Communications manager jobs in leeds, west yorkshire

Embedded in the work of the Programme Department, the Communications and Marketing Manager is responsible for designing and delivering on communications and marketing plans designed to amplify our brand messages, and raise awareness of our mission with partners, and beneficiaries and help us achieve our vision.

This is a hands-on, operational role ideal for someone with significant experience of leading on communications activities, who thrives in a small team and enjoys delivering against long-term plans and managing day-to-day priorities. You’ll lead the delivery of all aspects of communications and marketing - from planning campaigns and managing social media to producing content and supporting fundraising efforts.

As well as working with the Programme Department to support and promote the work of our local partner programmes, the role will also create and maintain mechanisms to ensure all of our staff are informed and engaged with the full scope of our work and impact we enable.

Job TitleHead of Communications

LocationHome based (Home working with regular meetings in London)

Salary£45,000 - £55,000

HoursFull Time, permanent 

Reports to                   Chief Policy Officer 

About Parentkind

As one of the largest federated charities in the UK, with arguably greater reach into the lives of families and educational settings than any other non-Government organisation, Parentkind is on a bold and urgent mission: to support, champion, and empower parents to be partners in their children’s education and wellbeing. 

Although best known for our support of almost 24,000 Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Parent Councils, and Schools, helping them build strong school communities whilst they raise approaching £140 million each year to enhance children’s education, our work stretches far beyond the school gates. Parentkind is building a powerful movement that recognises parental engagement not as a nicety, but a necessity.

Supporting parents beyond the school gate

In recent years, families have faced a series of compounding challenges: the cost-of-living crisis, rising child poverty, and deepening educational inequality. These pressures have left many parents struggling to meet basic needs—let alone feel confident engaging in their child’s learning journey.  Parentkind has responded to this moment with compassion, agility and purpose, through a series of transformative campaigns, resources, and partnerships. 

Our No Cold Child initiative with FatFace stepped in to address a stark statistic: over 150,000 children in the UK do not own a winter coat due to poverty. Through our trusted relationships with schools we distributed 10,000 warm, high-quality coats worth £600,000 to the children who needed them most. Winning the Business Charity Awards ‘Fashion & Retail’ Award, and shortlisted for two further awards, the campaign has been praised not just for providing warmth, but for restoring dignity, inclusion, and school readiness to thousands of children.

The All Dressed Up campaign—developed with World Book Day and Rubies Masquerade—confronted the often-overlooked issue of financial exclusion on key celebration days. More than 100,000 free dressing up costumes worth £1.34 million were delivered to children from low-income families. By enabling participation in events like World Book Day, we helped spark imagination, joy, and belonging for children who might otherwise feel left out—boosting self-esteem and supporting a positive connection to learning.Furthermore, helping attract children into school on a day which often sees struggling parents keep their children at home.

Alongside these national campaigns, Parentkind supports families year-round through a growing suite of programmes designed to inform, prepare and empower parents. Our Be School Ready programme offers crucial guidance and confidence to parents preparing their children for the leap into primary education. With a mix of practical advice, developmental tips, and reassurance, through the distribution of 150,000 copies of Be School Ready and an online campaign, it supports families at one of the most formative moments in their child’s life.

We also deliver a wide-ranging series of live expert webinars and parent-friendly resources, covering topics such as managing anxiety, supporting special educational needs, navigating school transitions, and building home-school partnerships. These resources, developed in consultation with experts and rooted in lived parent experience, equip families to feel informed and empowered, no matter what challenges arise.

Our direct support of schools

Our collaboration with Asda on Cashpot for Schools is another example of unlocking support at scale. This innovative community-led funding model allowed shoppers to nominate and fund their local schools simply through everyday spending. This campaign has generated £5.78 million for schools during the past twelve months, supporting everything from basic classroom supplies to vital extracurricular programmes and pupil wellbeing initiatives. Also shortlisted for a Business Charity Award, it is already a model for community-driven philanthropy.

In April, we launched our Parent-Friendly Schools Accreditation Programme, designed to formally recognise schools that go above and beyond in fostering positive, inclusive relationships with parents. The accreditation celebrates schools that actively listen to parent voices, make engagement easy and accessible, and embed family partnership in their culture. It is a practical and inspiring tool to drive long-term change in the sector and offers a roadmap for schools wanting to strengthen their community.

