Communication officer jobs

The COO will translate BLiM's mission and strategy and ensure its well-run, properly resourced, with its ambitious day-to-day delivery. You will free the CEO to focus on strategic leadership and external influence by owning operations, people management, financial oversight and internal systems.

The COO will be a senior leader who shapes organisational culture, makes operational decisions, manages complex stakeholder relationships and drives the performance of a passionate, high-commitment team. You will be the person the organisation looks to when it needs clarity, stability and momentum.

The COO joins at a moment of leadership transition following the departure of BLiM's co-founder and Director of Operations.

Why Join Us:

Black Lives in Music (BLiM) is a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing racial equity across the UK music industry. We amplify the voices of Black artists, music professionals and communities; drive systemic change; and hold the industry accountable for meaningful progress. Through research, advocacy, programming and strategic partnerships, BLiM creates the conditions for Black talent to thrive.

BLiM has published ground-breaking research including the Being Black in the UK Music Industry report, produced the UK's first Black classical music festival in Classically Black, influenced government policy on live music licensing, and built a network of over 100 partner organisations across the four nations. BLiM is now entering a new phase of its development, with a strengthened leadership team, a Target Operating Model designed to carry the organisation beyond its founding era, and an ambition to become the UK's most influential voice for racial equity in music.

Person Specification 

Essential

• Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally as a COO, Head of Operations or Director of Operations in a charity, social enterprise or purpose-driven organisation.

• Demonstrable track record of building and improving operational infrastructure: systems, processes, policies and ways of working that make organisations more effective and resilient.

• Proven people management experience, including line management of senior staff, performance development, recruitment and team culture-building.

• Strong financial literacy, including experience of budget management, grant compliance, financial reporting and working with a board finance function.

• Experience of leading or supporting governance processes, including board reporting, risk management and compliance.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex operational information into clear, accessible reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to racial equity and an understanding of the specific systemic barriers faced by Black professionals, artists and communities.

• The emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill to lead with care, build trust quickly and navigate complex relationships under pressure.

• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a small, fast-paced, mission-driven organisation where the work is varied, the stakes are high and no day is the same.

Desirable

• Experience of working in or with the music industry, creative industries or arts and culture sector.

• Familiarity with Arts Council England funding frameworks, charity law and the regulatory environment for non-profit organisations.

• Experience of implementing or managing a CRM system, project management platform or other operational technology.

• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) frameworks and how to embed inclusive practice into operational systems and culture.

• Experience of leading an organisation through a period of significant change, transition or growth.

• An existing network within the UK music sector, creative industries or racial equity and social justice space.

At BLiM, we're interviewing on a rolling basis, so we'd encourage you to apply sooner rather than later!

To be considered for a first interview, please include a Cover Letter with your application. This initial conversation will be relaxed and informal, and we'll take you through the full interview process together so you know exactly what to expect at every stage.

About This Job

This job is to work with the cadet media and communications team in creating and delivering digital marketing strategy to increase awareness of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) mainly through digital platforms including our website and social platforms with the target of increased traffic, awareness, and recruitment. It is an exciting new role with lots of opportunity for personal and professional growth in a hard-working team.

Essential Skills

· A recognised qualification or proven success in digital marketing

· Hands on marketing / communications experience

· Minimum of 1 year experience in marketing

· Knowledge of digital marketing and communications practices

· Content creation abilities

· Use of social media to achieve marketing and communications objectives

· Awareness of graphic design principles and familiarity with Illustrator, Photoshop, or other imaging / graphic design software

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further information.

Our charity

The Combined Cadet Force Association (CCFA) is a charity dedicated to the promotion of the ideals and activities of the Combined Cadet Force in schools. Together we want to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and be inspired through their cadet experience.

We want to develop the youth leadership and training abilities of adult volunteers whilst also helping young people to access cadet activities through fundraising, grant-making, developing new resources and direct support.

We strongly believe that everyone benefits when you help young people to develop their character and values through activities that stretch and mature them. We also know that when young people engage with others at a range of levels in their communities it builds confidence and improves empathy for other’s lives.

Who we are

You will enjoy being part of our small team who work very happily together. By joining CCFA you will help us to reach more young people and make a greater difference and we look forward to working with you. We actively promote and encourage you to explore ideas that improve all aspects of the charity’s work in pursuit of its charitable aims.

