Communications Officer

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced communications professional to join us at the National Galleries of Scotland. If you’re skilled in seeking out news, love telling a good story through press and social media content creation, excel in writing engaging copy and thrive on building relationships, we want to hear from you.

This role is perfect for someone who is able to demonstrate strong previous communications experience, along with a track record of working in a press office and is excited by our mission to make art work for everyone. You don’t need to be an art expert. Curiosity, enthusiasm and being proactive matter more than formal art knowledge.

You’ll help us to communicate with visitors and potential visitors to our three Edinburgh galleries – the National, Modern and Portrait. Sharing Scotland’s incredible art collection with audiences locally, nationally and internationally through press, digital and social media. From major exhibitions, loans and new acquisitions to conservation breakthroughs, publications, and community projects.

You will work with colleagues across the organisation as well as in collaboration with external partners such as Edinburgh Art Festival, Scotland+Venice, and Visit Scotland.

This is an exciting opportunity to play an important part in sharing Scotland’s amazing art collection. Shaping stories that will reach millions of people across the world through press and creating social media content.

Working days will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. This role is hybrid but requires you to be on site for a minimum of 3 days a week with the remaining day working from home.

• Planning and delivering thoughtful, well‑planned earned media campaigns for upcoming exhibitions from online, broadcast and print to podcasts, You Tube, and social media.
• Identifying great stories and photo opportunities and pitching them confidently to global media.
• Building relationships with journalists, content creators, and production companies from tabloids to podcasts to specialist publications.
• Writing engaging copy for press releases, colleague updates, and our website along with creating social media content.
• Organising events such as press views, influencer partnerships and photocalls to deliver creative and eye‑catching content.
• Actively working in a busy press office, responding to enquiries by email, telephone, and social media.
• Providing regular reporting on press activities, including evaluating results and learnings.
• Responding to issues or crisis situations.
• Creating high‑quality social media content.
• Drafting award submissions.

• Proven experience as a Communications Officer and within a press office or in a similar role in communications at a similar level.
• Planning and delivering impactful communications campaigns.
• Securing meaningful media coverage and be able to tell us how you did it.
• A creative, enthusiastic, and proactive approach to seeking out interesting stories that will appeal to our audience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create and edit audience‑focused content, such as press releases, website copy, social media posts, and internal updates.
• Creating exciting and engaging social media content.
• Strong organisational skills with experience of delivering projects on time.
• Influencing, communicating and working well with other people across departments and as part of a team.
• Staying calm, confident and in control under pressure. Able to work quickly to tight deadlines.

• Understanding and experience of the culture sector.
• Visual arts awareness.
• Public affairs experience.
• Knowledge of copyright.
• Familiarity with Gaelic language.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.