Welcome to the application page to volunteer for a position on the SYP Oxford Committee.
Applications to the SYP Oxford 2026 committee open between 20 October–17 November. Please apply via the form at the bottom of this page.
Positions on the Oxford Committee are open to applicants based within the Oxford area. If you wish to apply to be a member of one of the other committees (Ireland, London, North, Scotland, South West, Wales, or the UK central committee) return to the main Volunteer with the SYP page.
Please note that while these positions are voluntary, it does require a commitment for the year to keep the society running successfully. Each position will involve participating in committee meetings, communicating via the Oxford Committee and cross-branch Slack channels, as well as promoting and supporting SYP activities.
Society of Young Publishers’ Mission
With 8 branches across the UK and Ireland, all volunteers within SYP work collectively to support those looking to get INTO and AHEAD within the publishing and book industry across these areas:
- Skills and Knowledge: Empower publishing hopefuls and developing publishing professionals with access to events and resources.
- Community and Collaboration: Build supportive networks where members can connect and share experiences.
- Inclusion and Accessibility: SYP is committed to encouraging an inclusive and diverse publishing landscape.
General Committee Responsibilities:
- Attending Monthly Committee Meetings, recording relevant analytics and feeding back successes and opportunities for growth.
- Joining the Regional Branch-specific Slack channel and participating in communications with the Oxford Committee.
- Joining the Cross-branch Slack channel and participating in communications with relevant members in other branches including UK leads if relevant.
- Supporting and helping to promote a range of SYP activities including attending events and engaging with SYP content.
- Core Systems SYP use include: Google Drive, Slack, WordPress, Canva, MailChimp / Mailerlite but you do not need experience across these.
The role descriptions are below and the application form is at the bottom of the page.
If you have any questions about the SYP volunteer application process, please refer to the FAQs page or, if your question isn’t answered there, contact us at oxford@thesyp.org.uk.
Applications open in October for the following roles
Oxford Communications Officer – Email
The Communications (Email Marketing) Officer is responsible for sending monthly newsletters to subscribers with updates on the branch’s activities, job adverts and other opportunities relevant to those wanting to get INTO or AHEAD in publishing in the area.
Responsibilities include:
- Curating a bespoke monthly newsletter for the Oxford mailing list
- Communicating with different committee members to seek updates for the newsletter
- Maintain consistent communication with the UK Communications Lead (Email Marketing) and other regional communications officers to refine cross-branch best practices and support one another on projects
- Working closely with the Oxford Communications Social Media Officer to coordinate communications across all platforms
- Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that email campaigns are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.
Knowledge of, or a willingness to learn about, the newsletter, communication skills, design, subscriber retention, and promotion techniques is important, as are organisational skills. This role offers opportunities to expand your media contact list and develop your writing, creativity, and communication skills, and is well suited to someone interested in marketing or publicity.
Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford Chair(s), Oxford Communications Officer (Social Media), UK Communications Leads, Regional Communications Officers and Events Officers
Oxford Communications Officer – Social Media
The Social Media Officer is responsible for overseeing SYP Oxford’s social media activity.
Duties include:
- Managing the SYP Oxford’s, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts [add in extra accounts if applicable to your branch]
- Devising strategies to increase engagement and followers across Oxford accounts, which includes engaging with partners and SYP social media followers
- Maintain consistent communication with UK Communications Leads and other regional communications officers to refine cross-branch best practices and support one another with overarching SYP communications and inclusivity/ accessibility aims
- Contributing to a social media committee-wide content calendar focused around promoting upcoming activities, recently launched content, and membership benefits
- Designing social media assets (images and/or videos) and other marketing material for upcoming Oxford activities using Canva
- Ensuring accessible practices on social media, such as writing alt-text and reviewing social media in-built accessibility tools, in conjunction with the Oxford Inclusivity Officer
An understanding of, or willingness to learn about social media engagement, design skills are essential. This is a fast-paced role that offers opportunities to develop your organisational, communication, creativity, design, and customer awareness and care skills.
