Communications Assistant

Communications Assistant internship – 12-month fixed-term contract

Start date: End of July 2026

Contract: Full-time, fixed-term 12-month contract

Location: 2 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 4DF

Apply by 11:59pm, Sunday 10 May 2026.

Purpose of the role

We are looking for a hard‑working 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 kick‑start a career in communications. Reporting to the Communications and Publications Manager, the successful candidate will be part of a fast‑paced, 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.

What we are looking for

• 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.
• Excellent attention to detail, a passion for accuracy and an eye for spotting errors.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Good understanding of the current digital and social media landscape.
• Ability to communicate with a range of different audiences, both inside and outside IFS.
• Willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• Interest in the wider political/policy landscape.
• Understanding and valuing the importance of our political independence and our commitment to impartiality.

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.

What you can expect from us

• A salary of £28,860, the London Living Wage.
• Training opportunities and a positive environment in which to develop your skills.
• 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 professional communications team and a friendly, sociable and collaborative organisation.

This role involves

• Being a proactive, hands‑on, creative, flexible and friendly member of the communications team.
• Working with the digital team in creating website pages, helping to develop and maintain areas of the website and new content.
• Producing and scheduling high‑quality, accurate social media posts to promote our reports, briefings, podcasts, announcements, events and recruitment activity, including short‑form videos, charts, infographics, text and explainers for a range of channels, including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Assisting the events team with on‑the‑day support for in‑person and online events, press briefings and academic conferences, helping to update events pages on the website and produce events collateral.
• Supporting the successful planning and scheduling of IFS communications work, including reports, comments, events, videos and social media.
• Drafting and sending newsletters and marketing emails to thousands of subscribers using Mailchimp.
• Working with the Communications and Publications Manager to learn data visualisation skills, creating and adapting charts and infographics for the website and social media.
• Keeping an eye on the external public policy and media environment and using this to feed into all aspects of communications and decision‑making.
• Providing a high level of professional support to the communications team, research teams and external stakeholders as needed, and assisting with the day‑to‑day running of the communications function.

Our criteria for this role

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and consistent accuracy.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage their time well.
• Interest in developing a career in communications.
• Competency in Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to get stuck in and an eagerness to learn.

Highly desirable

• An understanding of and interest in the public policy and media landscape.
• Experience writing for an external audience beyond academic work.
• Experience working with a range of digital formats including social media.
• Familiarity with production tools such as Adobe or Canva.
• Familiarity with video and/or audio editing.
• 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. 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.