Join the Housing Studies Association as Our New Social Media Officer

The Housing Studies Association is excited to invite applications for a new Communications Officer (Social Media) to join our Board in a co-opted role for an initial 12-month term. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and grow the online presence of the UK's leading interdisciplinary community of housing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

This role is ideal for someone who is creative, digitally savvy, and passionate about making housing research more visible, accessible, and engaging. You will play a key role in amplifying the Housing Studies Association’s activities, connecting with new audiences, and supporting a vibrant and inclusive housing research community.

About the Role

The Communications Officer (Social Media) manages the Housing Studies Association’s social media presence, ensuring active and strategic engagement with members, partners, and the wider housing studies field.

You will:

• Increase the Association’s visibility across digital platforms.
• Promote events, awards, and bursary opportunities.
• Highlight member contributions and community activity.
• Ensure messaging is clear, consistent, and engaging across all platforms.

You’ll work closely with the wider Communications team and other Officers to support strategic communication goals, event attendance, partnership promotion, and member engagement.

Key tasks

• Develop and schedule social media posts to promote the Association’s activities, including events, bursaries, and awards.
• Develop and schedule social media posts to promote blog posts, news articles and other member content from the Association’s website. 
• Ensure content is engaging, informative, and aligned with the Association’s key messages.
• Monitor trends and identify new opportunities to enhance social media engagement.
• Promote the Association’s events through targeted social media campaigns.
• Provide live updates and real-time engagement during key events, such as the annual conference.
• Respond to comments, messages, and mentions, engaging with members and external stakeholders.
• Highlight member contributions, research, and success stories to foster a sense of community.
• Track social media engagement and provide insights to the board on performance and impact.
• Recommend improvements to strengthen the Association’s digital presence and outreach.

Estimated time commitment: 1-2 hours per week, with peaks around major events and campaigns

This role is voluntary, and there is no financial remuneration for this role. To be eligible for this role, you must be a member of the Association or commit to joining the Association as a member. Reasonable travel expenses to board meetings within the UK are covered by the Association. 

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who is:

• Creative and enthusiastic, with a flair for engaging online content
• Experienced in managing or contributing to social media platforms (e.g., BlueSky, LinkedIn, YouTube)
• Comfortable using or learning social media scheduling tools (e.g., Buffer, Hootsuite)
• Able to write clearly, accessibly, and tailor messages for different audiences
• Collaborative and organised, with strong time-management skills
• Committed to inclusive communication and amplifying diverse voices
• Familiar with housing research, housing policy, or community development (desirable but not essential)

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are early in their careers, from housing practice or non-academic backgrounds, and those from groups underrepresented in academia.

Expectations of Housing Studies Association Officers

All Officers are expected to:

• Attend four Board meetings per year (including two in-person away-days and two online meetings)
• Attend and support key Association events, including the Annual Conference and Autumn Lecture.
• Work collaboratively with the rest of the Board to deliver the Association’s strategic priorities.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter (max 2 pages) to Dr Tom Simcock, Chair at [email protected] by Friday 30th May 2025.

Your cover letter should:

• Outline how you meet the role description and person specification.
• Share what you would bring to the role and any ideas for enhancing the Housing Studies Association’s digital presence.

If you would like an informal conversation before applying, feel free to contact Tom using the email above.

Why join the Housing Studies Association Officer Team?

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in a national-level role, support the growth of the housing research community, and help ensure the Association’s work reaches and resonates with a broad and inclusive audience. We look forward to hearing from you!