Community and volunteer fundraising administrator jobs

Senior Communications Officer
Salary: Banding Level 3 £31,000 - £35,000
Contract: Permanent / Working hours: Full time
Location: Taunton, Somerset - Opportunity for Hybrid working

As Senior Communications Officer, you will be working closely with the Head of Marketing Communications to help plan, create and deliver, with the help of specialists across teams, the Trust’s annual communication plan.

You’ll be responsible for leading communications projects, campaigns and day-to-day activities. You will be delivering creative content and marketing across a range of platforms - both digital and offline –that support the Trust’s Wilder 2030 strategy and showcases the Trust’s work. This will result in bringing nature’s story to life in order to expand the charity’s reach into new and wider audiences and bringing new supporters on board.

You will be able to think creatively, within a fast-paced environment where no day is the same, as well as be comfortable delivering key tasks and mucking in when all hands are needed on deck.

You will be comfortable with the relevant platform analytics to report on progress against agreed key performance indicators.

This senior role is for a highly creative, confident, robust and professional communications individual, who will be working closely with the Head of Marketing Communications and wider team to help plan, create and activate the Trust’s annual communication plan. 

You will:

• Deliver creative communications activities and branded digital content campaigns across the Trust’s key communications channels to increase the Trust’s reach, develop new audiences and convert initial awareness of SWT into measurable engagement/action for nature.
• Devise a plan with tactics to grow the Trust’s key communications channels and digital communities and increase engagement using engaging and dynamic content.
• Provide communications support and project management for a range of exciting projects and campaigns across the whole organisation, liaising with the internal Directorate teams to do so
• Liaise with the central Wildlife Trust (RSWT) team on national campaigns and communications.
• Track analytics and create regular reports detailing effectiveness of communications campaigns and our digital channels.
• Day to day guidance and project oversight for the wider communications team to support them to deliver a high-quality service to the wider organisation and inspire innovation and improvement in all that the team delivers.

Job Description – Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Responsibility 1: Leading Digital Channels 

• Designing and implementation of SWT’s digital and social media content plan (for both paid and organic content) with the support of the Content & Communications Officer, ensuring it complements the Trust’s overall Wilder Somerset 2030 strategic goals and objectives, marketing plans, key campaigns, engagement and fundraising activity. Driving the high performance and growth of SWT’s social channels – ensuring increasing engagement and reach.
• Working with and supporting the Content & Communications Officer to create a calendar of high-quality engaging, range of content for sharing across internal and external marketing communications channels in support of the strategic vision, ensuring consistency in terms of tone of voice, branding, messaging and frequency of communications across all key channels. The Senior Communications Officer’s social media content plan will aim to grow all SWT’s social media and digital communities and increase organic engagement.
• Expanding reach to bring new supporters on board with the Trust’s mission, to get involved with SWT’s work across the county, take action for nature, and to grow membership and income.
• Working closely with the Website & Email Lead to understand and optimise user journeys and conversions between social channels and the website, and providing support and counsel to the Website & Email Lead with regards to the delivery of impactful email campaigns to support key integrated projects, campaigns and core strategy programmes. Also providing support and guidance on ensuring the website is as effective a channel as it should be as a central destination hub for social and digital journeys.
• Liaising with the Wildlife Trust (RSWT) central office to ensure central content and advocacy campaigns are delivered as agreed on local social channels with local messaging and that the Somerset message is clear, with the use of local case studies and stories.
• With the Content & Communications Officer, and liaising with external providers where necessary, providing brand design support for communications collateral, reports, newsletters, brochures, flyers, posters and presentations. Using appropriate software (e.g., Canva, Adobe, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) for a range of audiences, creating templates where appropriate for internal staff to utilise to deliver small-scale projects independently.

