Monica Lennon MSP is looking for a Casework and Community Engagement Officer to join her team on a temporary basis to provide maternity cover.

You will become part of a small team supporting Monica Lennon MSP in her Central Scotland regional office. You will often be the first point of contact for constituents and local organisations in a role that will involve attending advice surgeries and meetings in the many towns and villages throughout the region.

This role would suit someone who is passionate about helping people living and working in Central Scotland. You will need to have excellent communication and planning skills, strong attention to detail, and demonstrate exceptional organisational skills. No two days or locations are the same. The role would suit someone who can thrive in an office environment, attend regional meetings and visits, and work independently in a hybrid environment.

If you are keen to ensure that people across parts of South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire & Falkirk have an advocate on local and national issues, and you can offer knowledge and understanding of the communities and campaigns that are important to Monica’s regional work, we want to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be required to manage a varied mix of constituency casework, correspondence and projects. Normal working hours are 0900 to 1700, with occasional evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Correspond with constituents by telephone, email, social media, letter and face-to-face.
• Take action to resolve, document and escalate concerns or enquiries.
• Draft written correspondence including letters, reports, requests for information and briefings.
• Liaise with a wide range of bodies across Central Scotland and support relationships with individuals, community groups, statutory services and voluntary organisations.
• Handle a high volume of casework, including complex and sensitive issues, and keep accurate entries in case systems in line with GDPR requirements.
• Support community campaigns and undertake research to help inform the MSPs work.
• Attend local advice surgeries and meetings.
• Analyse, evaluate and interpret casework data to ensure Monica is accurately informed on key issues.

About You

Requirements

• Positive and professional attitude towards colleagues and constituents.
• Attention to detail, excellent written, problem solving and listening skills.
• Understand the importance of good customer service.
• Curiosity to probe for further information where required.
• Patient and sensitive while remaining objective and open minded.
• Confident and able to use initiative to solve problems.
• Completes tasks to a high standard within deadlines.
• Excellent IT Skills.
• Have the ability or commitment to be able to support Monica in delivering their values and aspirations
• Knowledge of data protection, confidentiality and GDPR protocols.
• Understand the communities of South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and Falkirk, and the challenges faced by local residents.

This is an opportunity for an effective political communicator to work with Monica Lennon MSP and her team on a diverse range of campaigns, research projects and important local and national issues.

Message from Monica: “Are you passionate about amplifying unheard voices? Do you love using your brilliant communication skills to stand up for people and our planet? I am looking for someone with your talents and ideas to help me win results and system change for my constituents. I enjoy the privilege of being able to lead and support campaigns that seek to improve the lives of people in Central Scotland and beyond. In this role your first-class communication, research and problem-solving skills will make a positive difference, no matter how big or small the challenge. As part of a dedicated and trusted team you will help to tell stories with influence, demonstrating that politics matters. We can’t wait to meet you.”

Working for Monica Lennon MSP

You will become part of a small team supporting me in carrying out my duties in a fast-paced environment where accuracy is essential. We manage a mix of longer-term policy and campaign work as well as day-to-day deadline driven activities, such as emergency casework.

Responsibilities include:

• Producing high-quality and engaging copy for press releases, speeches, presentations, written materials, websites and social media that effectively communicate my aims and actions to constituents, wider public and media.
• Keeping your knowledge of current media, policy, parliamentary and regional issues up to date, to capture relevant developments as they happen.
• Undertaking due diligence and providing timely advice on complex and sensitive issues.
• Identifying potential media opportunities, acting as media contact and arranging interviews and events.
• Initiating and growing trusted relationships with a wide and diverse range of people and organisations.
• Obtaining information from a variety of sources and accurately analysing, evaluating and interpreting data and statistics.
• Advising me and your colleagues on issues, campaigns, media and social media, always exercising sound judgement.
• Creating impactful and accessible social media and visual content, including graphics and videos.

About You

Requirements

• Degree or qualification in a relevant discipline and experience in a communications, media or political role.
• Must be knowledgeable about the duties of an MSP, how the Scottish Parliament works and the Central Scotland region.
• You have outstanding news judgement and know what makes a story newsworthy. You have a passion for storytelling and use clear and accessible language.
• You must be able to monitor media developments and write accurate, interesting and concise news copy and correspondence to deadline.
• Good IT skills.

You have a positive attitude and will be confident working independently and as part of a team.

Working for a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)

MSPs are employers in their own right. Under employment, you will become part of a small team supporting Monica Lennon MSP in carrying out her duties. You'll work in a dynamic and fast paced environment to provide an outstanding service for constituents. Desirable candidates will have an interest in Monica’s work and a strong awareness of local issues across the Central Scotland region.

Responsibilities

Supporting with keeping casework up to date and responding to public enquiries

• Keeping cases up to date by tracking, logging and recognising when to escalate issues within team
• Meeting constituents on a wide range of issues, including those of a sensitive nature and escalating accordingly
• Advocating on constituent's behalf with relevant bodies to resolve matters
• Reviewing constituent records and documentation in line with casework GDPR requirements
• Ensuring casework filing systems, both electronic and manual, are kept up-to-date in line with GDPR requirements
• Responding to front of office enquiries
• Responding to incoming correspondence while professionally managing each enquiry within agreed timescales
• Drafting written correspondence such as letters and requests for information

About You

Requirements

You will:

• Have excellent organisational skills while being flexible in prioritising workloads during busy times
• Have excellent communications skills, with accurate attention to detail and the ability to work effectively with colleagues
• Have proficient written, problem solving and listening skills
• Be patient and sensitive while remaining objective and open minded
• Be comfortable being in a front facing role explaining regulations such as GDPR to the general public
• Be acutely aware of the responsibility of representing those unable to do so themselves in certain situations
• Be able to manage constituent expectations and have a natural interest in helping people with a curiosity to probe for further information where required