Communications and Operations Manager for Ariane Burgess MSP

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Primary Location: The primary working location is at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, with the potential for some flexible hybrid working.

Salary: £39,550 - £45,966 FTE.

Hours: 30 hours with flexibility.

Reporting to: Ariane Burgess MSP.

Working for an MSP: MSPs are employers in their own right. Under this employment, you will become part of a small team supporting Ariane in carrying out her duties as a regional MSP. You will work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, providing an outstanding service for constituents and communities across the Highlands and Islands. This role will support Ariane and her established team with communications – broadcasting the work Ariane is carrying out, staff development and day-to-day operations.

The ideal candidate will have experience of managing and working with hybrid teams, be confident in dealing with a range of stakeholders and constituents, and have strong communication and media skills. Ariane’s team works in a mix of in-person and remote, using online tools to collaborate and stay connected. You are expected to have a strong collaborative ethos and be self-motivated and able to work independently. Candidates sympathetic to Ariane’s parliamentary aims and values would be desirable.

About the Role: Ariane Burgess is the Scottish Green MSP for Highlands and Islands. Her work is rooted in the communities of the region — amplifying local voices, running proactive campaigns, and making the connection between what happens in parliament and what it means in people’s lives. The Communications and Operations Manager plays a central role in making that work visible and impactful. Working closely with Ariane as a communications partner, the postholder leads the office's communications — developing and growing Ariane's public presence, overseeing media relationships, and ensuring the team's output tells a coherent and compelling story about the difference her work is making. Alongside that, they manage the operational core of the office: supporting and developing a small, experienced team of four — two full-time and two part-time — and maintaining and evolving the systems that allow everyone to do their best work.

The role suits someone who leads with communications instincts, is motivated by the challenge of reaching and building an audience, thrives in a structured and iterative working environment, and has the people skills and organisational judgment to manage a capable team with clarity and care.

Responsibilities:

• Communications: The communications function of this role is about ensuring that Ariane’s work — in parliament and across the region — reaches and resonates with the people it is meant to serve.
• Building and growing Ariane’s public presence across social media, with a focus on audience growth and engagement.
• Overseeing the office's content output, collaborating with the team to plan, coordinate and produce material that translates parliamentary, casework and regional activity into accessible communications for a public audience.
• Managing media relationships and acting as the main press contact for the office, including identifying opportunities and coordinating responses.
• Coordinating and contributing to Ariane’s public written outputs and ensuring they are integrated into the wider communications programme.
• Planning and coordinating campaign-linked events as part of agreed campaign cycles.

• Team Management and Development: The postholder manages the team on a day-to-day basis and is responsible for supporting staff to develop and thrive in their roles.
• Managing the team, including regular one-to-ones and ongoing performance conversations.
• Supporting the professional development of team members, identifying training opportunities relevant to their roles and helping staff grow in their areas of work.
• Supporting Ariane’s time and diary management, ensuring commitments align with agreed campaign priorities and the team’s forward plan.
• Overseeing health, safety, and staff wellbeing across a hybrid working environment.
• Convening and contributing to regular team planning and review sessions that keep the office's work on track.

• Office Operations: Monitoring budget allocations to ensure spend stays within the Scottish Parliament’s Members’ Expenses Scheme provisions.
• Maintaining office systems and ensuring documentation and processes are accessible and up to date.
• Liaising with parliamentary officials and representing Ariane as required.
• Ensuring the team completes mandatory training requirements as stipulated by the Scottish Parliament.

This description indicates the nature and level of responsibility associated with this job. It is not exhaustive, and you may be required to undertake other duties as needed. As a guide, the portion of focus across each area is: 60% Communications, 25% Team Management and Development, 15% Office Operations.

About You:

You will:

• Have a proven track record of growing social media audiences and increasing reach and engagement, with the ability to demonstrate the results you have achieved.
• Understand how different communications channels work together to build and sustain a public presence.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and accessibly for a public audience.
• Have experience of successfully managing people (staff or volunteers), with the confidence and care to support people effectively.
• Have a genuine interest in and commitment to supporting people’s professional development.
• Have the organisational judgment to manage competing demands, develop effective processes, and maintain strong working relationships across a remote team.
• Be self-directed and well-organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy environment.
• Be comfortable with structured, iterative ways of working and an appetite for regular planning and review.
• Have an interest in politics and public affairs, with the confidence to act as a media contact.
• Be flexible, adaptable, and able to use good judgement on your own initiative.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of and genuine connection to the Highlands and Islands.
• Experience of working in a political, public sector, or campaigning environment, including familiarity with the Scottish Parliament or similar institution.
• Experience with video content creation, including capture and editing.

Job share applications will be considered. Ariane is a Living Wage and Fairer Hours Accredited employer.