BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic and more creative. They also do better at school. Our aim at BookTrust is getting every child reading – regularly and by choice. We reach every child in the first year of life and provide support throughout the early years, as children learn to read independently, all the way to secondary school. We have a new ambitious five-year strategy with a deep commitment to doing more to support children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds. With the long-term impact of the pandemic on children’s lives, and with an ever-widening gap for the most disadvantaged children, our work has never been more important.

Job Description

You will lead on sourcing and writing impactful stories that tell the story of why reading matters and the impact of BookTrust’s work for use in a wide range of communications aimed at stakeholders, funders and the media. You will develop engaging content based on stories and other information about our work for use in multichannel and integrated campaigns and undertake broader communications duties as and when required. The Communications and Stories Officer will be an ambitious and proactive individual with strong communications and story gathering experience and used to working in a multichannel and integrated communications environment that includes media. You will have excellent copy writing and content production skills, an ability to put people at ease so you can collect powerful and emotive stories and the determination to hunt out the best content that demonstrates our impact and helps to build profile.

About The Team

The Communications and Stories Officer is a member of the strategic communications function and part of the Campaigns and Communications team which includes a Head of Campaigns and Communications, Strategic Communications Manager and Communications Officer. The Campaigns and Communications team is part of the wider Communications Directorate which includes Digital, Fundraising and Marketing teams.

Location

Hybrid working – two core days in the office in Battersea Studios, London (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and the rest home working or office based depending on individual preference.

This post holder will report to: Strategic Communications Manager

This post holder will manage: N/A

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a story pipeline to reflect organisational need and priorities, building strong relationships with internal teams.
• Research, source, interview and write up stories from a wide range of subjects including beneficiaries, partners and other stakeholders that demonstrate the importance of reading, our approach and the impact of our work and our key messages.
• Manage consent processes with story subjects, ensuring compliance with GDPR, consent and safeguarding policies and best practice.
• Manage our story database including tracking how stories are used, evaluating the impact of stories, and sharing impact internally and with story subjects where appropriate.
• Write and produce a wide range of high-quality content including case studies, project summaries, presentations, newsletters, features, blogs and other written material – for use in engaging partners, donors as well as media packages.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of BookTrust, media and partner channels and audiences, using this understanding to shape content collection.
• Provide back up to support smooth running of the press office, including media monitoring, responding to media enquiries, and monitoring our press inbox.
• Use your understanding of the news context to identify possible hooks for BookTrust and propose ideas/drafting responses/stories as appropriate.
• Create and support the sell in of media packages that help build BookTrust’s profile and understanding of the benefits of reading.
• Carry out all duties in line with BookTrust policies and procedures and be prepared to undertake additional reasonable duties as required.
• Represent BookTrust and its vision and values in all activities, both internally and externally with stakeholders and the general public.

Person Specification

• Understanding of GDPR, informed consent and safeguarding and of the implications for story gathering.
• Understanding of what makes a strong story and knowledge of how to package up stories in a wide variety of different ways to meet different audience and channel needs.
• Understanding of interview techniques to make subjects feel relaxed and draw out compelling stories.
• Understanding of the media and channel landscape and of how different stories and content work across different communication. channels.
• Experience of working in house in a communications team or as a journalist.
• Experience of writing for a variety of audiences, with the ability to adapt style and tone of voice.
• Experience of interviewing and supporting story subjects and of managing the consent process.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to create compelling content and stories for a range of channels.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communications skills, with the ability to collaborate and build effective relationships, showing sensitivity for others’ viewpoints and valuing diversity.
• Ability to work on own initiative in a structured and collaborative way to prioritise a wide range of activities and use available resources to ensure tasks are completed to deadlines.
• Confident problem solver and team player with the ability to respond positively and rapidly in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Ability to work at pace and under pressure to meet challenging deadlines and handle competing priorities.
• Good level of education and/or professional qualification e.g. journalism, PR.

Terms And Conditions

• Salary: £30-32,000 (6-9 months fixed term contract)
• 28 days holiday, plus public holidays
• Pension scheme – 7% employer contribution
• 3 x salary life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Flexible working scheme

To Apply

To apply, you must submit your CV and attach a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining your suitability in relation to the person specification.