Communications Officer (Maternity cover)

EMBL-EBI is looking for an enthusiastic Communications Officer (maternity cover) with strong content production skills. You will develop high-quality content and support the day-to-day running of corporate social media profiles. You will also use your media relations skills to generate press coverage for EMBL-EBI stories.

You will be joining a high-performing, friendly and collaborative team that works with colleagues across the institute and the other EMBL sites. Our team is constantly evolving, creating space for bold ideas in how we communicate EMBL-EBI’s work and impact.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Content development 

• Develop inspiring narratives and engaging content across various formats and platforms for a range of audiences.
• Ensure that content reflects and supports our communication and strategic goals and ambitions.
• Test innovative and creative approaches and storytelling techniques to bring to life EMBL-EBI’s science and technology.

Media relations

• Establish and maintain active and effective relations with journalists and other communications professionals. 
• Support internal spokespeople by providing training, briefings, and guidance to help them represent EMBL-EBI in the media.
• Identify the media potential in stories of a technical nature.

Digital

• Plan, develop, publish and evaluate content on social media channels to inform, engage and inspire our audiences. 
• Use your judgement in the day-to-day running of social media channels.
• Ensure EMBL-EBI’s content is optimised on web platforms.

Other

• Evaluate and report on success of communication activity and campaigns.

• Supporting the delivery of internal and external events with creative ideas and strategic approach.

You will have 

• At least three years of experience in communications and public relations
• Experience in academia or the life sciences
• Excellent media handling skills and experience liaising with journalists 
• Demonstrable social media experience, including analytics and reporting
• Strong ability to draft high-quality, impactful content for diverse audiences
• Ability to deal with complex scientific issues and statistical data and explain them clearly to non-scientific audiences
• An excellent command of spoken and written English
• A proactive, open and professional attitude, as well as the ability to build relationships with people at all levels 
• Strong organisational, time management and priority-setting skills 
• The ability to work independently and as a member of a hybrid, geographically-distributed team
• Willingness to help and to ask for help during busy periods as part of a high performing tight-knit team
• Able to communicate with impact and listen actively, respecting the views of others so they feel valued and heard 

You may also have

• Experience using generative-AI tools
• Experience of creating digital and social media assets using industry standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and Figma
• Experience in event organisation 
• Knowledge of French, German, Italian or Spanish 

Due to the urgency around contract start date to allow for a handover, our preference is for applicants who are either already UK-based or open to immediate relocation. 

We welcome applications from candidates who are available to start in role in March/April 2026.

Contract length: 9 months supernumerary fixed term contract - Maternity cover

Salary: Grade 4 - monthly salary starting at £3.064,61 per month after tax but excluding pension and insurance contributions. 

Find out more about the EMBL-EBI Communications team.

Next Steps: This position will be advertised from Monday, 26th January 2026. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. The closing date for applications is Sunday, 8th February 2026. Please submit a fully up-to-date CV and cover letter. 

The team is targeting the week commencing, Monday, 16th February for virtual panel interviews. 

Why join us

Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.

Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential. 

Campus life & benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns 

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: On-site nursery, maternity leave and holiday clubs on campus
   

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. 

• Learn how EMBL-EBI makes an impact

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date