Media Officer 

Start date: 24 August 2026 

Interviews: Week commencing 29th June 2026  

Contract: Full-time 

Location: 2 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 4DF  

Apply by: 17 June 2026 

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, far-reaching and policy-relevant analysis and commentary. We are recognised as a global centre of academic excellence for economic research.  

Our goal at 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 policymakers; collaborating with renowned academics; and disseminating our findings through the press, media, social media and online. Our remit and expertise are wide, covering important topics such as taxation, the public finances, education, healthcare, pensions, benefits, consumer behaviour, the environment, development, wealth, inequality, and poverty.  

Purpose of the role   

We are looking for a hard-working and engaged individual to join us as Media Officer, helping to manage our busy and renowned press office and social media output at the IFS. This is a unique opportunity to join an independent organisation at the forefront of public and political debate, influencing UK policymaking and working within the political arena.  

Reporting to the Senior Press and Communications Manager, the successful candidate will be part of a fast-paced, high-impact organisation, bringing some experience of working in a press office while gaining valuable skills with on-the-job and formal training where needed.  

The role will include helping to run a busy press office, sending agenda setting work to media contacts, field journalist queries and connecting them to our world-leading experts, monitor and report on the impact work of the IFS and help to prepare colleagues for media appearances. Alongside this they will also produce content for and monitor social media channels to promote the IFS and find new and innovative ways to communicate our work. 

In addition, they will act as the eyes and ears of the communications team, helping with forward planning by tracking the IFS’s presence in public debate and monitoring UK policy developments across the press, social media, and Parliament. 

The successful candidate will be part of a team who values and achieves high impact across media, policy and social media. Last year, the small but high-performing and professional communications team oversaw 44,000 mentions in the UK press, over 220 mentions in parliament with regular mentions in national leadership debates, general and devolved elections, and a sector-leading podcast listened to by senior civil servants, journalists and the general public. We are constantly evaluating and innovating to get the maximum impact for IFS research and insight.  

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 who:  

• Has a very good understanding of and interest in the current media landscape both in traditional forms and social media 

• Possesses political sensitivity and judgement and a keen interest in public policy 

• Understands and values the importance of our political independence, our commitment to impartiality, and our need to engage effectively with a wide range of groups, including across the political spectrum   

• Can communicate complex ideas and information, including statistical, carefully to non-specialist and lay audiences 

• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines 

• Is a people-person and motivated to build relationships and engage with world leading economists and journalists and excited to be a key part of a high performing team 

• Can work to a high level of accuracy 

• Has a willingness to learn and pitch in ideas, research and find opportunities to promote the work of the IFS 

Alongside the Communications Team and others at 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.   

This role involves  

• Handling the day to day press office queries, arranging interviews and responding appropriately to journalists 

• Running a professional press office function that helps to maintain and develop strong relationships with local, national, international and specialist media 

• Overseeing and developing a database of media and stakeholder contacts 

• Monitoring the national news, social media and policy agenda closely to spot opportunities and risks for the Institute to maximise media coverage and inform policy debate as it happens 

• Issuing IFS press releases, following up with media outlets and working with the team to offer guidance on gaining maximum impact 

• Contributing to forward planning, using a media diary and own research to identify opportunities to promote research beyond its initial launch 

• Regular gathering and reporting of press, social media statistics for internal and external use 

• Regular gathering and reporting on parliamentary and policy engagement and impact (citations, mentions in debates etc)  

• Preparing content for use across social media platforms and support the team with social media planning  

• Having innovative ideas and identifying opportunities to promote our research, including cross-posting and comment pieces on external sites  

• Participating in an on-call (out-of-hours) rota 

• Supporting internal media training sessions for staff and providing advice and guidance 

• Supporting the rest of the communications team as needed. 

Our criteria for this role  

Essential    

• Strong written and oral communication skills  

• Significant interest in public policy and media landscape 

• Experience working in a communications or press team 

• Very good understanding of political sensitivity and the importance of our independence 

• Ability to work well under pressure, good organisational skills and ability to manage time and conflicting demands effectively 

• Great interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and interact with people at all levels in a confident manner 

• Excellent attention to detail and consistent accuracy   

• Competency in Microsoft Office  

• Willingness to get stuck in and an eagerness to learn   

Desirable    

• Some experience working with a range of digital formats including social media 

• Some experience creating and editing video content 

• Experience writing for an external audience  

• Experience in an academic or policy environment 

What you can expect from us   

• A salary of £31,600-£34,600, with opportunities for salary progression 

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

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

• Working alongside a highly talented and impactful communications team, with internal and external training opportunities and a positive environment in which to develop your skills and career in communications  

Some out-of-hours working will be required, including being part of an on-call press rota.  

The successful candidate will be expected to spend the vast majority of their contracted hours in the London office, with up to one day a week working from home by negotiation with senior manager.  

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.