The charities are proud of our diverse teams, with people on different working patterns, from different backgrounds and at different life-stages. Our experience has taught us that having people with different perspectives and different lived experiences leads to better outcomes for our beneficiaries. If you are wondering if our organisation is for someone like you, the answer is yes! Please apply and explain how you, your experience, your talent and your potential are the right fit for this role.

What we can offer you

In addition to your salary, we offer all staff:

· Flexible working arrangements (you agree a working pattern with your line manager).

· The ability to work both from home and from our Aldershot office.

· Personal Accident Insurance, including loss of earnings cover and death benefit.

· 15 days of sick pay in any 12-month period (after 12 months employment - pro-rata for part time staff).

· A contributory pension scheme (you contribute at least 5% and we will contribute 10%).

· Good leave allowances (which are offered pro-rata for part time staff):

o 20 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

o Additional privilege leave, on set days each year, such as between Christmas and New Year.

o An additional five days of volunteering leave.

· Support for qualifications and personal development.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Season ticket loan.

· Railcard (if you are eligible)

· A caring and supportive team environment.

How to apply

Please send a CV and Cover letter that details how you meet the requirements of the job description by 2359hrs by Sunday 14th June 2026.

Interviews will be held in person during the week commencing Monday 29th June 2026.

While AI tools can be beneficial, we value the personal touch and authenticity in job applications. We encourage you to highlight your unique experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring all information is accurate. Please use AI tools responsibly and with integrity throughout the application and selection process.

Please note that as a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people, we require staff to make a declaration about any relevant convictions, undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check, Right to Work check and a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check (one of the requirements being that applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years). In addition, we will follow up references.

Please be advised that this position may close earlier than the stated deadline if a sufficient number of high-quality applications are received. To ensure your application is considered, we strongly recommend submitting it as soon as possible. Candidates will be notified of the next stage in the recruitment process if they are shortlisted.

Claudia Jones organisation (CJO) Is looking to appoint a highly skilled Executive Director with experience of working in the Voluntary/Community sector to support the development of the organisation. This is a key appointment funded for 1year.

CJO is one of the few small Black lead charities in London, enhancing the quality of life for African Caribbean Women and Families. Founded in 1982 at the request of Caribbean women, CJO delivers family-centred services for women with children 0-16yrs, Gender- based violence support, connections for older people, health and wellbeing activities, counselling and therapeutic interventions to inspire and empower African Caribbean heritage women and families.

Reporting to the board of directors/trustees, the Executive Director will oversee the strategic and operational efficiencies of our programmes and staff. This experienced leader will not only understand the working of the voluntary/community sector but also have experience in developing and implementing a successful fundraising plan. Experience of hiring and managing staff is essential and establishing relationships with local community groups is a plus. Most importantly, the Executive Director should be highly effective in a Leadership role that requires clear communication skills and decisiveness. It is important that the post holder embraces our community -based broader philosophy of investment in our community.

Note: Considering the nature of work and focus of the Claudia Jones Organisation, the organisation considers the candidate’s race and gender, to be an occupational requirement in accordance with Paragraph 1, Schedule 9, of the Equality Act 2010. Black and ‘Minority Ethnic’ Women only need apply (Schedule 9, Part 1, 158 and 159 Equality Act 2010). We are an Equal Opportunities employer

Objectives of this role

•  Support the development and cultivation of an active and engaged Board of trustees, standing and advisory committees
•  Work closely with the Board/Trustees and committees to assess and address issues affecting the organisation
• Identify, engage leverage and cultivate community resources, influence and connections to further the initiatives and mission of the organisation
•  Oversee daily operations of the organisation, providing executive direction for programmes, strategies and efficiencies, compliance and quality assurance
• Identify and address staffing requirements for efficient operations, and maintain a strong work culture that attracts and retains people while driving the organisation’s mission
• Increase awareness of the organisation by being the main spoke person of the charity for external communication, both verbally and written
• Develop capital and operating budgets for assigned programmes, planning for short and long-term program needs
• Comply with all national and local regulations