Time Expectation: 4 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford Committee, Regional Communications Officers and UK Communications Lead (Social Media)
Oxford Digital Content Officer – Podcast
The Digital Content Officer (Podcast) is responsible for creating, editing, and promoting podcast episodes for the Oxford branch.
Duties include:
- Maintain consistent communication with the UK Digital Content Lead and other regional Digital Content Officers to taken part in the podcast schedule and develop best cross-branch practices involving marketing, transcription and accessibility
- Curating career-focused and enticing publishing content for our podcast subscribers targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing
- Liaising with publishing professionals for podcast interviews
- Creating digital assets using Canva to promote new podcasts and liaise with the communications team to promote the podcast and increase subscribers
- Working with the Oxford communications team to promote the podcast and increase subscribers
- Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that podcast episodes are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.
Excellent organisational, time management and communication skills are essential. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, how to create and promote a podcast is required. Any previous experience in podcast production could be advantageous. This is an exciting role that offers opportunities to develop your editing, creativity, interviewing, and networking skills.
Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford Chair(s), Oxford Digital Content Officer (Blog), Oxford Inclusivity Officer, UK Digital Content Leads and Regional Digital Content Officers
Oxford Digital Content Officer – Blog
The Digital Content Officer (Blog) is responsible for creating content for the blog and resource centre with a particular focus on curating content for entry-level and mid-career professionals.
Duties include:
- Maintain consistent communication with UK Digital Content Lead and Oxford communications officers to add to a blog content calendar, share best digital content practices, and create digital content that is inclusive and targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing
- Working with the Oxford Inclusivity Officer to create and curate posts and content that is inclusive
- Working closely with the UK Digital Content Lead to update the website with career-focused content and publishing insights in various formats
- Liaising with established publishing professionals to curate and create SYP-exclusive content for our members through the Resource Centre
- Creating digital assets using Canva to sit alongside Resource Centre pieces and written blog content for the SYP website and content promotion
- Working with the Oxford communications team to promote the blog and resource centre and increase readership
- Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that blog posts are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.
Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford Chair(s), Oxford Digital Content Officer (Podcast), Oxford Inclusivity Officer, UK Digital Content Leads and Regional Digital Content Officers
Oxford Events Officer (2 positions)
The Events Officers are responsible for organising and promoting all SYP Oxford events.
Duties include:
- Maintain consistent communication with UK Events Leads and other regional Events Officers to participate in an events calendar rich in events targeted towards those looking to get INTO and AHEAD in publishing, and share best cross-branch practices involving inclusivity objectives, marketing approaches, and cross-branch event collaborations.
- Organising online/ hybrid/ in-person events targeted at members (free and/or exclusive) and non-members in the Oxford area.
- Liaising with publishing professionals to find a diverse range of speakers, and with various organisations, to organise collaborative events
- Working with Oxford’s committee members to plan and advertise events including uploading comprehensive event information to the site and marketing through a variety of channels, ensuring that events are advertised one month in advance at a minimum
- Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that events are accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.
- Key Events include: Regular book clubs; annual summer party with Princeton University Press; regular events alternating between social and networking/professional development themes and formats.
Great organisational and interpersonal skills are required, as are flexibility and the ability to adapt to unexpected developments. Prior event planning experience would be advantageous, but not essential. This role offers the opportunity to develop several skills often required in publishing: event planning, networking, diary management, promotional skills, and collaborative working.
Time Expectation: 4 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford Chairs, UK Events Leads, Regional Events Officers and Oxford Committee
Oxford Inclusivity Officer
The Inclusivity Officer ensures inclusive thinking is intrinsic in all the SYP does in order to allow both members and non-members to feel included and have a voice. Activities range from making venue suggestions for greater accessibility to finding ways to support under-represented people in our community through our applications process, events and digital content.
Duties include:
- Maintain consistent communication with UK Inclusivity Lead and other regional Inclusivity Officers to standardise procedures and discuss best practices across the organisation.
- Work closely with Oxford committee members to bring new procedures and guidelines to fruition. This includes working with Events Officers to ensure all external speakers and event content represent diversity and inclusivity, and the Digital Content Officers to ensure we are offering a range of content.
