We are offering a fast-track route to an Account Manager role within our political monitoring team. This is a deadline-driven role that involves scanning and summarising the day’s political proceedings into well-written, easily understood reports. This is not an in-depth policy job; we run a production shift akin to a busy newsroom, gathering and scanning large volumes of text for relevance to our clients. For this reason, we’re looking for a candidate who is already well-versed in the day-to-day workings of Holyrood and its proceedings. The successful person will have an interest in politics beyond academic study, experience of scanning/summarising and fast typing. The induction and training process will involve shadowing an existing staff member while training up on client interests and the different monitoring tasks that happen simultaneously across each shift. This post is subject to a three-month probationary period.
Applicants with very direct experience may be fast-tracked to Account Manager status.
Duties will include:
- Monitoring daily outputs from the Scottish Parliament, Westminster & European institutions;
- Monitoring news sources, websites and research bulletins for client relevance;
- Summarising data, pro-actively searching sources and providing links to online information;
- Compiling information into daily and weekly briefings;
- As part of an account team, managing relationships with key client contacts and maintaining regular communication (both face-to-face and phone/email) to ensure all their requirements are being met;
- Assisting in the preparation of up-to-date policy profiles and research;
- Keeping effective notes and records as well as maintaining client data;
- Identifying new business opportunities and developing services to enhance portfolio;
- Assisting with training workshops and events (as workload allows);
- Reporting from party conferences and attending policy and networking events as required;
- Providing a helpful and responsive helpdesk service for client requests.
Skills & Knowledge Required
The successful candidate will be:
- Extremely knowledgeable of Scottish Parliamentary processes and activities;
- Able to demonstrate experience in handling fast-paced working environments;
- An instinctive teamworker able to produce accurate work under pressure of time;
- Able to demonstrate an ability to exceed customer expectations and develop rapport with clients;
- Organised and able to respond to fast-changing situations while still meeting deadlines;
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
About Us
We are newsdirect, a political intelligence company providing daily monitoring of political news and parliamentary proceedings across the UK. We work from offices on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and in Cardiff Bay, close to the devolved assemblies that we report on.
Our Edinburgh team consists of Account Managers (each looking after a themed portfolio of clients), Reporters (covering live and recorded proceedings), Editors (looking after themed and generic bulletins) and Researchers (providing support across the team). Strategic support is provided by the Director, Deputy Director, Head of Research and Administrator.
The service we provide involves the reading and scanning of large volumes of text, ranging from parliamentary legislation to online news articles. Some parliamentary proceedings are listened to and summarised live, so staff must be able to précis complex (and often conflicting) arguments into summarised reports, while still giving an accurate report of deliberations. Our clients include large public agencies, influential trade bodies and campaigning charities. Staff on our research team monitor a vast amount of information, across a range of sources, every day, using their knowledge of each client’s interests to identify the specific items that will be of relevance to each recipient.
Our reputation is built on the talent and dedication of our research and reporting teams who work closely together to provide a seamless service. Staff training is of the utmost importance to us, with everyone participating in a structured development programme - from trainee to senior account manager - with regular support sessions and weekly team meetings.
Hours
37.5 hours per week, 08:00 – 16:30. Evening and weekend working is required to cover policy events and party conferences
Salary
Newsdirect is proud to pay the Scottish Living Wage.
Trainee Account Manager: £16,087.50 during training/probationary period
Account Manager: £17,000 - £21,000