Responsibilities

•  Create business plans to achieve goals and objectives and presenting to the board/trustees for approval
• Meet annual fundraising goals in partnership with colleagues/staff team to obtain financial support from grant giving organisations, foundations, statutory organisations, cooperations and other funding sources
• Work with Staff and Board/trustees on other annual community initiatives, programmes and all external communications, including website, newsletters, promotional materials including the media
• Serve as the face of the organisation and participate in external events to increase visibility, credibility and market brand, and develop strategic partnership to further increase community awareness and expand programmes
• Build and lead an effective team that’s dedicated to fulfilling the organisation’s mission through highly successful programmes, community engagement and fundraising
• Manage staff members, volunteers and clients whose experience, cultures and languages reflect the community served by the organisation

Required Skills and Qualification

• Five or more years of experience in senior management preferably with a Charity
• Strong experience in public relations, marketing and fundraising
• Knowledge of leadership and management principles for voluntary/community sector
• Proven success working with a board of directors/trustees
• Innovative approach to business planning
• Dynamic and charismatic team player who enjoys being the public face of the organisation

Preferred Skills and qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in business, human resources or finance
• Experience in managing budgets
• Exceptional verbal, written and visual communication skills
• Experience in community engagement and volunteer development
• Experience in working in a cross functional and complex reporting environment

JOB SPECIFICATION

Essential

• At least 5 years relevant experience of managing a charitable organisation.
• Demonstrable senior leadership and strategic management
• Demonstrable passion for, or commitment to, the work of CJO
• Good understanding of the charity sector’s regulatory frameworks and legislation.
• Experience of building positive working relationships and managing teams/performance.
• Good judgement and able to act decisively
•  Collaborative, open and able to constructively challenge and inspire
• In-depth knowledge of managing family support and VAWG/GBV services that includes children and young people 
• Experience of working in and managing organisational change and development
• Experience of working with consultants and contractors
• Demonstrable experience of working in the sector and understanding of the challenges of the African Heritage women and family
• Demonstrable experience of successful fundraising from a range of sources including trust and foundations and maintaining relationships.
• Substantial experience of budget management and financial accountability at £150K and above.
• Experience of managing a varied and demanding workload
•  A credible and inspiring communicator and negotiator

DESIRABLE

• Experience of gaining quality marks for services.
• Experience of using case management systems.
• A good understanding of GDPR.

APPLICATION GUIDANCE

•  Following the points above will assist you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and assist the panel in ensuring an accurate assessment of your application.
•  Respond to each person specification point in order when completing your supporting statement
• Provide practical examples of how you meet the criteria where possible. Examples can be from paid / voluntary roles / your life experience. 

 HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are asked to submit:

• a CV of no more than 2 sides of A4, font size 12
• a Supporting Statement of no more than 3 sides of A4, font size 12
• Our completed Equality & Diversity Form

Closing Date & Time: 29th May 2026

Interview Date: Interviews are expected to take place in person On 08th June, 2026

If you have not received a response to your application within 21 days of the closing date you can assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Should you be successful, two satisfactory References from previous employers are required and an Enhanced DBS check.

CJO is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

All candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK.

We will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.

Freshwater Habitats Trust is the UK’s leading charity for all freshwaters. We are an evidence-led conservation organisation working to protect freshwater wildlife through practical, innovative and scientifically robust conservation projects across the UK and Europe.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Project Officer to lead and support the development and delivery of Natural Flood Management (NFM) and wider freshwater conservation projects. The role will involve working closely with farmers, landowners, partner organisations, regulators and local communities to design and implement practical interventions that deliver multiple environmental benefits, including flood resilience, habitat restoration, water quality improvement and biodiversity recovery.

The successful candidate will play a key role in translating ecological evidence and catchment priorities into deliverable on-the-ground projects. This will include developing funding opportunities, managing project delivery, overseeing contractors and surveys, supporting stakeholder engagement, and contributing to strategic landscape-scale initiatives.

The role will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including technical specialists, project teams and senior management, helping to ensure projects are evidence-based, deliverable and aligned with Freshwater Habitats Trust’s wider conservation objectives.

This position requires a proactive, organised and enthusiastic individual with strong project management and communication skills, who works well collaboratively whilst remaining self-motivated and solution focused. Experience of catchment management, landowner engagement and practical habitat restoration delivery would be highly advantageous.

Freshwater Habitats Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Application pack and further details available from our website

Please send the application form as well as your CV

No agencies, please.

Closing Date: Friday 12 June 2026 at 5 pm

Interview Date: Monday, 22nd 

CHA is recruiting an experienced and values-driven Chief Operating Officer to lead our central operations and support the delivery of high-quality housing and care services.