Responsibility 2: Marketing & PR

• Marketing opportunities including a range of channels from print, media, events to paid online adverts.
• Developing strong relationships with local and national journalists and be the lead day-to-day SWT media contact for press enquiries, with the Content & Communications Officer taking on administrative press office tasks and handling some incoming queries.
• Recommending and developing feature ideas for key publications working up ideas with colleagues across the Trust, selling in stories, and coordinating the provision of spokespeople, background information and logistics.
• Working with, and providing guidance to the Content & Communications Officer, creating and distributing targeted press releases or media alerts where appropriate, following up with key media contacts to maximise coverage and amplify SWT’s successes and impact.
• Be alert and responsive to the news agenda, keeping abreast of issues affecting the Trust and identifying PR opportunities and trends on social media that SWT can engage with, whilst also horizon planning for key contentious issues so as to provide PR support during crisis and major issues.

Responsibility 3: Project Management & Reporting

• With excellent project management and coordination skills you will work with internal stakeholders to design, coordinate and deliver bespoke plans to support a range of key projects across the year such as appeals, big events, campaigns and nature recovery projects.
• Working with the team to deliver any relevant communications training or resources to make available to staff.
• Supervising the monitoring and measurement of campaigns and their success, and reporting key KPIs to internal stakeholders on a monthly basis.
• Internal communications - updating the staff portal on Sharepoint with regards to communication assets, training and resources.
• Representing the Communications Team along with others across the Trust as part of the Trust’s project management working group, feeding back on best practice and new innovations that result in a consistent approach to project management. 

We offer fantastic benefits of working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust including:

• 7% employer pension contribution
• Life insurance
• Flexible and agile working
• Wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Program
• Diversity networks through RSWT/TWT
• Paid volunteer days
• Continuous Professional Development opportunities
• 33 days of holiday (25 + bank holidays)
• Staff social calendar and events

The opportunity to make a real and positive difference to nature, communities, and the climate

Closing date: Sunday 21 September 2025

Interested?

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

Somerset Wildlife Trust have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan and are committed to continuing to improve the equality, diversity and inclusion of every aspect of our work; we know we need to engage with everyone to live our values and achieve our goals. We welcome applications from everyone and are happy to discuss any accommodations or arrangements that would make the recruitment process better for you, and the working environment should you be employed.

No agencies please.

This is a key role responsible for overseeing and managing the delivery and development of our Antifreeze programme.  Alongside the daily management of staff and volunteers, this role is responsible for ensuring that the services provided are safe, best practice and compliant with all relevant policies and procedures. 

As we seek to grow and reach more people, this role will play a vital role in undertaking strategic reviews of all current services and informing new service delivery and design.  This will be undertaken in partnership with other service leads and working closely with senior leadership colleagues. 

Please note:  A requirement of the role is for the post-holder to be a practising Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010

Main duties:

· Oversight and delivery of all programme activities relating to Antifreeze including drop ins, one-to-one support, street outreach and faith-based activities.

· Establish and drive the overall strategic vision for the service in line with the operational plan and informed by the needs of the people the service exists for

· Lead the design and development of new services in line with client needs, resources, staffing and the strategic purpose of the team.

· Hold direct budget responsibility for day-to-day operations and in line with any specific funding requirements

· Be an active member of the Off the Fence leadership team

· Review and implement policies and procedures for safe service delivery

· Provide reports on key activity, outputs and impact in line with KPIs and other reporting requirements.

· Line manage the team of key workers, providing regular performance reviews, pastoral support and identifying training needs.

· Support with the recruitment and onboarding of new team members, including in-house training and supervision

· Ensuring that key workers have a good working knowledge of local services, referral routes, other agencies and when to highlight safeguarding concerns.

· Provide pastoral support for the team and volunteers in the service

· Lead Bible studies, prayer meetings for staff, volunteers and at external events as required

· Recruit, retain and manage volunteers in line with organisational policies and procedures

· Ensure safe and efficient delivery of services in line with health and safety, safeguarding, data protection and safe working practices.

· plan and maintain safe staffing ratios through effective resource allocation

· Design and delivery of projects/activities in line with fundraised income, including reporting and engaging with funders as required

· Build and establish key sector relationships across the city to enhance the team’s reach and impact in the community

· Oversight and pastoral responsibility for the faith-based activities delivered for and with clients

· Build and establish relationships with other providers who can meet the needs of our clients e.g. local health teams.

