Salary: up to £28,000 depending on experience, plus generous pension scheme
Hours: 35 hours per week
Term: Permanent
We are looking for an outstanding candidate to join the Royal Statistical Society, one of the UK's
eminent learned societies and a leader in influencing the debate on the role of data, evidence and
well-informed decision-making in today's economy and society. Working as part of a friendly and
professional team you will play a critical role in a dynamic and changing organisation, where you
will deliver our new strategy to ensure data, statistics and evidence are at the heart of
understanding and decision making across all areas of society.
The work of the RSS centres around six strategic goals, and we have an activity plan which sets
out the detailed work under each of the six goals. As part of our new strategy we have been
increasingly active in highlighting the critical role of data and evidence in decision making, and we
have influenced debates in a wide range of areas, from misperceptions about social issues in the
general public, to the debate on the future of the Census. We provide thought leadership and a
home for debate in areas such as data science and big data, data privacy, open data, and the
need for an education system which ensures decision makers can deal with data and numbers.
We are looking for a press and policy officer who has a solid understanding of the media and policy
world and is attuned to new developments which provide opportunities to increase our influence.
Through our committees and sections you will work with key members to encourage contributions
to policy formulation, and you will help support a number of volunteer-led groups who are
interested in user-relevant official statistics. Drawing on the expertise of our membership and staff
you will take the lead in communicating our policy agenda through the delivery of public affairs
activities (including the organisation of a range of events) to target key decision-makers in
parliament, government, academia and business. You will develop and implement proactive and
reactive media strategies, have an ability to work in a fast-changing media landscape and
understand how it shapes our visibility and influence. You will be able to think creatively and to
deliver the work to a high standard, with a keen eye for detail. You will have demonstrable
experience of delivering a high-impact blend of strategic thinking and operational delivery in a
complex and fast-paced environment.
In exchange we offer a generous benefits package and excellent career development opportunities
within one of the UK’s leading independent organisations for promoting the data and evidence
agenda.
Policy and Events
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Works with key volunteers and staff on policy formation and development across all work
areas of the Society;
Works with a wide range of members in the Society to encourage engagement with policy
issues;
Regularly organises events which further the public affairs and communication aims of the
Society including parliamentary meetings, roundtables, party conference events, public
events, dinners and receptions;
Provides the secretariat and support for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Statistics;
Manages and co-ordinates the list of external contacts on the stakeholder contacts
database;
Coordinates submission and dissemination of responses to external consultative
processes, including government consultations, public or third sector consultations or select
committee inquiries;
Supports and develops the diverse community of statistics users (including support for the
Statistics User Forum) and RSS relationships with the official statistics world;
Monitors proceedings at the Houses of Parliament, government departments, European
institutions, think-tanks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other bodies in order
to keep the Society informed of any developments related to the field of statistics;
Monitors parliamentary publications and printed transcripts, such as Hansard;
Researches, forecasts and evaluates the effects of public policy on the Society, using
public sources, political intelligence and personal contacts;
Finds case studies of where statistics / data are having an impact and uses these to inform
briefings, campaign material and press releases;
Sets up relevant meetings for the President or Directors with key stakeholders, and
provides background briefings for such meetings;
Establishes and maintains two-way communication with relevant official bodies and
stakeholders;
Facilitates regular contact with politicians, civil servants, and opinion formers and other
relevant stakeholders to brief them on the Society’s work and concerns;
Manages the annual RSS Statistical Excellence Awards;
Works with the RSS External Honours Panel to manage the process for nominating
statisticians for the Civil Honours Lists;
Manages specific projects as agreed from time to which contribute to the wider public
affairs and influencing aims of the Society.
Press and media
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Develops and implements the Society’s communications, social media and press strategy
(in cooperation with the Web and Multimedia Manager and relevant Directors);
Manages media enquiries of the Society, facilitating expert comment appropriately from
others or providing comment directly;
Develops and manages a pool of expert media commentators from within the Society’s
membership;
Commissions internally, and drafts, regular proactive media (including social media)
initiatives including media releases, comment pieces, and letters to editors ensuring
balance across the Society’s activities;
Secures media coverage based on products emerging from the Society such as
publications, reports, journals, Significance magazine, RSS conference, other events;
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Manages day to day media liaison with key organisations, journalists, bloggers,
commentators etc. with whom the Society works on a regular basis;
Manages media monitoring (including social media) and advises appropriate staff of
relevant stories;
Maintains and updates a database of media contacts. Furthers good relations with key
journalists, commentators, bloggers etc.;
Assists with any other aspects of the Society’s media work as directed by the Director of
Public Affairs.
Advisory functions
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Advises the President, Vice President for External Affairs and others on engaging with the
media, government and parliamentarians;
Advises on and participates in raising sponsorship, managing sponsor relationships, and
occasionally contributing to writing funding bids to funding bodies.
Administration and management
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Provides secretariat for relevant committees;
Contributes to delivery of external relations events.
Financial responsibilities
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Manages the external relations budget and prepares financial bids for future external
relations projects.
Line management and supervisory responsibilities
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None at present, but responsibilities may arise from time to time;
Works closely with relevant volunteers from the fellowship.
Other
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Contributes to cross-organisational initiatives as required from time to time;
Tracks measures of performance and impact for the Society’s press and public affairs work
and reports these to the Senior Management Team as required.
Essential
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Has demonstrable ability in policy work and public events organisation;
Has demonstrable ability in press and media work;
Has excellent political antennae, with a good understanding of the UK policy context
including government and parliamentary processes;
Thinks strategically and ensures operational delivery is aligned with the overall strategy;
Has eye for detail combined with an ability to work to tight timelines and under pressure;
Communicates complex issues to a range of audiences so they are understood, including
through writing of timely and high quality copy;
Understands complex socio-political and technical issues quickly, report these clearly and
offer advice to colleagues on these issues to help them formulate policy;
Has strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop enduring relationships;
Is up to date with new and evolving media practices and makes use of these for the benefit
of the Society;
Uses evidence to develop accurate budgets, spending forecasts and business plans;
Is proficient in a range of standard IT skills – including Microsoft Office applications and
CMS systems.
Desirable (but not expected)
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Has demonstrable experience in policy work and events organisation;
Has demonstrable experience in press and media work;
Has a good technical understanding of statistics and data science and associated
technological and legal issues.
Salary: up to £28,000, depending on experience.
Hours: 35 per week, full time.
Term: Permanent.
Pension: Defined contribution scheme which can be joined after three months in post. Your
contributions of up to 7% of salary will be double-matched by the Society (making a maximum
contribution by the Society of 14%).
Holidays: 25 days per annum (pro rata) plus bank holidays, and an additional close down between
the Christmas and New Year period.
Other benefits: Season ticket loan. Childcare vouchers.
Location: The Society is based in Errol Street, EC1, near Old Street and the Barbican Centre.
To apply please carefully read the detailed job profile and job specific competencies and then
submit:
1. A completed job application form (download here)
2. A personal statement of no more than two sides of A4 explaining why you are a suitable
candidate for this role (see Section 5 of the job application form)
3. Equal opportunities monitoring form (download here)
Please submit the above documents to [email protected] no later than 9:00am on Monday
7th September 2015, stating the job title in the subject line of your email.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 24th September.