Senior Communications Officer

Independent Society of Musicians

About the Organisation

With a current membership of over 11,000 musicians, the award-winning ISM is the UK’s largest representative non-union body for musicians. For over 140 years, we have been dedicated to promoting the importance of music and supporting those working in the music world. Our members come from all areas of the music industry and have many different roles and musical backgrounds.

We are a nationally recognised subject association for music and are financially independent with no political affiliation - allowing us the freedom to campaign on any issue affecting musicians, and to work alongside politicians, people, and organisations to make change happen. We know from our latest members’ survey just how much our members really value the ISM community and the sense of belonging and safety it gives them.

Our fabulous staff team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise and brings to the ISM direct experience of working in the music and education sectors. We all share a love of music, and many of us are active musicians in our spare time. By joining us, you will become part of a passionate, dynamic, and welcoming team where you will be supported and encouraged to use and develop your skills. 

About the role

To deliver high-quality written communications that increase the profile, influence and visibility of the ISM and contribute to member acquisition in line with the ISM's Sales & Marketing Strategy. The role will lead on the creation of compelling written content across digital and print channels, ensuring that the ISM's expertise, campaigns, services and member benefits are communicated effectively to professional musicians and other key audiences.

Working closely with the Senior Communications and Social Media Officer and the Website and Marketing Manager, the role will drive integrated communications activity that increases visibility, engages target audiences and supports membership growth. Develop persuasive messaging that clearly communicates the benefits of ISM membership and supports the conversion of prospects into members.

Ensure that key messages are consistently used across all communications and that all content is on brand. Work with colleagues to identify content opportunities arising from the work of the External Affairs, Legal, Membership and other teams and convert these into engaging communications outputs. Maintain a strong understanding of the music sector and members, identifying emerging issues, trends and opportunities that can be developed into relevant content and campaigns.

Responsibilities

Content Strategy & Development:

• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to create and deliver high-quality written communications that build the ISM's profile and awareness, support campaigns and contribute to membership growth.
• Lead on the planning, writing, editing and publication of content for the ISM website, including news articles, blogs, features, interviews, guidance content, campaign materials and member stories.
• Produce engaging written content for use across partner websites, newsletters, industry publications and other external channels to increase awareness and engagement among professional musicians.
• Create compelling copy for printed marketing materials, brochures, flyers, conference materials, advertising, promotional campaigns and other communications collateral.

Website Content & SEO:

• Work closely with the Website and Marketing Manager to develop and implement SEO strategies that improve the visibility and performance of ISM content.
• Undertake keyword research and analysis to identify opportunities to attract new audiences through search.
• Develop search-optimised content plans that support campaign objectives, improve organic rankings and generate qualified traffic to the ISM website.
• Lead on link-building activity and identify opportunities to secure high-quality backlinks through partnerships, media coverage, guest content and sector relationships.
• Monitor content and SEO performance, making recommendations to improve effectiveness and support membership acquisition objectives.
• Produce regular reports on content performance, audience engagement, SEO outcomes and campaign effectiveness.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work closely with the Senior Communications and Social
• Media Officer to ensure consistency of messaging and alignment between content and social media activity.
• Promote the activities of the ISM Group, including events, webinars, campaigns, resources and the work of the ISM Trust and ISM Members Fund.
• Contribute to the development of content partnerships and relationships that expand the ISM's reach and create additional routes to market.

Publications & Sector Engagement:

• Work closely with the CEO on the planning and production of Music Journal, the ISM's magazine for members, ensuring content reflects the strategic priorities of the organisation and delivers value to members.
• Identify and secure speaking opportunities that raise the profile and influence of the ISM and support organisational objectives.
• Help coordinate speeches, presentation materials, briefing documents and supporting content for the CEO, in-house legal team and other SLT members as required.
• Attend industry events, conferences and exhibitions when required to support communications activity and increase the profile of the ISM.
• Carry out any other duties as requested by the CEO or SLT.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential:

• Excellent copywriting, editing and proofreading skills with the ability to write for a variety of audiences and channels.
• Significant experience creating high-quality digital content, including website articles, blogs and campaign content. Strong project management skills
• Strong understanding of inbound marketing and the role of content in audience engagement and conversion.
• Experience of SEO, including keyword research, on-page optimisation, search content development and link building.
• Proven ability to develop content that increases engagement, reach and organisational profile.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Good analytical skills with the ability to use data and insights to improve content performance.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a positive, solutions-focused approach.
• Excellent understanding of the music sector and the professional challenges and opportunities facing musicians.
• Experience of using tools such as SEMrush,
• Ahrefs, Moz or Google Search Console. 

Desirable:

• Experience of working within a membership organisation, charity, professional body or trade association.
• Experience commissioning and managing external writers, agencies or content suppliers.
• Experience of the arts and wider creative industries.

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays, and extra days accrued on completion of service, up to 30 days. Part-time staff are entitled to leave pro rata.
• Five days' extra leave over the Christmas period (part-time pro rata).
• Workplace pension contribution of 3% in the first year and 10% after one year’s employment.
• Discounts include travel, fashion, days out, lifestyle, motoring, and more.
• Your professional development will be discussed with your line manager regularly in one-to-ones and an annual appraisal.
• Opportunities for learning and development are supported by external and internal training sessions and attendance at sector conferences and events.

Conditions of employment

• Please note that all offers of employment require two references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply, please send a CV and covering letter saying why you are the right person for the job to [email protected]. The closing date is Tuesday 1st September 2026 at 8.30 am.
• For further information, please contact [email protected]
• Applications written using ChatGPT or any other AI generator will not be accepted.
• The Job Description

Interviews

• First interviews will take place face-to-face on Tuesday 8th September 2026.

Policies

We welcome applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, faith, family status or sexual orientation. To ensure we are meeting the needs of all musicians, we particularly encourage applications from communities which are underrepresented. ISM members are welcome to apply.

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