Our focus on Policy & Research

Our work is grounded in evidence. Since 2023, we have conducted the UK’s largest annual parent survey: the National Parent Survey. With approaching 6,000 participants providing 130,000 bits of data to provide invaluable insights into the struggles, concerns, hopes and fears of parents. The findings are fed directly into government consultations and have already informed national debates on school funding, attendance, mental health support, SEND provision, and curriculum reform.

In each of the past two years the number of policymakers, educators, parents and researchers accessing the National Parent Survey exceeded seven thousand, and the survey featured in more than two hundred media outlets each year.Excitingly, the Times & Sunday Times are partnering with Parentkind to raise the profile even further in September 2025 and the survey will be launched at a lighthouse event featuring the Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson), the Ofsted Chief Inspector of Schools (Sir Martyn Oliver), the CEO of Mumsnet (Justine Roberts), the Children’s Commissioner (Dame Rachel De Souza), and our own Chief Executive (Jason Elsom). 

In addition to the National Parent Survey, Parentkind undertakes representative polling of parents throughout the year on a variety of important topics, which increasingly find exposure in the media and policy discussion.

Parentkind provides the secretariat for the Westminster APPG for Parents and the Stormont APG for Parental Participation in Education. Two very successful parliamentary groups bringing together policymakers and a variety of stakeholders to consider the challenges faced by parents and act as a voice for them through a variety of policymakers.

Our Media Engagement

Since becoming recognised as the UK’s largest parent charity, with likely more groups and frontline volunteers than the Scouts or Girlguiding, Parentkind has gained increasing prominence in the media.Beyond the reach of the National Parent Survey and our regular polling, Parentkind receives frequent requests for quotes of reflection and input by media in relation to their journalism and from Government and non-Government entities in support of policy announcements.

Beyond this, the Parentkind community of volunteers and PTAs share local or regional media announcements of their own.Whether or not it celebrating the completion of large projects they have invested countless hours and thousands of pounds into realising, or the community event they have worked into the night to deliver for their school communities.

It will be your role to take this much further, gaining increasing exposure for the work of Parentkind, its community, and parents more broadly. 

If you believe, like we do, that when parents matter, children succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

The role will involve:

· Promoting our parent polling data and work across social media platforms with eye catching content. 

· Providing comment on topical issues for social media so that we are part of the conversation. 

· Build the right relationships to dramatically increase the number of of media organisations seeking input and thought leadership from Parentkind.

· Build relationships with broadcast media so we get asked to appear on broadcast media more often. There’s a chance for you to be a talking head too.

· Help to draft parent polls and reports with a focus on compelling questions that will hit the front page. We need a brilliant writer, able to turn facts and figures into engaging narratives with bold headlines and strong messages that catch the eye. Boring writers need not apply…

· Draft eye catching press releases with bold headlines and a compelling narrative to promote the work we do across the charity. You’ll also place the press releases with national journalists leading to high profile coverage.

· Support the authoring of articles, op-eds and blog posts by members of the Executive Leadership Team.

· Be responsible for media monitoring, measuring our media hits, and reporting on coverage and interesting themes for the Executive Leadership.

Your mission is to massively increase our online, in print and social media presence to make us the highest profile parent charity in the UK. We don’t need you to be an education expert, we need someone to get us on the front page.

We have a huge amount of data on what parents think and we need you to get it seen. This is a great job for someone who wants to grab hold of a “comms” function and make it their own.

Parentkind is a UK wide charity, you will be expected to support our work in other parts of the UK where necessary.

For 'Person Specification' please see the job description

We are looking for someone who:

• Understands the power of sport to unite and uplift communities.
• Brings senior leadership experience in the required competencies of fundraising, communications and income strategy.
• Is confident managing relationships with high-value funders and partners.
• Has a deep understanding of inclusive storytelling and impact measurement.
• Can think big, act boldly, and build a strong and sustainable future for our movement.

We continue to be focused on our vision to create an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. 

