The Role
Scottish Women’s Aid has an opportunity to join their team as Communications Lead on a maternity cover basis. Our
Communications Lead is responsible for developing and delivering the messages that reflect our core values and
strategic priorities, communicating with media partners, stakeholders, and wider communities. The role holder
works closely with our Communications Assistant.
Background
Scottish Women’s Aid is Scotland’s leading voluntary sector organisation working to prevent domestic abuse and
promoting effective policy and practice responses for women, children and young people who experience domestic
abuse. We are the umbrella organisation for 34 autonomous Women’s Aid groups delivering direct services to
women, children and young people across Scotland.
What You’ll Do
Working closely with colleagues across the organisation you will create, manage and develop a strong social media
presence for Scottish Women’s Aid. You’ll co-ordinate the planning and delivery of media responses as well as
external PR communications to member organisations, non-members partners and other stakeholders. Local and
national campaign management will be integral to the role, as is working closely with the policy team to
identify ways to publicise key issues for women, children and young people who experience domestic abuse and the
work we do to address these issues.
What We Need
We’re looking for someone with experience in a similar communications role, with specific experience of campaign and
political, parliamentary or public affairs work. Excellent written and verbal communications skills goes without
saying: you’ll be skilled in the ability to write to suit a range of different audiences and assist your
colleagues with writing and producing marketing materials.
We’re looking for someone who has;
· An understanding of the benefits of social media and content management systems
· Ability to manage all communications in relation to different external projects and services provided
· Experience using social media, website and content management systems
· An understanding of political and parliamentary processes
· Awareness and understanding of the feminist analysis of domestic abuse
What we offer
There are many reasons to work for Scottish Women’s Aid. We have a great working culture and our mission and vision
attracts a brilliant staff team. Your hard work is rewarded with a package of support and benefits
including:
Flexible working
We offer flexible hybrid working options for the majority of our employees. Some posts are eligible for full-time
homeworking. We also offer flexibility for staff and work/life balance through a number of flexible working
options such as flexi time, condensed hours, job sharing.
Pay
SWA are a Living wage employer, our pay and grading system offers a competitive starting salary and yearly
progression.
Annual Leave
We offer a full-time annual leave entitlement of 30 days (210 hours) per year plus 10 Public Holiday days (70 hours)
per year. Leave is accrued at the rate of 3.33 days (23.3 hours) per month.
Pension
SWA believes it's important that we help you save for your retirement so access to Nest pension scheme is given
to all eligible employees. SWA contributes 10% of gross contractual earnings on the provision that the employee
contributes a minimum of 3% towards their pension contributions.
Learning and Development
SWA supports and develops staff to ensure they have the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities. There is an
internal schedule of training on key skills and knowledge relevant to all staff. There is also scope to attend
ad hoc training for employees who are working to develop specific skills.
Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
SWA offers staff who meet the criteria for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) an enhanced maternity pay of 20 weeks on
full pay and 20 weeks on half pay.
Wellbeing
As part of SWA’s commitment to staff wellbeing, staff are offered access to a confidential 24/7 health and Wellbeing
service with AIG which provides confidential advice, counselling and legal support to all staff, and where
applicable, immediate family members.
Bike 2 Work
An interest-free loan to purchase a bike, can be arranged up to the value of £1,000.
Edinburgh Leisure Gym Subsidies
Edinburgh based staff are able to access Edinburgh Leisure facilities for the reduced price of £1 per session.
POSITIVE ACTION
Applications will be accepted from women only under Schedule 9, part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Scottish Women’s Aid is an equal opportunities employer, all women, including women with the protected characteristic
of gender reassignment, may apply for women-only roles.
SWA are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the people we serve.
We are taking positive action to address an under-representation of both disabled and Black Asian and Minority Ethnic
(BAME) employees within our workforce. We offer Disabled and BAME applicants the option of requesting that their
application is considered under the terms of our Disabled or BAME Guaranteed Interview Schemes. You will be
asked if you wish to be considered under the Disability/BAME Guaranteed Interview scheme when you complete our
application form.