As COO, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across residential and sheltered services along with the finance, estates, HR, and other central services—driving performance, ensuring compliance, and enabling sustainable growth. You will work closely with the CEO and Board while leading a diverse team of senior leaders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading delivery of organisational strategy and continuous improvement
• Managing central teams and driving high performance
• Overseeing financial planning, budgeting, and resource management
• Ensuring compliance, risk management, and governance
• Leading estates strategy, capital projects, and IT/digital development

About you:

• Proven senior leadership experience (housing, social care, or related sectors)
• Strong financial, operational, and people management skills
• Inspiring leader with a collaborative and solution-focused approach

Additional requirement:
Due to our Christian ethos and heritage, there is an occupational requirement for the post holder to have a personal Christian faith.

At Endometriosis UK, we are passionate about driving political change for the 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth living with endometriosis in the UK. This role will play an instrumental role in supporting the campaigns and policy function within the wider Communications Team.

This will be a busy, varied and important role working closely with the Policy and Campaigns Manager and Head of Campaigns and Communications to provide administration and wider support for the charity’s growing policy and campaigns function. This will include contributing to the production of government consultation responses, writing letters to politicians, producing background briefings ahead of parliamentary meetings and taking responsibility for political monitoring and informing the team of any engagement opportunities. A key part of the role will also be providing administration support for the policy function of the charity and the Head of Communications and Campaigns, including administrative support for the All-Party-Parliamentary Group on Endometriosis which Endometriosis UK provides secretariat support for. Tasks will include writing minutes, helping produce briefing papers, and booking events and meeting rooms.

You will also be the first point of call for our campaign supporters and will be aiding our supporters to take campaign actions through the drafting and creation of e-actions using Engaging Networks. You will be an exciting opportunity to help build our campaigning work and work towards the goals of our new 2025 organisational strategy.

Closing date for applications is Monday 25th May at 5pm. Interview date will be Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at our offices in London Bridge.

Please note that for capacity reasons, we are only able to get back to successful candidates on the status of their application.

Position: Communications and Engagement Officer

Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Hours: 22.5 hours per week, 1 day working from home allowance

Salary: £24,454 FTE (£14,870 actual); 5% pension contribution, 33 days of annual leave entitlement (inclusive of bank holidays) pro rata

Contract type: Permanent

Reportable to: Communications and Engagement Manager

Direct reports: No direct reports

Benefits:

• 5% pension contribution
• 33 days of annual leave per year (pro rata) which increases with length of service
• Enhanced sick leave entitlement with length of service
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Individual training budgets
• Discounts on local Barnsley Gyms
• Free parking in the town centre

Job Purpose

At an exciting time of growth and strategic development, Barnsley CVS is looking for a creative and motivated Communications and Engagement Officer to help tell our story and strengthen connections across the borough.

In this entry-level role, you will support how we communicate, connect and engage with local communities, members, stakeholders and the wider VCSE sector. You’ll help bring our work to life – creating accessible, engaging content and supporting campaigns that showcase the impact of local organisations and the difference they make every day.

Working as part of a small, supportive team, you will contribute to delivering communications that inform, inspire and involve. From digital content creation and social media to events and community engagement, you’ll play a hands-on role in helping people understand, access and take part in opportunities across Barnsley.

You will also help ensure that we are quick and effective at responding to the voices of local people and organisations. Your role will be key to supporting Barnsley CVS’s mission to build a strong, connected and thriving VCSE sector that has a positive impact on communities.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone starting their career in communications and engagement, who is passionate about communities, keen to develop their skills, and motivated to make a meaningful difference.

To be successful in this role, you will be someone who already has some experience and knowledge of communications and digital media but also has a genuine interest and passion for the VCSE/Charity sector in Barnsley and is motivated to highlight the work of the sector across our Borough.  Paid working experience is not essential if you can demonstrate an appetite and a commitment to charitable causes and creative communications.

We are looking for an experienced professional with a blend of communications and media experience who can push forward a union-led strategic communications agenda, and who can also enhance the ITF’s position in the media as the global voice of transport workers. This hands-on role will span communications and media work across the ITF.

