Campaigns officer

Salary: £28,305

Deadline for applications: 10am, Monday 21 July 2025

Interviews: week commencing 28 July 2025

An exciting and demanding role which requires an individual who can effectively undertake and prioritise a wide range of tasks to support English PEN’s mission.

English PEN is the founding centre of PEN International, a worldwide writers’ association with over 130 centres in more than 90 countries. We have a strong track record in campaigning in the UK and internationally. Our work has included campaigns for individual writers at risk; advocacy on UK legislation; coordinating residencies for writers; supporting displaced and exiled writers in the UK; and convening roundtables, events, and vigils relating to our campaigns work.

To support our work in these areas, we are seeking to appoint a Campaigns Officer to join our team.

This full-time post is based in English PEN’s small but busy London office. The Campaigns Officer will report to the Head of Campaigns, who leads on our campaigning work across the organisation, and will work closely with the wider English PEN team.

English PEN celebrates the diversity of literature and envisions a world with free expression and equity of opportunity for all readers and writers. The Campaigns Officer will play an essential part in achieving this vision.

Key duties

• Researching and monitoring key issues and individual cases of concern
• Providing tailored support to writers at risk nationally and internationally
• Working with displaced writers in the UK to develop their creative practice
• Leading on the project management of PENWrites, our international letter-writing campaign
• Providing practical and pastoral support to resident writers

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• Proven organisation and administration skills, including attention to detail and a systematic approach
• High standards of literacy and numeracy
• Experience of communicating orally and in writing with diverse individuals and organisations
• Excellent interpersonal skills including being an active listener
• Good IT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Ability to work well in a team and independently, to positively and proactively solve problems
• Enthusiasm for English PEN’s mission and values
• Flexible, with a ‘can do’ attitude
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Capable of managing a diverse portfolio of work
• Committed to principles of diversity and equality and implementing these within all areas of work
• A professional and confident manner with a commitment to a high standard of work

Desirable

• Experience of human rights campaigning/research
• A passion for literature
  

For the full job description, person specification and instructions on how to apply, please click the Apply button.

English PEN wishes to encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries and charity sector. Please note, applicants must have a legal right to work in the UK.

Please include in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.