The Communications Officer helps people with sight loss to live the life they choose by developing and implementing integrated communications campaigns which promote, protect, and raise Guide Dogs’ profile amongst key target audiences. In addition, working with Guide Dogs’ brand purpose, contribute to brand awareness and growth.

The role is a wide-ranging and creative and will be required to work closely alongside key stakeholders including a diverse Communications team which has a broad remit consisting of internal communications, national PR and media relations, ambassador and celebrity management, and stakeholder engagement.

This role can be based from London or our Reading Hub with some travel required between both locations.

This role is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week, with 26 days paid holiday (excluding bank holidays) a year. As a charity, we’re always keen to support flexible working as best we can. We offer a generous pension scheme, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details about this role, the Organisation and the recruitment process can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

Candidate requirements

To be able to fulfil this role, and provide help to those with sight loss, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;

Essential

• Experience of working within a busy press office and as part of an integrated communications team.
• A track record of identifying, developing, and securing high quality media opportunities which meet strategic objectives and KPIs.
• Experience of bringing our Brand and services to life by telling people’s real-life stories in an engaging, inspiring, and respectful way.
• Ability to build a rapport and strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Interest and/or experience working in the charity or public sector.
• Experience of working as part of a geographically dispersed organisation.
• Experience of developing and implementing multi-channel, integrated communications plans with measurable KPIs.
• Experience with developing engaging, creative content for owned digital channels.

Desirable

• Relevant professional qualification.

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.

How to apply

Applications need to be made using the online application form, accessed using the ‘apply’ button above. As part of your application ensure you provide to evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.

The system does have a time limit, we would advise you to complete your answers and copy and paste into the online form once finalised. Please note that you’ll have to upload a CV as this is a mandatory requirement as part of our Safer Recruitment Policy.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If there is not enough space in your application form to provide this information, please ensure you upload additional documentation containing the additional detail.

Remember to refer to the attached job description and candidate pack for more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.