You will be part of a team delivering solidarity and support to local, national and global disputes, building communications that reinforce the critical role of transport workers around the world, developing strategies to support union-led policies on everything from health and safety to sustainability, and raising the volume on the global struggle to advance the rights of transport workers everywhere.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, this role will work collaboratively to implement communications strategies for the ITF’s industrial work programmes and their priority campaigns. The role will include targeting diverse audiences including transport workers, employers, media, policy makers and political leaders. The role will also play a crucial role in ensuring that industrial priorities and issues are reflected and integrated in organisation-wide communications.

The Communications and Press Officer will lead on the implementation of the ITF’s global media strategy: the role is pivotal to securing media coverage that raises awareness of the work and priorities of the ITF internationally, across broadcast, print, online media and trade press, while also monitoring the media coverage we gain, evaluating impact and providing insights to help shape future media work.

The role will also be central to developing communications content across the ITF’s industrial sections, from website news stories to in-depth reports and communications support for ITF conferences, meetings and other events: you will need to be able to develop expert knowledge of policy and industrial issues facing transport workers, and effectively interpret and analyse issues and challenges and translate them into compelling and engaging communications outputs.

We are looking for someone who is able to develop, manage and maintain strong relationships and operate in a politically charged environment, someone who has a growth mindset, thinks globally, works with a relational approach, is receptive to feedback, actively values diversity, and who acts with integrity and transparency.

If you’re driven to improve the lives and livelihoods of workers through undertaking innovative and bold communications work, we invite you to apply. 

About the team

The role of the ITF Communications Team is to elevate our work on global issues and drive collective action to improve the rights of all transport workers.

The Communications Department leads strategic thinking around communications across the ITF’s industrial sections, global regions and key areas of focus, including women and young transport workers, sustainability, health and safety, the future of work and supply chain accountability. The scope is vast.

You’ll join a team committed to using its skills and knowledge to push the envelope for worker and people-driven change ― working to advance the ITF’s current strategic directions:

• To grow and activate our membership.
• To position the ITF at the forefront of innovative campaigning.
• To influence global and regional policy.

The team sets and delivers strategic communications, setting the creative and strategic vision for digital engagement, content production, design, branding, media relations and building stronger networks and collaboration with our affiliated unions.

This position is based at our London headquarters, though we warmly welcome applications from candidates who would prefer to work from one of the ITF's regional offices around the world; in such cases, salary and benefits will be aligned with the relevant regional office location.

Supporter Engagement & Fundraising Communications Manager — Go Beyond £35,000–£37,000 | Fully Remote | Permanent | Full-time

Go Beyond has given over 21,000 vulnerable children life-changing residential breaks since 1994. Young carers who spend their days looking after parents. Children living in poverty for whom a school holiday means hunger, not adventure. Kids who've been bullied or bereaved and need a week away from their ordinary life.

The charity is entirely self-funded. £1.8 million a year, every penny raised by supporters. No government money. Which means the work this fundraising team does is directly and specifically what makes those breaks possible.

This is the role that sits at the heart of that.

What makes this moment unusual:

Go Beyond's flagship campaign, Ice Cream Moments, launches this summer — backed by Louis Theroux, James Acaster, David Gower and Jenny Agutter. The trustees want to go viral. A legacy programme is built and ready to launch. An alumni programme connecting with 21,000+ former beneficiaries is research-complete and waiting for someone to open the door. And a loyal supporter base of 200–300 regular givers — many of whom have been giving for over a decade — is generating £90,000 a year with almost no stewardship behind it.

Sara, the Director of Fundraising, describes what's needed like this: "Think of this as your own company. Think of this income stream as your domain — you could make it something amazing."

What the role involves:

The Supporter Engagement & Fundraising Communications Manager will own the supporter communications function end to end. This is a project management and strategy role — not an execution role. The doing sits with two direct reports and a network of freelancers. Your job is to build the plan, manage the team, deliver the campaigns and make sure the data tells you what's working.

In practice that means:

• Building and managing proper supporter journeys for regular givers, challenge event runners and Ice Cream Moments donors
• Project managing the full campaigns calendar — four annual appeals, Ice Cream Moments, challenge events, and a growing digital communications programme
• Developing and implementing a data strategy, setting up income dashboards and overseeing the CRM
• Launching the legacy programme and, in time, the alumni programme
• Managing two direct reports: a Digital Marketing Officer and a Data & Admin / Challenge Events Officer
• Writing an 18-month strategy with proper pipelines and income forecasts

What we're looking for:

This is not a pure fundraiser role or a pure marketing role. It's a hybrid — and the right person will see that as a feature, not a confusion.

