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- Tasks: Craft engaging stories and manage impactful communications campaigns for Scotland's art galleries.
- Company: Join the National Galleries of Scotland, a vibrant hub for art lovers.
- Benefits: Collaborative team environment, creative projects, and opportunities to connect with media.
- Why this job: Make art accessible to everyone and share Scotland's incredible culture with the world.
- Qualifications: Experience in communications, strong writing skills, and a proactive attitude.
- Other info: Exciting role with potential for growth in the cultural sector.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We’re looking for an experienced communications professional to join us at the National Galleries of Scotland. If you’re skilled in seeking out news, love telling a good story, excel in writing engaging copy and thrive on building relationships, we want to hear from you. This role is perfect for someone who has previous communications experience and is excited by our mission to make art work for everyone. You don’t need to be an art expert. Curiosity, enthusiasm and being proactive matter more than formal art knowledge.
You’ll help us to communicate with visitors and potential visitors to our three Edinburgh galleries – the National, Modern and Portrait. Sharing Scotland’s incredible art collection with audiences locally, nationally and internationally, from major exhibitions, loans and new acquisitions to conservation breakthroughs, publications and community projects. You will work with colleagues across the organisation as well as in collaboration with external partners such as Edinburgh Art Festival, Scotland+Venice and VisitScotland. This is an exciting opportunity to play an important part in sharing Scotland’s amazing art collection, shaping stories that will reach millions of people across the world.
The Communications Officer is part of a supportive and creative Marketing and Communications team. Reporting to the Communications Manager, you’ll work closely within a small team of five. Collaborating daily with a fellow Communications Officer, Press and Marketing Officer and Social Media Officer to deliver impactful communications campaigns.
Your duties will include, but not be limited to:
- Planning and delivering thoughtful, well‑planned earned media campaigns for upcoming exhibitions.
- Identifying great stories and photo opportunities and pitching them confidently to global media.
- Building relationships with journalists, content creators and production companies.
- Writing engaging copy for press releases, colleague updates and our website.
- Organising events such as press views, influencer partnerships and photocalls to deliver creative and eye‑catching content.
- Actively working in a busy press office, responding to enquiries by email, telephone, and social media.
- Providing regular reporting on press activities, including evaluating results and learnings.
- Responding to issues or crisis situations.
- Creating high quality social media content.
- Drafting award submissions.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:
- Proven experience as a Communications Officer or in a similar role in communications at a similar level.
- Planning and delivering impactful communications campaigns.
- Securing meaningful media coverage and be able to tell us how you did it.
- A creative, enthusiastic and proactive approach to seeking out interesting stories that will appeal to our audience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create and edit audience focused content, such as press releases, website copy, social media posts and internal updates.
- Strong organisational skills with experience of delivering projects on time.
- Influencing, communicating and working well with other people across departments and as part of a team.
- Staying calm, confident and in control under pressure.
- Able to work quickly to tight deadlines.
It would also be great if you have:
- Understanding and experience of the culture sector.
- Visual arts awareness.
- Public affairs experience.
- Knowledge of copyright.
- Familiarity with Gaelic language.
Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 13 April 2026.
Communications Officer employer: Nationalmuseums
Contact Detail:
Nationalmuseums Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Communications Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation inside out! Research the National Galleries of Scotland, their exhibitions, and their mission. This will help you tailor your conversations and show genuine interest when you network or interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! Since this role is all about sharing engaging stories, think of a few examples from your past experiences that highlight your communication prowess. Be ready to share these during interviews or networking events.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of connections! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Communications Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and are familiar with our processes. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Communications Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for art and communication shine through in your application. We want to see your excitement about sharing Scotland's incredible art collection and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your Writing: Make sure your written application is tailored to the role of Communications Officer. Highlight your previous experience in crafting engaging copy and planning impactful campaigns, as this is what we’re looking for!
Be Story-Driven: Since storytelling is key in this role, share examples of how you've identified and pitched great stories in your past work. We love seeing how you can connect with audiences through compelling narratives.
Follow Our Application Process: Remember to apply directly through our careers portal! We won’t accept applications via email, so make sure you follow the process to ensure your application gets into our hands.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nationalmuseums
✨Know Your Stories
Before the interview, think about some compelling stories you've worked on in your previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples of how you identified and pitched stories that gained media coverage. This will show your ability to seek out interesting narratives, which is key for a Communications Officer.
✨Research the Organisation
Dive deep into the National Galleries of Scotland's mission, current exhibitions, and recent news. Understanding their goals and how they communicate with audiences will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your enthusiasm for their work during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Writing Skills
Bring along samples of your writing, such as press releases or social media posts. This not only highlights your excellent written communication skills but also gives the interviewers a taste of your style and creativity, which are crucial for this role.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Since you'll be working closely with a small team, be prepared to discuss your experience collaborating with others. Think of examples where you successfully influenced or communicated with colleagues across departments, as this will showcase your teamwork and organisational skills.