We are looking for people who are passionate about Special Olympics and are completely aligned with our values. We are authentic. We act with honesty, integrity and respect. We are creative and innovative. We love to embrace difference and doing things differently. We are brave, courageous, resilient and determined. We listen and are led by the voice of our athletes. We are always kind. We are Inclusion in Action.

We are continuing to build a high-performing team who care for each other and care about our cause. Our athletes are incredibly inspirational, courageous and insightful people, and they deserve a team who are equally committed and passionate about our mission.

We are looking for a motivated and experienced HR professional to deliver high-quality HR operations at CIEH. This is a broad and rewarding role - you’ll look after CIEH’s HR function, as well as modernising our systems and processes and acting as a key partner to teams across the organisation, helping to build a positive and high-performing workplace culture.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is excited by the opportunity to make improvements and have a significant impact. If this is you, and you have strong generalist HR experience, a good understanding of UK employment law and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively then we would love to hear from you.

Join Our Team: Marketing and Communications Manager
Remote (with regular team meet-ups in London)
Full-time, Permanent

About Us
At Switch the Play Foundation, we’re the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting sportspeople as they navigate life beyond sport. We believe that every sportsperson deserves to thrive—during and after their sporting career. As we launch our new five-year strategy, we’re entering an exciting phase of growth and impact. Now, we’re looking for a creative and driven Marketing and Communications Manager to help us tell our story and amplify our mission.

The Role
This is a brand-new role with big potential. You’ll lead on all things marketing and communications—raising awareness, engaging key audiences, and showcasing the real-world impact of our work. From digital campaigns to brand development, you’ll be at the heart of how we connect with sportspeople, funders, and partners.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Shaping and delivering a marketing and communications plan aligned with our new strategy
• Leading our brand development and ensuring consistency across all channels
• Managing our digital presence—website, social media, and email marketing
• Creating compelling content that brings our mission to life
• Overseeing creative projects from idea to delivery
• Supporting fundraising and athlete services with engaging campaign assets
• Using data and insights to optimise engagement and reach
• Helping shape and grow a future marketing team, contributing to a positive and collaborative culture

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in marketing, communications, or brand leadership
• Strong digital skills and a flair for storytelling
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work independently in a remote team
• A passion for social impact and belief in our mission
• Experience in the charity or sports sector is a bonus
• Leadership experience and a desire to help others grow

What We Offer

• A competitive salary with annual review
• Flexible, remote-first working culture built on trust
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + 3 days off at Christmas
• Employer pension contribution
• Professional development budget and support
• Tech support and equipment allowance
• A supportive, values-led team where your voice matters

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re excited by the idea of using your skills to support sportspeople through life’s transitions, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help us shape the future of athlete wellbeing and development.

Salary: £37,280 starting salary (salary range will increase to a max £39,862 via the length of service) per annum plus £4,324 Inner London Weighting if based in the London office per annum

Contract: Fixed Term contract until 30 June 2026

Hours: Full-time. 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks). Some evening and weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu should be claimed.

Location: Any Refugee Action Office: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford.  We will consider a UK-based hybrid working option. 

Closing date to apply for the role: 23.59pm on 17th August*

*Please read carefully, the information below on how to apply for this role

*This is a readvertisement – previous applicants need not apply

Please read carefully – how to apply for this role:

Applications for this role are only* open to people who identify as having lived experience of forced displacement due to war, invasion, persecution or human rights abuses

(This also includes British nationals living/working overseas who have been forced to leave due to war, invasion, persecution or human rights abuses)

*Current Refugee Action employees with and without lived experience, are eligible to apply.

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them. 

About the post 

This exciting role would mean joining Refugee Action at a crucial point in the charity’s 40-year history, full of opportunity and potential. You will use your creative skills to support the creation of innovative digital content to engage and mobilise existing supporters and add to Refugee Action’s rapidly growing audience. Working between the fundraising and campaigns team, this role will support the Digital Communications Manager to deliver our ambitious digital strategy, focusing on the development of engaging digital content, the management of one of our key supporter databases, and will lead on the engagement and retention work which supports Refugee Action’s fundraising and campaigning. 

We are looking for candidates that can demonstrate: 

• Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices. 

• Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it.

• Strong understanding of the role of digital tactics in the development and execution of campaign strategies.

