The Bristol Cable is a community-owned media cooperative, owned and supported by thousands of people across the city. We’re recognised internationally as a pioneer in the movement for a new media, our mission is to redefine local journalism as a community asset, which is accountable to our readers. Together, we hold power to account through groundbreaking investigations, campaigning for change, and amplifying marginalised voices. 

We produce award-winning local journalism, in print and online, made free to access for all by members. We don’t chase breaking news, but instead dig deeper into key issues with original angles, including the local impacts of national and international issues.

About The Role

The Engagement Lead is the driving force behind the Cable’s presence and engagement with people in Bristol, and responsible for our membership growth and retention. You’ll build and deepen our relationships with existing and new members among Bristol’s many communities and organisations, via outreach activities and events that connect people with our journalism and the wider conversations around it.

You’ll organise informative and empowering community events in collaboration with community members, democratically engage our membership in driving the Cable forward, and pull off big public events such as our AGM, training workshops, and high-profile speaker events.

You’ll coordinate our volunteers, including our board of voluntary directors, and identify areas and new opportunities for volunteers to get involved such as distributing our quarterly magazine and promoting the Cable among their communities.

Your first points of focus will be contributing to our next membership campaign, and developing our community and member engagement strategy. We are looking for somebody to consolidate and improve our approach to gaining and retaining members, working with volunteers and directors, and finding new audiences. Your role will be core to the Cable’s mission and future sustainability.

Aside from our main roles, every Cable team member is part of the staff cooperative. We all have a shared stake in the work we do and how we work together, so all team members contribute to key decisions and the overall direction of the Cable, including our priorities, strategy and general operations.

Person Specification

Essential

• Ability to work independently, proactively and strategically
• Proficient and confident in digital skills such as document and spreadsheet creation, training in and/or experience using a CRM (Customer relationship management) platform such as Spektrix or Zendesk.
• Experience using email marketing communications and social media inbox to regularly communicate with stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, managing multiple priorities
• A track record of building and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse range of communities – from wealthy donors to people usually under-represented in media
• Experience in member conversion/retention to meet organisational goals, or similar area (e.g. fundraising, marketing, sales)
• Experience in community organising activities and events
• Knowledge of communities and networks in Bristol
• A confident, personable and effective communicator, able to connect with a wide range of people and audiences, communicating professionally and concisely in person and in writing
• Ability  to speak at and facilitate  public events as a representative of the Cable
• Enthusiasm for democratic and inclusive ways of working
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends, as needed for event coordination or volunteering tasks (you can claim these hours back as TOIL)

Desirable

• Driver’s licence and access to a car
• Experience managing teams of people (e.g. groups of freelancers or volunteers)
• Experience as a community organiser/outreach worker, voluntary or paid
• Experience of working with people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds
• Experience of being part of a group organised using principles similar to those found in sociocracy or holacracy
• Experience working in third sector, charity or similar fundraising environments for social justice, human rights and public health causes.

What We Offer

• A permanent position in our staff team, subject to a 6-month probationary period and funding.
• A salary of £28,680 pro rata, with opportunities for increases.
• 36 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays, plus up to 5 days extra paid time off at Christmas, and up to 15 days unpaid holiday allowance, both pro rata.
• A pension scheme with a 3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution.
• Flexible working based on team hours, and a period policy, to help you work when works best for you.
• Monthly socials.
• External supervision to support you with the emotional labour and people work you’ll do.
• A personal training, professional development and wellbeing allowance to help support you.
• A key role in a values-driven and purposeful team, with huge freedom to shape your work, evolve your role, and contribute to our strategy.
• Cycle to work scheme

Key Information

Contract: Permanent (subject to funding)

Hours: 4 days per week.

Salary: £28,680 pro rata (Note: The Cable has an equitable pay structure where the pay differential between the lowest and highest paid is no more than 20%. This is band 3 out of 5 – 10% above base.

Location: Bristol Cable office: The Station, Silver Street, BS1 2AG (with work from home flexibility, but you will need to be able to attend the office several days a week)

Applications closing date: Sunday 1 December, 5pm

Any questions? If you have any questions please email applications@thebristolcable.org.

We particularly encourage applications from women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and people from working class backgrounds.

How To Apply

For full information & how to apply, click the button below.

Applications close at 5pm on Sunday 1 December. Interviews will take place on Monday 9 December and Wednesday 11 December.

Please mention Journo Resources when you apply, it really helps us out.