The social networking company Facebook is looking to hire former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs for a senior post.

Once one of President Barack Obama’s closest assistants Gibbs is to help manage communications in advance of an initial public offering planned for early next year.

Gibbs, who left his White House job last month after a two-year stint, had planned to help establish Obama's 2012 re-election campaign before moving to the private sector.

However, Facebook wants Gibbs to consider the matter more quickly, said the sources, who requested anonymity.