• Strong writing, editing and proof-reading skills, with experience of using these within a fast-paced environment and adapting content for difference audiences.

• Experience of maintaining and nurturing social media communities and creating impactful digital content.

• Knowledge of Facebook advertising, including the set-up, management and analysis of ad performance.

• Experience using Canva, or Adobe creative software – particularly Photoshop, InDesign and Premiere.

• Experience of using Engaging Networks or similar system or proven ability to learn new systems quickly.

• Thorough understanding of website optimisation with experience working with website content management systems. 

• Experience of using Google AdWords, and of using reporting and analytics tools, such as Google Analytics.

• Understanding of the digital landscape, and emerging trends in web and social technology and digital fundraising.

Closing date:  23.59pm, Sunday 17 August

Interviews:  Tuesday 26 August

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.

This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List.  If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.

You can find out which roles are on the shortage occupation list via these two links:

• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations 

• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education

We are currently campaigning for people seeking asylum to have the right to work in the UK, see our Lift the Ban campaign here.

Purpose of the role

To support the communications team in raising the profile of Day One, primarily on social media and with a focus on short-form video content. 

As a staff ambassador for Day One, championing our values and behaviours and being committed to the difference that Day One makes is essential. The role sits within our Fundraising and Communications Department and will support the wider team.

Key responsibilities 

The post holder’s primary duties and responsibilities are as follows: 

• Lead the day-to-day management of Day One's social networks 
• Create content for Day One’s social media accounts, website and email marketing 
• Create video content for Day One’s social media channels and YouTube 
• Work closely with Day One’s Services Team to identify patient stories which demonstrate the charity’s impact 
• Write case studies and ‘stories of recovery’ based on the experiences of our service users and volunteers 
• Support the management of Day One’s paid advertising campaigns on social media 
• Assist the communications and fundraising team with various tasks including: 
• Assisting with events marketing 
• Assisting with website content creation 
• Supporting digital fundraising 
• Support the wider Day One organisation with effective communications 

What we’ll need from you

This job is all about supporting the communications team in raising the profile of Day One, primarily on social media and with a focus on short-form video content. You’ll need to be a great communicator and creative thinker with a passion for making great digital content. You will work closely with our service users, volunteers and staff to make compelling content for social media in both written and video form. You will need to be creative, proactive, empathetic and adaptable. Working closely with our fundraising and communications team, you’ll ensure people remain at the heart of our work by telling powerful stories that resonate with our audiences and effectively communicate the impact of major trauma and the support Day One provides. As we are a small organisation, you will need to be ready to support the wider team with fundraising and service delivery projects.

Who you’ll be working with

You’ll work as a key member of our friendly, experienced and enthusiastic communications and fundraising team. We're a small, hard-working team with big ambitions, but we still make the time to support each other. You’ll be line-managed by me (Digital Communications Officer), and work alongside our Communications Manager Dave and Marketing and Communications Officer Harriet. You’ll be supported by our Fundraising and Communications Director, a supportive SLT and board of trustees, and work alongside six fantastic fundraising colleagues. This position is new for the charity, so there is lots of scope for you to carve out the role and make it your own. We’ll support you, so together we can become the charity that communication professionals want to work for: because of the impact we have on the lives of major trauma patients and their families, our inclusive culture, professional development opportunities and exceptional communications.

For the full job description, please refer to the attached recruitment pack.

How to apply

Upload your CV and a supporting statement, in written and/or video form, demonstrating how you meet the criteria and outlining why you’re interested in the role. Please include any examples of projects that you’ve worked on which you would like to share in your supporting statement. This can include relevant projects from your professional or personal life. To send a video as part of your application, please refer to the attached recruitment pack on full details on how to upload this.

Closing date: Midnight Sunday 10th August 2025 

In-person interview date: Monday 18th August 2025 

If we receive a high number of applications, we may get in touch to do an initial phone screening with suitable applicants. 