• A track record of owning campaigns end to end — not being part of them, owning them. Specific examples, with dates, outputs and results
• Genuine data literacy — comfortable in a CRM, able to run queries, understand segmentation. Not expert-level, but curious enough that you're never caught out
• Financial awareness — you ask what the target is before anything else. You work backwards from an income number
• Hands-on as well as strategic — you can delegate and direct, but you can also do
• Strong project management — multiple workstreams, freelancers, deadlines you can't move

Charity sector experience is welcome but not essential. Commercial direct marketing, agency-side or individual giving backgrounds are all genuinely considered.

What Go Beyond offers:

• £35,000–£37,000 with annual pay review benchmarked to sector
• Fully remote — with the option to use Go Beyond's centres in Cornwall and Derbyshire
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Friday afternoons off — the whole business shuts down, every week
• Management training through the British Growth Fund's six-week programme
• A collaborative, supportive team culture in a genuinely mission-driven organisation

This role will suit you if:

You're energised by building rather than maintaining. You want to own a function, not just a job title. You think in income as well as engagement. And you want to be part of something where the work — the campaigns, the supporter journeys, the data — is directly connected to a child getting a break they wouldn't otherwise have had.

This role is being recruited exclusively through Raise + Recruit, an independent executive search adviser specialising in the charity sector. All enquiries are handled in complete confidence — including from your current employer.

To find out more or to express interest, contact John Austin. No lengthy application process at this stage — a conversation is all it takes.

Full candidate brief: https://go-beyond-roan.vercel.app/

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver the voice of our organisation, bringing our work to life, strengthening our profile, and supporting campaigns that drive meaningful change. You’ll play a key role in amplifying the experiences and perspectives of the communities we work alongside, ensuring their stories are heard with clarity and impact.

We’re looking for a confident and creative communicator with a strong instinct for storytelling. You’ll be experienced in producing engaging content across digital, media and campaign channels, able to tailor messages for different audiences, and comfortable building relationships that help extend our reach and influence.

Joining a values-driven organisation at the intersection of law, campaigning and social justice, you’ll take ownership of day-to-day communications while contributing to a wider mission and supporting long-term, systemic change. This is a hands-on role with real scope to innovate, grow your skills, and make a tangible difference.

Main Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging and consistent communications across digital, media and campaign channels to support PILC’s profile and impact
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to turn casework, legal work, and campaign activity into clear, accessible, and audience-friendly public communications
• Manage core communications channels, including website, social media, and newsletters, using insight to improve reach and engagement
• Support campaign activity and external engagement, including press, digital content, newsletters and events 

Benefits

• 25 days holiday per year with 7% employer pension contribution, plus additional time off over Christmas when our office closes
• Flexible working around our core hours of 10am – 4pm
• Friendly, collaborative and truly inclusive culture
• Laptop and mobile phone
• Access to our 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Learning and development budget
• Enhanced support when you need it most, including enhanced sick pay and family leave

How to apply

Please complete the application form and equality and diversity monitoring form on our website. Please note, we do not accept CVs. 

We are seeking a creative and conscientious communications leader with exceptional attention to detail and demonstrable expertise in developing and delivering high-impact strategic communications outputs in the international development or third sector. We are a relatively small team and are therefore looking for someone who is both highly strategic and able to see the ‘big picture’, while also being happy getting stuck in at an operational level to ensure timely, on-budget delivery of outputs. Experience of working with or within networks or membership organisations would be a particular asset in this role. It is also important that you are comfortable working across all areas – from digital, to design, to publishing, to events – as well as being an exceptional project manager, confident liaising with a range of partners and stakeholders at different levels, and an experienced line manager.

The Global Distributors Collective (GDC) is in an excellent position, with a strong track record of delivery and impact, a solid funding pipeline, and a clear 2026-30 strategy. High-impact communication crosscuts the entire GDC programme and is essential to ensuring that beneficial products can be made affordable and available to all. As Communications Manager (maternity cover), you will therefore need to both hit the ground running to deliver our ambitious schedule of upcoming communications activities – from in-person and online events, to high-profile research, publications, and digital outputs – as well as to work proactively with the Head of GDC, Bopinc team, GDC strategic advisors, and fellow communications colleagues to shape and embed communication activities across a range of new projects that are kicking off in 2026-27.

