationships and understanding of media operations.
• Creativity in communication across multiple media formats.
• Flexibility in writing styles across traditional and new media.
• Quick learner, multitasking under tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and effective teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Produce materials to convey the group's aims to the public.
• Stay updated on current media developments.
• Build relationships with politicians, journalists, and stakeholders.
• Create high-quality press briefings and presentations.
• Identify media opportunities and act as a contact.
• Arrange interviews and press conferences.
• Promote the group’s work through forthcoming events.
• Represent the group in media interactions.
• Monitor media outlets for relevant developments.
• Maintain communication information systems.

Skills

Promoting news stories

Setting the media agenda

Media communication

Relationship building

Media monitoring

Creative communication

Excellent communication skills

Job description

The SNP Parliamentary Group of MSPs is looking to employ a full-time Communications Officer with immediate effect.

Location: Holyrood

Hours: Full-time; 35 hours

Salary: £34,633 per annum

Candidates should have experience of actively promoting news stories and setting the media agenda, as well as experience of using online media to communicate key messages and target new audiences. Applicants should have a sound knowledge of Scottish politics at all levels, the Scottish Parliamentary system and the Scottish media.

Responsibilities

• Produce materials that effectively convey the group’s aims to the general public and media.
• Keep up to date with current media developments.
• Build and maintain relationships with politicians, journalists and stakeholders.
• Produce high quality press briefings, speeches, presentations and written materials.
• Identify potential media opportunities and act as media contact.
• Organise and arrange interviews and press conferences as specified.
• Identify forthcoming events, in turn promoting the group’s work.
• Represent the group in dealing with media and providing statements where appropriate.
• Follow all media outlets to capture relevant developments as they happen.
• Maintain information systems to support communications.

Requirements

• Have an interest in politics with the confidence to make representations in a media-related capacity.
• Be capable of monitoring media developments and sourcing information from a range of channels.
• Have the ability to foster good working relationships with confidence and understand how the media world operates.
• Be creative in designing and communicating over a range of formats on different media platforms.
• Have flexibility using relevant IT skills and writing styles, covering both traditional and newer forms of media.
• Be a quick learner with the ability to multitask and work within tight timescales.
• Have excellent communications skills, an eye for detail and the ability to work effectively with colleagues.

Your supporting statement should outline how you meet the requirements detailed above for this role. Applications that do not include a supporting statement may not be considered. Be sure to include "Communications Officer – Job Application" in the subject line of your email.

Closing date: Monday 5th January 2026

Provisional Date for Interviews:15th January 2026

Posted on 29 October, 2025