Agency Framework Manager (Marketing and Communications)
Reference: JUL20254891
Location: Flexible in England
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £39,205.00 - £41,856.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

At the RSPB our mission is a big one and we have an ambitious strategy to tackle the nature and climate crisis. We cannot deliver the impact we need with our internal resources alone and require smart, effective use of trusted suppliers to deliver our communications, marketing, fundraising and campaigning activities. As the Agency Framework Manager, you will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing our first procurement framework for agencies, consultants and freelancers, with a remit to maximise value for money, minimise internal transaction costs and deliver maximum impact for the RSPB.

Reporting into the Head of Planning & Delivery, you will also have a dotted line into one of our Senior Programme Managers. You will collaborate with Procurement colleagues, as well as key stakeholders across our HQ and Country teams, to initially focus on the setting up and establishment of the Agency Framework.

You will then transition into the management and implementation of the Framework, acting as support and consultant to the organisation to ensure our ways of working with external partners are appropriate and robust.

This is an important role which needs to embed itself across the organisation and be recognised as the main contact for all marketing and communications agency use. We’re looking for someone who is skilled at navigating internal cultures, comfortable making decisions and having sometimes difficult conversations with both internal and external parties, and able to communicate effectively at all levels.

Key activities will include:

• Design, implement and manage an agency framework for all comms, marketing, fundraising, and campaigning agency spend in line with central procurement processes and policies.
• Work collaboratively with the Procurement team on the tendering process for the creation of the agency framework, working with subject matter experts to ensure we have the right suppliers to meet the needs of the organisation.
• Develop user friendly templates and documentation to make the process of engaging an agency as clear and simple as possible.
• Provide support and guidance for internal teams with the creation of effective briefs, making sure the information we’re providing to agencies is appropriate.
• Provide support and guidance for internal teams during the ‘call off’ process for individual pieces of work, helping to navigate conversations and identify solutions/next steps.
• Provide ongoing supplier management, conducting regular reviews with suppliers and internal teams. Putting in place relevant recommendations to ensure all parties are getting maximum benefit.
• Act as the main point of escalation for agencies and internal key stakeholders, working quickly to resolve any issues and find solutions. 
• Have oversight of agency spend across the organisation. Ensure agreed spend has gone through the appropriate prioritisation frameworks, that budgets are appropriate and that we are getting best value for money.
• Provide reports and analysis to senior leaders on the efficacy of our external agency relationships and contribution towards strategy.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrable understanding and experience of supplier management and procurement best practice.
• Demonstrable experience of working with third parties to deliver impactful and cost-effective communications, marketing and campaigning activity.
• Understanding of content, design and creative delivery processes and skill sets.
• Understanding of multiple disciplines within a large charity or complex organisation, for example Brand, Fundraising, Campaigning etc
• Excellent interpersonal skills - building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to negotiate and influence to secure positive outcomes for the RSPB. Confident in being able to challenge where necessary and ensure we are getting best value for money.
• Strong written and verbal communication to be able to communicate requirements, expectations and changes in an efficient and effective manner.
• Cost and budget management.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• An understanding of Project Management frameworks and processes

Closing date: 23:59, Friday, 22nd August 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 8th September 2025.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our recruitment partner's website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of developing countries to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that developing countries should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions.

This is a unique opportunity to shape global conversations on climate science by empowering researchers in developing countries to publish and communicate their work, collaborating with some of the world’s leading SRM experts.

We are looking for a candidate with strong digital skills and social media experience. The ideal candidate will have experience creating content for social and web, managing website content and systems, and working with digital media (photos and video). 

The Digital Communications Officer will report to the Communications Manager and collaborate with teams across the organisation (Policy Engagement, Programmes, Fundraising) and with our researcher teams across the Global South. 

Responsibilities will include:  

Social media 

• Manage day-to-day social media posting across current channels (LinkedIn, X, Bluesky), posting content that aligns with our tone of voice and brand guidelines  

• Monitor social media and traditional media for mentions of Degrees and the wider topic of SRM, identifying trends and opportunities 

• Evaluate social media performance and recommend potential new strategies and platforms, driven by data as well as awareness of Degrees’ position

Content creation 

• Edit short videos of our researchers for social media and the website 

• Design graphics for social media, reports, presentations and events, using tools such as Canva or InDesign 

• Write news, profiles, and announcements for the website 

Website 

• Act as primary website administrator, keeping the website up to date by editing and adding new pages as required 

