Senior Communications Officer

We're looking for a skilled and thoughtful communications professional to join our small, collaborative and ambitious team as Senior Communications Officer. This is a hands-on role for someone who can turn organisational priorities into clear, useful and engaging communications across a range of channels and audiences.

Reporting to the Head of Communications, you'll play an important role in helping IRIS deliver communications activity that supports our strategic objectives and strengthens our profile, reputation and reach. You'll work across content, campaigns, publications and PR, helping to translate organisational priorities into clear, accurate and effective communications for different audiences and channels.

What you'll be doing:

• Support the planning and delivery of communications campaigns - helping to shape clear objectives, audiences, messages and timelines in line with IRIS' communications strategy
• Create strong content independently and collaboratively - writing and editing stories, articles, blogs, scripts and campaign copy that is accurate, engaging and accessible
• Contribute to media and external communications activity - drafting press materials, responding to enquiries and helping to identify opportunities to raise awareness of IRIS' work across education, STEM and policy conversations
• Maintain quality and consistency across outputs - coordinating a busy pipeline of resources, publications and materials, including content for colleagues across the organisation, and supporting work on reports, briefings and other policy-related outputs

This is an exciting time to join IRIS. As we continue to grow our reach and influence, this role will help ensure our communications are thoughtful, high quality and aligned with our wider organisational priorities.

We are keen to recruit from as wide a talent pool as possible, in terms of both personal and professional background. We welcome applications from any individuals regardless of age, sex, disability, ethnicity or personal circumstances.

How to apply

We are inviting applications via completion of an IRIS application form. Applications in different formats will not be considered. All applications should be accompanied by a completed Diversity Monitoring form. These forms are linked in the application pack.

Applications should address:

• Why you wish to take on this role.
• What you can bring to the post.
• How you meet the criteria as stated in the job description and person specification.

If you wish to have an informal conversation about the role prior to applying, please contact Kersti Fourcin, Head of Communications by email at ensuring that the subject of your email is Inquiry - Senior Communications Officer.

The key dates to note for the recruitment process:

• Sunday 21 June 2026: Deadline for applications, which should be emailed via the button below with the subject heading IRIS Application - Senior Communications Officer.
• Wednesday 1 July 2026: first stage candidates will be invited to online shortlisting interviews. If you have not received an invitation to a shortlisting interview by 28th June 2026 you should assume that your application has not been taken forward to this stage.
• Monday 13 July 2026: formal interviews in Leeds for shortlisted candidates.
• September / October 2026: the successful candidate will commence in post.

Please note that candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK.