Campaigns manager jobs

Help Change Attitudes towards Childhood

At Barnardo's, we believe in children – and in the power of influencing attitudes to create lasting change. As part of our Strategy & External Affairs department, the External Communications & Engagement function plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of the issues facing children and strengthening support for our work to deliver positive change.

We're looking for an experienced and ambitious Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) to lead our advocacy campaigning activity and help coordinate impactful communications across the charity.

What Will You Be Doing as the Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning)?

• Lead and deliver advocacy campaigning activity that supports Barnardo's strategic aim to change attitudes towards childhood
• Oversee and manage a single, central communications grid bringing together activity from across the charity to maximise impact and audience experience
• Work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across Strategy & External Affairs, Fundraising & Marketing, Children's Services and other departments to plan, prioritise and integrate communications activity
• Collaborate with the Voice & Influence team to ensure children, young people, parents and carers help shape our advocacy and campaigning work
• Line manage up to five colleagues, providing clear leadership, support and development

This is a senior, influential role at the heart of shaping Barnardo's external voice which combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership. You'll be part of a committed department that shares learning, supports wellbeing and is united in a clear mission: delivering change for children.

What Are We Looking For?

We're looking for a Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) who has:

• Significant experience (at least five years) working in communications, advocacy and/or campaigning
• Experience of line management and operating effectively within matrix-managed environments
• A strong track record of communications planning in a large or complex organisation
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• A creative, curious mindset, with the ability to adapt quickly in fast-changing contexts

You'll also be able to attend in-person meetings at least twice a month in central London, and occasionally elsewhere in the UK.

Salary: £48,000 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: UK (minimum 2 days per week in the London office)

Work Pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week with the opportunity for flexible working hours

Reporting To : Associate Director Advocacy & Campaigns

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit an anonymised CV and covering letter (please remove any identifying details such as name, address, or photos) by 23:00 on Monday 25 May via Workable.

In your covering letter, please demonstrate your motivations for applying for the role, how the position aligns with your career plans, and the experience (professional, voluntary, or lived) that makes you a strong fit for the role in line with our values and the criteria outlined in the job description.

We encourage candidates to ensure their responses reflect their own skills, experiences, and personal voice. If AI tools are used, candidates will be asked to explain how and why they used them. Please see our Using AI - Guidance for Job Applicants for further assistance.

INTERVIEW STAGES

The selection process will consist of three stages (dates will be confirmed with shortlisted candidates):

• First-round interview w/c 1 June 2026
• Second-round interview w/c 15 June 2026

Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation (10 minutes maximum) on a policy and campaigning topic. Candidates should allocate no more than 3 hours to prepare this task.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Mission 44 exists to drive change and build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world. As our work continues to expand, so does our ambition to influence policy, shift power, and drive systemic change by addressing the barriers young people face and advancing evidence-based solutions.

The Senior Manager, Policy & Campaigns will be central to this mission, leading the development of policy positions and research that strengthens Mission 44’s ability to influence decision-makers and shape public discourse.

Mission 44’s impact model brings together strategic investment (through grantmaking) and targeted influence to drive systemic change. The Senior Manager will work closely with grantmaking teams to ensure that insight from funded work is embedded in policy and research, while also feeding learning and evidence back into funding strategies to strengthen decision-making and maximise impact.

The role will lead and manage Mission 44’s policy and research agenda, acting as a key point of contact for partners and building trusted relationships across government, the education and youth sectors, and civil society. The role will lead the development of policy recommendations, commission and translate research into clear, actionable outputs, and collaborate with internal teams and partners to align policy priorities with wider organisational objectives and maximise influence.

The role also plays a critical role in advocacy and external engagement, ensuring Mission 44’s voice is present in key policy moments, supporting strategic campaigns, and connecting research and insight to high-impact opportunities that drive political attention and sustained change at a national and global level.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

POLICY

• Lead the development and delivery of Mission 44’s policy strategy, aligned to organisational priorities and focused on driving systemic change for young people
• Develop clear, evidence-based policy positions and recommendations that influence government, civil society, the education sector and key decision-makers
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with policymakers, advisors, think tanks, academics, and sector leaders to strengthen Mission 44’s influence
• Identify and shape opportunities to influence policy agendas, consultations and legislative processes at national and global levels
• Work cross-functionally to align policy priorities with external engagement and advocacy activity
• Monitor and analyse political and policy developments across relevant landscapes, leading on timely evidence-led responses and providing strategic insight and recommendations
• Track and evaluate the impact of policy and advocacy activity, using insights to refine strategy and approach
• Account manage Mission 44’s external policy and research partners and consultants, ensuring high-quality delivery and value for money

CAMPAIGNS

• Support the design and delivery of integrated advocacy campaigns that connect policy, research and storytelling to drive political attention and action

• Work closely with partners and young people to co-create campaigns, ensuring their voices and experiences shape campaign priorities, policy recommendations and delivery approaches
• Work cross-functionally with communications and partnerships teams to maximise influence
• Identify and leverage key moments, partnerships and platforms to elevate Mission 44’s voice and policy agenda
• Contribute to campaign messaging and narratives that translate policy positions into compelling calls to action for target audiences

RESEARCH

• Commission and oversee high-quality research, ensuring outputs are rigorous, relevant, and actionable
• Translate complex research and data into compelling policy briefs, reports, and insight-driven narratives to support advocacy and influence

• Ensure all policy and research outputs are accessible, inclusive and reflect the lived experiences of young people

ABOUT YOU: SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL 

• Strong experience in policy development with a track record of influencing decision-makers
• Experience shaping or contributing to successful community-led movements, advocacy campaigns or policy change initiatives
• Deep understanding of political and policy-making processes, ideally in education, employment, social justice, or youth-focused areas
• Experience in participatory and youth-centred research approaches, including co-creation with young people and gathering insight through polling, perception studies and stakeholder engagement - alongside more traditional research methods
• Ability to translate complex research and evidence into clear, persuasive policy recommendations and narratives
• Proven experience building and managing senior stakeholder relationships across government, civil society, education, employment and/or youth sectors
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including producing high-quality briefings, reports and consultation responses
• Experience leading projects and managing external partners 
• Strategic thinking skills, with the ability to identify and act on opportunities to influence policy agendas

DESIRABLE

• Experience working in or with government, think tanks, charities or advocacy organisations
• Experience in working with young people to create campaigns or advocacy initiatives
• Knowledge of UK and/or international policy landscapes relevant to Mission 44’s focus areas
• Familiarity with youth engagement approaches and/or incorporating lived experience into policy development
• Experience working with high-profile stakeholders
• Understanding of media and communications as a tool for policy influence

PERSONAL QUALITIES  

• Passionate about creating a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world 
• Highly motivated, proactive, and able to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Strong relationship builder
• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work cross-functionally and bring others with you
• Confident and persuasive, with the ability to engage and influence senior audiences
• Analytical and curious, with a strong attention to detail
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage competing priorities and ambiguity
• Works flexibly and proactively without close supervision

Benefits

• Enjoy 28 days annual leave, plus a day for your birthday
• Use our cycle-to-work scheme and free gym access
• Save for retirement with our generous pension package
• We finish every Friday at noon in August
• Optional health insurance and acccess to an EAP
• Professional development budget of £1k
• Unlimited volunteering leave, as agreed with your manager
• Wellbeing allowance to spend in whatever way works for you
• Competitive parental leave package

As one of the founding funders of A Bed Every Night, we have been at the forefront of efforts to reduce rough sleeping in the city region. The funds we have raised have gone to frontline services offering a warm welcome, hot food, safe shelter and wrap-around support to help move people into more stable accommodation. However, our support for the homelessness ecosystem extends beyond A Bed Every Night, as we also provide funding for initiatives, organisations and projects that can help stop homelessness before it becomes a reality, and ensure it is only ever rare, brief and non-recurrent.