• Maintain content consistency across the website, especially as we redevelop our site and move to a new platform (WordPress, with Gutenberg editor) 

• Assist with website content migration using a good understanding of website database management systems (e.g. Jet Engine, ACF) 

• Use analytics to monitor website performance and suggest SEO improvements (Google Analytics) 

Team support 

• Create and maintain templates for documents, presentations, etc., to ensure consistency across visual products 

• Compile and deliver the quarterly newsletter (using MailChimp) 

• Organise and maintain media asset folders (photos, videos, recordings) with clear tagging 

• Support other teams (policy engagement, programmes, fundraising) with communications products as required 

Be the spark that connects and uplifts multi-faith chaplaincy work across the UK for people leaving prison. Use your digital skills and people passion to make real impact.

This is more than just a job—it's a unique opportunity to support life-changing work in prisons and communities by encouraging, equipping and linking the amazing people delivering community chaplaincy. The Community Chaplaincy Association (CCA) brings together over 30 independent projects across the UK who support people leaving prison. 

As our Encourager and Connector, you’ll build warm, supportive relationships with projects and chaplains, helping them feel seen, heard and empowered. You’ll also use your confident IT and communication skills to improve how we share stories, best practice and resources—whether it’s through a lively newsletter, a well-run Zoom gathering, or an engaging bit of social media.

You’ll work closely with our small but passionate team to spot opportunities, respond to needs, and ensure our members feel truly connected to a shared vision of restorative, faith-informed community.

Who we’re looking for:

A naturally warm and organised person with a heart for people, an understanding of faith-based work (including multi-faith contexts), and a real flair for using digital tools to make things happen. You don’t need to be a chaplain—but you do need to believe in the power of hope, second chances, and supportive relationships.

If you're looking for a flexible, meaningful role where your relational and digital skills can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Digital Communications Officer

£27,693 - £29,746

Based out of any of the WEA offices, with Hybrid Working.

The WEA is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education, a charity dedicated to bringing high quality, professional education into the heart of communities. We believe that all adults, regardless of their situation, should have access to education.

Job Description

WEA are looking for talented individuals to help us deliver our mission – to bring education within reach. If that sounds like you, then please read on.

As the Digital Communications Officer, you will will play a vital role in enabling the WEA to meet our mission to bring adult education within reach of everyone who needs it, fighting inequality and promoting social justice.

Reporting to the Digital Branding Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting with the delivery of impactful digital campaigns (web, social media, email marketing, PR/comms) that focus on promoting our work to a variety of audiences and stakeholders, enabling us to create change for thousands of adult learners across England and Scotland. 

This role isn’t about marketing WEA courses, it’s about showcasing the impact of lifelong learning, growing our membership and influencing decision makers and the public.

This role would suit a self-starter with knowledge and experience of the social media and digital communications landscape and can think big picture about campaigning activity. Charity comms experience would be an advantage. We are a new team with high ambitions and exciting challenges looking for a creative storyteller who can shape our voice, drive conversations around our work and grow our reach

We have attached the full role profile, that lists the key deliverables, performance measures and experience/qualifications needed for this role. Please take your time to read through this, and if you’d like to apply, hit that button!

We are working hard to create a workplace that reflects the communities we seek to serve and in which everyone feels empowered to be themselves and work together to drive positive change. We strongly encourage applicants from a diverse range of candidates and encourage everyone with the appropriate skills, experiences and potential to apply.

Should you need any support with your application, then please get in touch. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible

In our recent OFSTED inspection, we received a GOOD overall grade, with an OUTSTANDING rating for Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development.

You can read more about our benefits and what it’s like to work here, on our website .

Public Affairs Manager (Fixed term contract)

Salary: £34,237pa

Your purpose 

This is a critical role in the Communications, Campaigns and Public Affairs Department. As Public Affairs Manager, you will support the Head of Communications, Campaigns and Public Affairs to make oracy education ordinary, co-ordinating and  project managing and delivering public affairs work as well as leading public relations work that increases our profile with policy makers. In doing so, you will play  an integral role in ensuring all children, regardless of their background, find their voice for success in school  and in life.