About Practical Action and the GDC

Practical Action is an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world. For the past eight years, Practical Action has been hosting and building the Global Distributors Collective (GDC): a collective of 300 last mile distribution companies that cumulatively reach millions of the poorest consumers in the world with beneficial products like solar lanterns, water filters and improved cookstoves. GDC activities are delivered in collaboration with strategic and implementing partner Bopinc.

The GDC provides a collective voice for distributors to ensure their priorities are heard; drives research and innovation across the sector; facilitates the exchange of information, insight, and expertise; and provides critical services that leverage economies of scale.

Moving into our 2026-30 strategy phase, we are proactively shifting from creating and setting up advisory services and tools that support last mile distributors to embedding and scaling these initiatives. Specifically, we will focus on four key strategic pillars:

· Unlocking finance: Prepare more last mile distributors (LMDs) for investment and help to unlock country-level financing mechanisms and create LMD-focussed debt facilities. 

· Strengthening business performance: Deliver training, shared services, and data tools that reduce business costs and improve efficiency, in scalable formats.

· Scaling innovation: Identify, test, and replicate high-value business innovations and remove eco-system barriers.

· Shaping systems and local leadership: Build local chapters and influence global and national agendas so LMDs are visible, valued and represented. 

About you

We are looking for a go-getting, ambitious and proactive communications specialist who is ready to lead the GDC communications team to deliver a range of high-impact, top-quality, communications activities over the next 12 months. To succeed in this role, you must be a communications all-rounder, an experienced line manager, and an excellent written and verbal communicator with exceptional attention to detail, robust project management and interpersonal skills. You will be a strategic thinker with the ability to multitask, work independently and adapt in a fast-paced environment, while also being willing to “muck in” in our relatively small team. Depending on where you are based, demonstrable experience of managing remote staff will be important; as will the ability to thoughtfully support and coach team members to achieve their full potential.

Why join us?

This is the opportunity to lead a globally recognised initiative driving innovation and impact in last mile distribution. At Practical Action, you will be part of a values-driven organisation committed to reducing poverty and inequality through sustainable, practical solutions. You will work alongside passionate colleagues and partners, contributing to meaningful change for communities around the world. We offer a collaborative and inclusive working environment that supports learning, innovation, and personal growth.

We treat all applications for employment on their merits and do not take into consideration any factors that are not relevant to the job such as disability, race, age, religion, gender, gender reassignment or sexual orientation. Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.

Additional information

We are seeking candidates based in ether Kenya or the UK. The successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in the country in which they will be based. Please note this is being recruited as a 12-month fixed term contract. Hybrid working pattern; if UK-based, the role could be predominantly home based

To apply please submit a copy of your CV and supporting that includes the answers to the following questions:

1. Why do you consider yourself a strong candidate for the role of GDC Communications Manager at Practical Action?

2. What most excites you about working on the Global Distributors Collective programme?

3. What do you think would be your biggest strength and steepest learning curve in this role?

With support from our part time Communications Manager, the Communications and Events Officer will play an active role in delivering communications to our various audiences, including potential and existing donors (corporates, HNWIs, other charitable foundations and statutory agencies) and grant seekers as a means of raising our profile as the go-to organisation for charitable giving and philanthropy advice in the East End.

You will play a crucial role in telling the story of the Foundation and the difference our funding is making to those experiencing hardship in East London.  Your work will inspire potential supporters to help us tackle inequality locally. 

Being a member of our dedicated and hard-working team in our fast-paced charity, you will need to be an organised, driven and pro-active team player with excellent communication skills, able to respond willingly, flexibly and positively to unexpected changes or demands.

Specifically, you will help to identify, write, edit, co-ordinate and publish content across various channels, including EECF’s website, social media, newsletters and print. 

Alongside these you will lead on the co-ordination of our various events aimed at both our donors and voluntary sector audiences.

Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate provides information, advice, guidance and practical and emotional support to victims of hate crime and hate incidents to help them cope and recover from their experience and exercise their rights under the Victims Code. We also work to raise awareness and encourage reporting of hate crime across Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire. 