Working with businesses, people and communities across Greater Manchester, we raise funds to deliver grants across three priority areas:

1. Emergency Response

2. Places and Spaces

3. Prevention

2026 is an exciting year for the Charity as we embark on the next phase of our growth and look to appoint a new Communications & Campaigns Manager to help us drive this forward. If you are ready to bring our vision to life, excited to work within a small but committed team dedicated to addressing homelessness in Greater Manchester, then we look forward to receiving your application!

Role outline and purpose

The Organising and Local Mobilisation (OLM) Manager is responsible for managing ongoing support to food banks as they organise and campaign for change. This varied, proactive, and fast-paced role will involve working closely with grant funded Local Organisers as part of Trussell’s Organising Programme, frequently visiting food banks and delivering online and in person training.

You will hold responsibility for providing direct support as food banks develop effective campaign strategies – covering local and Trussell priorities – and ensuring they have the capacity, skills, and resources to deliver them. You will also work closely with other departments at Trussell and external partners to support food banks outside of the Organising Programme to influence locally and play a leading role in mobilising them to campaign for change. 

This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Network area-wide delivery of the Organising Programme: Lead and manage the delivery of OLM’s Organising Programme in your network area, recruiting food banks to join, providing in person and online training and ongoing relational support to Local Organisers to ensure campaign strategies are developed and delivered. Organise and lead area-wide training, clusters, or events for food bank staff and volunteers to promote co-operation and sharing of good practice around local influencing. 

· Training, learning and programme development: Play a key role in the design and delivery of a programme of training and other learning for food banks covering organising, mobilising, and influencing. Contributing to impact and process evaluations and assisting food banks involved to explore future sources of funding, as required.

· Supporting food banks to influence locally: Empower food banks to develop their local influencing work, triaging influencing issues and managing input from other relevant Trussell Trust experts to provide ongoing support that enables the food bank to progress their influencing work. 

· Mobilising food banks in Trussell’s campaigns: Support the development and promotion of national Trussell policy campaigns, working with other teams and external partners to engage the food banks you support in taking action - including how they might take ownership of campaigns locally and help shape those priorities.

· Internal stakeholder engagement: Project manage OLM’s involvement in assigned cross-organisational projects – e.g. a policy campaign or strategic project, ensuring the OLM team are consulted, negotiating with other teams and making decisions accordingly. As part of an area-based matrix team you’ll work closely with other food bank facing staff to ensure a joined up approach to food bank support, effective communication, as well as sharing learning and best practice. 

· External stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with food bank leaders, staff, volunteers, and trustees, as well as establishing effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders such as local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

·  Experience of delivering organising work and/or campaigning for change at a grassroots, local and/or national level. 

· Excellent knowledge and understanding of the political landscape of your assigned area. 

· A confident communicator with the ability to successfully influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders, including food bank staff and volunteers, local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

· Knowledge and experience of a wide range of campaigning tactics, campaign planning and developing theories of change. 

· Ability to develop and deliver training for organisers, trustees, staff and volunteers from food banks, including event management. 

Behaviours and competencies:

· Demonstrate a commitment to the values of Trussell. 

· Role models inclusive behaviour and values, including demonstrating empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds. 

· Able to build effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and with differing life experience, including in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part, and in which people of all faiths and none collaborate to make a difference together.  

· Effective project management ensuring alignment with the Trussell vision and strategy and collaborative working to maximise integration and effectiveness of activities

· Is tenacious, proactive, creative and propositional, and makes things happen. 

· Able to solve complex problems; with a self-motivated and solutions-focused outlook 

Key Stakeholders

·  Food banks, including local organisers, project managers, volunteers, and people they support. 

· The wider OLM team. 

· Network Area Teams, who support food banks in their day-to-day work

· Grants team 

· Participation team 

· Making Social Security Work programme team

· Others TBC