Your responsibilities 

This is a senior role in the Communications, Campaigns and Public Affairs Department, as part of the wider Learning, Impact and Influence Directorate 

Public Affairs (80%)

• Drive forward Voice 21’s public affairs strategy, building key relationships, understanding and momentum that develops Voice 21’s influence with Government and non-parliamentary policy makers, ensuring that we have a meaningful role in shaping an oracy entitlement for every child, and appropriate mechanisms for its implementation

• Deliver Public Affairs business as usual work, for example; organising school visits, leading political and parliamentary monitoring, stakeholder mapping and horizon-scanning and organising events in parliament and at party conferences

• Work with policy makers on local, regional and national level to influence those responsible for the delivery of education at primary and secondary level

• Engage and manage stakeholders and other key people across and beyond the organisation who work with the Learning, Impact and Influence directorate to leverage relationships in pursuit of our organisational strategy and mission

• Lead on Voice 21’s role as secretariat to the Oracy All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) 

• Produce/co-produce consultation responses, blogs, internal and external briefings, parliamentary questions and other related communications in line with our content strategy

• Act as an internal expert consultant on public affairs, decision makers and implementation of our agenda

Public Relations (20%) 

• Deliver public relations activity to raise our profile and support our brand, including through awards, events and speaking engagements 

• Spotting reactive communications opportunities in line with the public affairs strategy 

Your progression

Within 1 month, you’ll have:

• Started building strong working relationships with the team, warm policy makers and sector partners

• Created a database of influential head teachers

• Helped refine our policy asks in key areas into easy-to-communicate goals

Within 3 months, you’ll have: 

• Used analysis and polling to build reports on key advocate groups who can help spread our messages

• Launched our Oracy APPG

• Refined our monitoring and reactive opportunity spotting systems

From 6 months onwards, we expect for you to be:

• Have worked with our research team to develop a literature review of oracy education policy at local and national level

• Migrated our contract tracking to Salesforce and expanded it to capture relationships help at local and national levels

• Having developed a public profile among education policy makers 

This job is for you if you… 

Have experience in these areas

• Creating tangible policy impact through public affairs activity 

• Building and nurturing relationships with policy makers at national, regional and local levels

• Creating public affairs strategies with clear objectives and KPIs

• Delivering eye-catching PR work such as award entries, speaking events and receptions

• Using research to create strong and compelling narratives

• Communicating externally about policy positions

• Ability to form excellent working relationships, internally & externally with sector colleagues 

You may also have experience in these areas 

• Relevant experience in and a strong understanding of the education sector 

Reporting lines 

Reporting to: Head of Communications, Campaigns and Public Affairs 

Managing: None 

Where you’ll work: Remote, with travel to our London office and elsewhere for meetings. Occasional  overnight stays may be required depending on where you are based. 

Contract: 12 months

Application details

To apply: 

Closing date: 25th August 2025

Interview date:

First round interview: 3rd - 5th September

Second round interview: Week commencing 8th September

Start date: ASAP 

Questions:  Head of Communications, Campaigns and Public Affairs, Elizabeth Somerville;

Valuing every voice

Voice 21 believes that every voice should be heard and valued. We are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Voice 21.

Imagine a role where your creativity and collaborative approach help connect supporters to a powerful mission, shifting the dial in the food and farming education sector so more children facing disadvantage can discover their connection with the land that sustains us all.

We’re seeking a skilled communicator and digital storyteller equally comfortable crafting social media posts, drafting briefing notes, or capturing and editing film content. You’ll be passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting social change through engaging communications that inform, connect and inspire.

You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to drive engagement, raise our profile, and grow our digital presence through impactful multimedia storytelling. Your work will help bring the voices of children, families and communities to partners and supporters nationwide, placing The Country Trust’s mission at the heart of national conversations about wellbeing, education and tackling the poverty of opportunity.

This role involves travel and occasional overnight stays (with mileage reimbursed) across England and North Wales. While we prioritise public transport use, this is not always feasible. Therefore, a valid driving licence is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Communications & Influence

• Develop and deliver strategic, multi-channel communications that translate complex ideas into compelling messages to increase our influence across media, policy, and partner networks.

