We are looking for an intelligent, confident and enthusiastic Research Assistant to join the Research Team of our lively and friendly communications agency.

Based in central London we are seeking someone who is keen to join a busy office environment. The research function is a key part of LCA’s service to clients. The role of Research Assistant presents a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to join a successful, growing company where they will be immersed in a wide variety of work, for a range of clients within a fun, motivated environment.

This is a chance for somebody who has been working in research or politics for a short time (ideally 6-12 months) to develop and expand their skills.

In your role as Research Assistant you will be working with the Research Executive. The research team is managed by Director Jenna Goldberg and Board Director Chris Madel. Your key roles include:

1. Monitoring and distilling key intelligence for LCA and its clients

• Working to the Research Executive, monitoring the activities of the Greater London Authority, its committees and members and functional agencies including attending key GLA meetings, reading and summarising reports and scrutiny documents.
• Tracking borough political activity, updating local authority profiles and notifying account teams and borough specialism teams to changes in political composition / council AGMs and changes to cabinet / heads of department / chief execs
• Monitoring the activities of other London agencies and bodies, e.g. London First, London Councils
• Keeping on top of political issues relevant to London at local, regional and national level and particularly in sectors of interest to LCA clients – planning, housing, development, transport and health
• Supporting the Research Executive in the tracking of legislation through Parliament, updating the team on progress and preparing reports / briefings for clients
• Monitoring social media and traditional media of relevance to clients, preparing reports and insights and updating account teams as needed
• Understanding the needs of the client-facing staff and providing them with the intelligence and knowledge to add value to their clients
• Drafting reports for LCA’s clients on issues or individuals that affect their work
• Reporting weekly internally to the LCA team on GLA issues

2. Supporting the LCA team on new business and marketing

• Providing research and support on the production of LCA’s regular election briefings including political analysis, prediction documents, presentations and London political maps, particularly in the lead up to the 2018 local elections.
• Assisting other LCA staff with the design and production of marketing presentations, speeches, publications, brochures and other materials.
• Supporting the LCA team in producing tenders and new business proposals

3. Supporting the LCA team to produce LDN – London in short, LCA’s award-winning monthly news magazine

• Helping to identify stories and trends to be included in LDN each month, especially for the politics sections and any special features
• Drafting stories and features and supporting the editorial and production process

4. Maintaining LCA’s intelligence systems

• Regularly updating LCA’s database of political contacts, particularly the GLA, London boroughs, MPs and key London agencies (boards and senior staff)
• Maintaining LCA’s online and hard copy ‘library’ of policy papers, political manifestos and other important documents
• Be aware, understand and investigate other research programmes/packages that may be of benefit to LCA. Present these to line managers as necessary
• Liaising with LCA’s parliamentary and media monitoring services to ensure they are up to date and as effective as possible

Ideally the successful candidate would have 6-12 months of relevant experience with:

• Enthusiasm for and good understanding of local and regional government, especially in London
• A background and interest in politics and research. Experience of communications/PR may also be helpful
• Excellent drafting skills – especially in terms of distilling long, information-rich briefing documents
• A real eagerness to learn and develop on the job and be a core part of the LCA team
• Knowledge of efficient research tools and techniques
• Ability to ‘get inside’ organisations being monitored, to understand their announcements and interpret what they mean to lay people
• Organisational abilities – to stay on top of a complex workload without ‘letting any balls drop’, manage that work and know when to bring in Directors and other team members
• Ability to build relationships with relevant regional and national organisations so that LCA can be aware of upcoming publications and reports
• A good sense of humour
• Attention to detail
• Good IT and presentation skills

If you think you would be interested or would like to hear more about the job description, or would like to send through your CV and cover letter, please email recruitment@londoncommunications.co.uk.