- Keeping abreast of new research in Diversity & Inclusivity and how this impacts the SYP
- Reviewing SYP policies and initiatives to improve our drive to be more inclusive (includes assisting with blind applications for application-based events or schemes including the Oxford mentorship scheme)
- Assisting with and organising the anonymising of applications for application-based events or schemes, such as committee applications and mentorship scheme applications
- Network and collaborate with internal employee network initiatives in collaboration with the UK Inclusivity Lead
- In conjunction with the UK Inclusivity Lead, getting involved with data collection and promotion of the SYP Inclusivity Survey 2025 report
Key skills needed for this role include good research, communication, and organisational skills, as well as diplomacy. This role offers research, collaborative working, and an opportunity to work alongside the whole committee to ensure its continual effort in maintaining and implementing inclusive policies and activities.
Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.
Works closely with: Oxford committee, Oxford Chair(s), UK Inclusivity Lead, Regional Inclusivity Officers
Oxford Mentorship Officer
The Mentorship Scheme Officer is responsible for overseeing the development of the mentorship scheme in the Oxford area, including the recruitment of mentors from April, the onboarding of mentors and mentees and the running of the scheme from August through to January.
Duties include:
- Maintain consistent communication with UK Mentorship Lead to oversee the mentorship scheme for the branch
- Working closely with the Oxford Inclusivity Officer and Oxford chairs to ensure all applications are fair and represent diverse and inclusive applicants
- Promoting the mentorship scheme in conjunction with the Oxford Communications team across Oxford channels
- Keeping in touch with existing mentors and mentees and troubleshooting mentor/mentee concerns throughout the year
- Gathering feedback from mentors and mentees of the branch scheme, and collaborating with other branches and the UK Lead to make improvements to the project
- Supporting the Spare Room/Zoom Project by promoting it in the Oxford area.
- Proactively and regularly reaching out to the Inclusivity Officer to ensure that the mentorship scheme is accessible and inclusive in terms of content and format.
Excellent organisational, time management and communication skills are essential. This is a great role that allows the successful applicant to take ownership over a long-running SYP initiative and make a difference to those seeking a mentor. The role offers opportunities to network with the wider industry, develop communication and promotional skills, event planning and hosting as well as people skills.
Time Expectation: 2–4 hours a week but time commitment will be higher in the run-up to the scheme launch.
Works closely with: Oxford Chair(s), Oxford Inclusivity Officer, UK Spare Room Project Officer and Regional Mentorship Officers
Student Outreach Officer x2
The Student Outreach Officer will be responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with universities in the Oxford area, and marketing SYP membership and activities/events to students throughout their term serving in this role (9–12 months).
Duties include:
- Maintaining consistent communication with UK and other regional Student Outreach Officers to report successes, opportunities for growth and best practices. Including frequent attendance in meetings.
- Actively making contacts at local universities, sending information about the SYP, and exploring event or collaboration opportunities with university professionals and the student community itself. For example, securing a spot for the SYP during Freshers Week or event promotion within university newsletters.
- Feeding regional job roles through to the UK Job Officer for the SYP Jobs Board, making sure that said roles are compliant with our salary transparency policy.
- Attend SYP activities/events where able, with the aim of promoting SYP membership to students.
Key skills needed for this role include diary management, ability to work within a team, strong communication, and organisational skills.
This role offers an exciting opportunity to gain insight into industry job opportunities, develop your research and networking skills, and learn to collaboratively work within a large team.
Average Time Expectation: 3 hours a week.
Please note: this commitment expectation may vary.
Works closely with: Oxford Chair(s), Oxford Committee, Regional Student Outreach Officers and UK Student Outreach Lead
The Society of Young Publishers especially encourages people of under-represented communities to apply. Barriers of entry into the publishing industry are particularly felt by people from under-represented backgrounds/experiences and the SYP is a great opportunity to get some experience to add to your CV. We particularly encourage you to apply if any of the following applies to you: people from Black, Asian, Latine, and mixed/multiple ethnicities; men, trans, and nonbinary people; aged 30+ years old; people who consider themselves disabled, including those with physical disabilities; people who are neurodivergent; and people who consider themselves to come from a low-income or working class background.
