Communications and External Affairs-NFU Graduate Scheme
National Farming Union (NFU) are hiring a Graduate for Communications and External Affairs. The NFU is the most successful representation body for agriculture and horticulture in England and Wales and represent more than 45,000 farming and growing businesses. They strive to protect and promote British farm life and give their members a voice now and in the future.
About the role
As a NFU Graduate for Communications and External Affiars, you will gain knowledge and experience of political lobbying and national communications, learning from an award-winning in-house team. You will also develop the necessary skills to support in the delivery of effective political and public campaigns, membership communication, and effective engagement with national broadcast and print media.
Responsibilities
- Deliver specific projects under supervision, and with guidance and training, to help produce political campaigning content that has strategic impact for our communications and lobbying channels, both in digital and in print.
- Work under supervision to gain knowledge and experience of our busy national press office, developing an understanding of proactive media management, handling in-coming media enquiries and writing for the press.
- Work under supervision to gain knowledge and experience of our digital membership engagement, working with the digital team.
- Work within the External Affairs and Campaigns teams to build effective working relationships which support NFU lobbying and campaigning goals.
- Support the External Affairs and Campaigns teams in delivering a programme of exciting, high-profile political campaign events.
- Working in placements within teams across the NFU External Affairs and Communications departments in Westminster and Warwickshire to gain a full understanding of NFU External Affairs and Communications, including Internal Communications, liaising with national and regional NFU colleagues as part of each placement.
- Liaise with NFU members, including office holders and board members, as part of each placement.
- Work to the NFU values of Inclusive, Professional, Resourceful and United.
- This role profile will develop to meet the needs of the NFU.
- To be an NFU Inclusion Champion, supporting inclusion activities across the organisation
Essential skills
- A good degree, typically a 2:1 or above, or equivalent, with a proven passion for communications and external affairs.
- Some experience of communication, journalism or external affairs either through academic or vocational routes.
- Experience of delivering tasks unassisted.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrable drive and determination to succeed, both individually and working effectively as part of a team.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Good grammatical and numerical skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive issues with good judgement and discretion.
- Efficient use of IT equipment including word and excel.
- Ability to demonstrate organisational and prioritising skills.
- Able to work both within a team and under own initiative.
- Able to demonstrate the ability to produce work quickly under pressure and calmly to a consistently high standard.
- Ability to solve problems and forward plan.
- Ability to plan, implement and collate information as part of a project.
- A detailed approach to recording accurate information.
- Ability to deal with confidential information.
- Ability to attend events as necessary as part of the placement.
- Ability to work flexibly or out of hours when required.
- Must be willing to live within accessible travel from Warwickshire and London when on placement.
- Be self-motivated, seeking career advancement within the agriculture communications sector.
- Passionate about delivering good quality and successful events, communications and campaigns about the food and farming industry.
Desirable Skills
- Full current driving licence.
- Experience of working within an office environment.
- Knowledge and enthusiasm for the British food and farming industry.
- Experience of PR or another communications field.
- Experience of working as part of a cross-departmental team.
- Experience of working within a MP office
How to apply
Visit www.nfuonline.com/careers/ and submit your CV and application.
For more information about the NFU Graduate Scheme, view the infosheet below.
For more jobs in the agriculture sector, click here.