Multimedia Storytelling

• Create and deliver impactful, accessible multimedia content that amplifies beneficiary voices, supports advocacy, and aligns with our brand and strategic goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships​

• Develop and tailor impactful communications and materials that strengthen partnerships, engage funders, and support collaborative initiatives with partner organisations.

Press, Media & Digital Oversight

• Support on press and social media communications by managing media relationships, crafting timely content, and optimising outreach to amplify our advocacy and campaigns.

About The Country Trust

The Country Trust believes every child should discover first-hand the connections between the food they eat, their own health and the health of the planet. We are the UK’s leading educational charity on a mission to connect children with the land that sustains us all.

When we don’t understand where food comes from, how it’s grown, or have the chance to spend time outdoors, there’s a significant knock-on effect for our health and the environment. Through nearly 50 years of programme delivery, we know children facing disadvantage often have the most to gain from this connection but are least able to access it.

Through food, farming and countryside experiences, our mission is to empower children to be confident, curious, and create change in their lives and the world around them — so that they and society thrive.

Reference Number: V550

Job Title: Communications Officer

Location: Remote with travel around the UK required   

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)

Salary: £30,000 

DBS/PVG: Basic 

Job Family: 4 

Line Manager: Head of Brand and Communications 

Closing Date:   12 August 2025

Start Date:        As soon as possible subject to notice periods  

Interview Dates: Week commencing 25 August 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications 

Volunteering Matters  

Who we are
At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

 What we do
We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. We work with local people.

 How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

· We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.

· We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

· We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

· We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

· We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

 Our promise to volunteers

We are always looking for new ways for volunteers to make a difference. We bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn from each other and create change. At the same time, we make sure that all our volunteers are trained, supported, and valued, so they feel confident in what they do.

It’s a brilliant time to join us. We’re evolving, growing our impact, and shaping a future where everyone can take part and feel they belong. We’re looking for a creative and people-centred Communications Officer.

About the role

We are looking for a creative and proactive Communications Officer to join our small but dynamic Brand and Communications Team. This role requires a basic DBS/PGV check. Our team plays a key role in supporting the work of Volunteering Matters across the UK, ensuring that the impact of our projects, staff, and volunteers is shared widely with both internal and external audiences. This role is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys storytelling, engaging with diverse audiences, and amplifying the voices of communities and volunteers. 

A core focus of this role will be getting to know the incredible work happening across the UK, collecting updates from our projects, and sharing these stories with key stakeholders. As part of our friendly team, you will also have a specific focus on supporting internal communications and content creation to ensure our messaging is clear, inspiring, and reflective of our mission. Our volunteers and the people we support are at the heart of everything we do, and we are looking for someone who shares our strong commitment to these values. A belief in the power of communities and a desire to champion volunteers of all ages and backgrounds is essential for this role. 

Key tasks include:

• Support the development and execution of a comprehensive internal communications strategy that drives colleague engagement and strengthens a unified organisational culture aligned with strategic objectives. 

• Develop and disseminate impactful, timely, and relevant internal communications content that resonates with colleagues across the organisation. 

• Provide operational and administrative support to the Brand and Communications Team to enhance our efficiency and reach. 

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of internal communications efforts through rigorous analysis of feedback, metrics, and data insights, leveraging findings to refine and optimise strategies at a national level. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure all internal communications initiatives reflect and reinforce the organisation’s core values, mission, and strategic vision. 

• Provide guidance, training and support to various departments in crafting effective internal communications materials, ensuring consistency in tone, style and branding.

• Create inspiring and straightforward stories with a focus on powerful imagery and video content. 

• Work closely with communications colleagues in the #iWill Movement to champion youth social action.

About you
You’ll be a creative and thoughtful communicator who enjoys working collaboratively and is passionate about people’s stories. You’ll bring a strong visual eye, great interpersonal skills, and a commitment to ethical storytelling.

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward. 

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter. 

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer:· Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work) 

· Unlimited Annual Leave 

· Employee Pension scheme 

· Life Assurance 

· Cycle to Work Scheme 

· Season Ticket Loan 

· Employee Assistance Programme 

· Enhanced sick and family leave.

· Lifestyle Discount Scheme

We are also open to discussing job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress applications that don’t meet this requirement.