· Contribute to wider profile-raising activities of Off the Fence

· Review and implement policies and procedures for safe service delivery

· Have responsibility for the safe processing and storage of client data in line with data protection regulations and policies, including CRM.

· Regularly review the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of all services including drop-ins, one-to-one support and street outreach. 

· Active membership of and attendance at local forums, groups and networks

Key attributes and experience required for the role:

· Proven experience in managing frontline services and staff teams (minimum 3 years in a supervisory/management role)

· Experience of delivering services in the housing and homelessness sector

· Strong knowledge of the legal and statutory framework for housing, benefits, employment.  Ideally, knowledge of local services and support agencies.

· A passion for seeing people thrive and lives transformed – practically, emotionally and spiritually

· Strong alignment with the vision of Off the Fence, and a commitment to our organisational focus

· Strong understanding and application of safeguarding, data protection and health and safety policy.

· Experience in service design, service improvement and project management

· Experience in supporting people with complex and multiple needs, including substance abuse and severe mental health.

· Excellent organisational and time management skills

· High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality

· Ability to interpret policies, legislation and data effectively

· Proficient in Microsoft Office, and experience of CRM management

· A requirement of the role is for the post-holder to be a practising Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010

Vision and values

Off The Fence reaches out to break the cycle of poverty in Brighton & Hove, ensuring that no one is left behind. We believe in resisting poverty, empowering people, and restoring hope, and we work toward a future where social and spiritual poverty no longer exists.

By 1997, Off The Fence became a registered charity, allowing us to expand and tackle poverty in a deeper way, through compassion, excellence, unity, integrity, and a Christ-like approach to supporting the most vulnerable.

Poverty is complex—it’s not just about finances, but about housing, mental health, education, and belonging. To address these needs, Off The Fence now provides three core programmes, each offering a different form of practical and emotional support.

As poverty in Brighton & Hove has increased, so has our commitment. At the heart of our work is a belief that every person deserves dignity, hope, and the opportunity to rebuild their life.

The Antifreeze Programme exists to break the cycle of social and spiritual poverty amidst homelessness, providing tangible steps towards a permanent home and long-term stability. Since 1998, Antifreeze has been a safe and warm space for members, offering faith-based, practical support services that restore dignity and hope.

At our Day Centre, we provide hygiene facilities (showers & laundry), medical drop-ins, and essential survival provisions to meet immediate needs. Through 1-to-1 sessions, we support members with housing applications, benefits, and financial stability, while goal-based workshops equip them with skills to attain permanent homes and ethical employment. Our discipleship sessions encourage an advanced understanding of the Christian faith, offering fellowship and spiritual growth. To address digital poverty, we offer computer access for job searches and reconnecting with loved ones.

Beyond practical support, Antifreeze fosters healthy community relationships, improves mental health awareness, and helps members move toward ethical employment, reduced reliance on substances, and a forever home.

As a Christian organisation we seek to live and work by our values:

·Christ-like: we desire the best for others (Col 1:27, 1 John 3:16)

·Excellence: we aim for outstanding quality (1 Cor 12:31, Phil 4:8)

·Unity: we achieve more together (Ps 133, Eph 4:3)

·Compassion: we care for those who are suffering (Col 3:12, Matt 9:35)

·Integrity: we do what is right (Prov 10:9, Titus 2:7-8)

Working at Off the Fence

We are a small but highly dedicated team, passionate about seeing transformation across Brighton and Hove.  Off the Fence employees are entitled to:

- 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, with extra days added for long service

- Up to 5 days of mission leave (pro rata)

- 7% employer pension contributions

Notes for applicants

If you’re applying for this role, we ask that you submit your CV and a cover letter.  In your cover letter please outline how your skills and experience align with the requirements of this role, as well as explaining why you want to be a part of Off the Fence.