The role of a Training and Community Engagement Officer is an exciting and diverse one. You will be responsible for engaging with communities, including those most at risk of or directly impacted by hate crime, to improve awareness and understanding of hate crime, how to report it and how to access our specialist support service. You will do this in a variety of ways including by delivering awareness raising sessions and activities and attending events. You will also provide initial information, advice and guidance to victims of hate in the community and facilitate referrals into our specialist support service. You will be responsible for the development of meaningful and trusted relationships between communities and the service, so that the people who need our support know how to and are confident to access it. You will also be responsible for delivering our awareness raising training to professionals and communities. 

Flexibility is a key characteristic of all our posts, and the post-holder may be asked to carry out other tasks consistent with the grade from time to time. 

This role is based at our offices in Hanley but most of your time will be spent working in communities across Staffordshire and regular travel is a key element of this role. 

Equality and Diversity:  

All staff members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity. We recognise and celebrate the positive value of diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. 

YHA is looking for an experienced and strategically minded Head of Communications and Engagement to lead how our story is told through a period of organisational change. This role owns our corporate narrative and shapes compelling communications that strengthen YHA’s voice and influence.

Working across the organisation and with external partners, you’ll develop and deliver integrated corporate communications that inspire engagement from staff and stakeholders, and ensure coherent and consistent messaging which amplifies YHA’s impact as a leading youth charity, social enterprise and force for good, and support income growth.

Why work for YHA?

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well-being and career growth:

• 10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family

• Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal

• Free YHA Membership each year

• Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program

There are many more benefits to working for YHA so please visit our website for more information.

What will you be doing as Head of Communications and Engagement?

• Own YHA’s corporate narrative, tone of voice and organisation‑wide communications strategy

• Lead integrated internal and external communications that strengthen brand, impact and income growth through a period of strategic transformation.

• Develop and deliver strategic messaging to support YHA’s organisational transformation and long‑term objectives

• Champion communications best practice across the organisation, working closely with the marketing team, digital team and senior leaders

• Plan, coordinate and oversee corporate content, publications and communications scheduling across all channels

• Line manage the Internal Communications Manager

• Lead on media relations and press engagement, including external agency support and spokespeople

• Strengthen YHA’s external presence, reputation and profile as a national youth charity and social enterprise

• Lead stakeholder engagement, partnerships, policy influence and horizon scanning for emerging risks and opportunities

• Manage crisis communications strategy and process

• Steward and leverage YHA’s heritage and archives to support impactful storytelling ahead of the 100‑year anniversary

What Skills and Experience do you need?

• Experience in communications, with a proven track record of developing and delivering strategic, organisation‑wide communications in a complex national organisation

• Strong ability to shape and communicate clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences across multiple internal and external channels

• Demonstrable experience of leading media relations, PR campaigns, stakeholder engagement and reputation management, including crisis communications

• High‑level writing, editing and content‑planning skills, with a creative and audience‑focused approach

• Ability to interpret complex organisational information and translate it into engaging, accessible and inspiring communications

• Experience influencing and advising senior leaders, bringing authority, constructive challenge and a cross‑organisational perspective

• Proven ability to identify reputational risks, anticipate emerging issues and recommend strategic communications responses

• Experience building productive partnerships and relationships with senior stakeholders, partner organisations, public bodies and agencies

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, work to deadlines and find solutions under pressure

• Demonstration of our HEART values – they’re part of everything we do, and we look for people who bring them to life in their everyday work

For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please refer to the job description.

At YHA, we understand the richness of life experiences, and we place just as much importance on lived experiences as we do on skills and knowledge. We provide a robust induction, ongoing training, and opportunities for personal growth. While certain roles may require specific skills, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. For more information about how we are creating an inclusive workplace please visit our jobs website.

Who are YHA?

YHA is a social enterprise with a mission to enrich the lives of all, especially young people. YHA does this by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.

If you would like to find out more about YHA the charity, the culture, the heritage and so much more please visit our jobs website.

How do you apply?

Submit your CV and complete the application form. For more information about our recruitment process, visit the job website.

Once the hiring manager has reviewed your application we will contact shortlisted candidates. We aim to get in touch within a reasonable amount of time after the closing date. You can also check on the progress of your application if you have signed up to Connect - our online candidate portal

PLEASE NOTE All relevant checks are in place to ensure safeguarding and legal requirements of safer recruitment are adhered to. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.