Start date: ASAP 

Interviews: week commencing 30/06/2025 (in person) 

Contract: Full time, fixed-term 12 month contract 

Location: 2 Marylebone Road, NW1 4DF London. 

About IFS   

The Institute for Fiscal Studies is the UK’s leading independent economics research institute and an award-winning ‘think-tank’. We are independent of political influence and have a strong reputation for producing high-quality, high-visibility policy-relevant analysis and commentary. We are recognised as a global centre of academic excellence. 

Our goal at the IFS is to promote well-designed and effective economic and social policies. We do this by conducting research that helps us better understand how such policies affect individuals, families, businesses and the government's finances. Our research not only has an impact on policymakers, think tanks and practitioners, it has also gained a worldwide reputation for academic rigour.  

We communicate our research widely, providing independent advice and evidence to policy makers; collaborating with renowned academics on new economic theories and techniques; and disseminating our findings through the press, media, social media and online. Our remit and expertise are wide, covering important topics such as education, health, public finances, retirement, consumer behaviour, overseas development, tax, inequality and poverty. 

Purpose of the role   

We are looking for a hardworking and engaged individual to join us for a 12-month fixed term contract as a Communications Assistant. This is a unique opportunity to gain the essential skills and experience needed to kickstart a career in communications.  

Reporting to the Head of Digital, the successful candidate will be part of a fast-paced and high impact organisation and will gain valuable skills with on-the-job and formal training where needed.  

The role will include assisting in all aspects of communications but with an emphasis on digital. The successful candidate will work across digital platforms including our website, social media, podcasts and e-marketing. Additionally, they will help with online and in-person events and work on a wide range of day-to-day communications and press activities.  

Last year, the small but high-performing and professional Communications Team oversaw   35,000 mentions in the UK press, over 1.5 million website visitors, over 200 mentions in parliament and ran 45 events. They will share their expertise with the successful candidate.  

What we are looking for    

The successful candidate will be motivated by the opportunity to be a key player in an organisation that makes a real difference to people’s lives through impartial, rigorous analysis of policy and insight. This is your opportunity to be a part of that story. 

We are looking for someone that understands and values the importance of our political independence and the need for clear communication. 

• You can write and speak to different audiences both inside and outside the IFS 

• You have an eye for detail and a passion for accuracy  

• You have an understanding of the digital and social media landscape 

• You will be able to demonstrate you are keen to learn and develop new skills in communications 

• You have an interest in the wider political/policy landscape 

Alongside the Communications Team and others at the IFS, you will champion a positive and collaborative approach and feel excited to be part of a team that strives to place high-quality evidence and research at the heart of everything we do.   

What you can expect from us  

• A salary of £26,000 

• Training opportunities and a positive environment in which to develop your skills  

• The chance to make a real difference, helping us to promote high-quality and truly independent research that has a genuine impact on public debate and government policy  

• The support of an experienced, fun and professional communications team and a friendly, sociable and collaborative organisation  

The role: 

• Work with the digital team in creating website pages and help to develop new areas of the website and new content approaches 

• Be a proactive, hands-on, creative, flexible and friendly member of the communications team, ensuring the delivery of effective, efficient materials whilst developing new approaches to social media, video, datavis and more 

• Prepare digital content including social media posts, newsletters, event invitations and publication alerts 

• Support the successful planning and management of all IFS communications work including reports, comments, events and social media  

• Assist with the day-to-day running of the communications function  

• Understand and consider the external public policy and media environment and use this to feed into all aspects of communications and decision making  

• Have oversight of the team intranet pages 

• Assist the events team with on-the-day support and promotion for report launches, press briefings and academic conferences 

• Providing a high level of professional support to research teams and external stakeholders when needed 

Responsibilities will include:  

• The creation of website pages and the development of distinct website areas  

• Lead in the migration of historic PDF documents into webpages 

• Assistance with online and in-person events 

• Assist with forward planning  

• Assistance with the scheduling and production of the Microeconomic Insights website and associated collateral 

• Support the-day-to day running of the comms and press functions including; maintaining press contacts database, media monitoring to measure impact and building knowledge of our key contacts and the media landscape more broadly 

• Draft and publish newsletters to our thousands of subscribers and stakeholders using Mailchimp 

• Produce/write social media posts for X, formerly Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn promoting our reports, briefings, announcements, events and recruitment activity  

• Work with the Communications Officer to learn and make and adapt simple data visualisation including charts and infographics for the website and social media 

• Assist the events team with in-person events, events pages on the website and producing events collateral 

• Schedule guests, production timelines and meetings for podcasts  

• Help with ad hoc diary management for team 

Essential   

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

• An eye for detail and accuracy  

• Interest in developing a career in communications 

• Competency in Microsoft Office 

• Willingness to get stuck in and eagerness to learn  

Highly desirable   

• An understanding of and interest in the public policy and media landscape 

• Experience writing for an external audience 

• Experience working with a range of digital formats  

• Familiarity with Adobe production packages  

• Familiarity with production tools such as Canva 

• Familiarity with website content management systems 

Occasional out of hours working may be required. 

The postholder will be expected to spend the majority of their contracted hours in the London office with one day a week working from home, if desired.  

The IFS has an active social calendar with weekly teatimes, sports groups and after work activities for a variety of interests. 

Interviews will be held in person at our London office.  

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK, as this role is not eligible for a Skilled Worker visa.