Crisis activity centre manager jobs in edinburgh
Terms: 30 hours per week / 0.8 FTE, 4 days per week; two year contract with possibility for extension
Salary: £41,200 - £56,650
Location: Remote working and quarterly in-person team away days.
Start Date: 5th January 2025
Line Manager: Executive Director
Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK.
Closing Date: 14 December 2025
About BASIC
BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.
For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.
BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.
BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.
What We Offer
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Competitive salary with room for growth
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30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period
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Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)
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Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours
-
Remote working with option to use co-working space
-
1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities
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Opportunities for professional growth and development
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Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion
The Role
BASIC is seeking an experienced and strategic Communications Manager to lead and implement effective communication strategies that amplify our mission, enhance our brand identity, and strengthen engagement with key audiences. The ideal candidate will have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, a proactive approach to storytelling, and the ability to collaborate across the organisation to ensure clear, consistent, and impactful messaging.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications Manager will play a central role in shaping BASIC’s external presence, working across programmes to craft compelling narratives for social media, the website, and other digital platforms, as well as press contacts.
The Communications Manager will be the point of contact for all communication activity and will be responsible for setting the strategy and communicating this to the team. As an organisation, BASIC is keen to develop brand identity, particularly amongst our programmes and the Communications Manager will be instrumental in developing this work.
Key Responsibilities
Organisational Communications & Strategy
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Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with BASIC’s mission and objectives including a strong link to impact.
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Lead the evolution of our social media strategy, ensuring increased engagement and impact.
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Develop and implement strategic online communication plans to enhance BASIC’s digital presence, ensuring consistent and engaging messaging across all platforms.
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Oversee BASIC’s branding and identity development, ensuring consistency across programmes and platforms. This includes: organisational brand asset, image, review and refresh.
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Act as BASIC’s press officer, managing media engagement, journalistic contacts, and public relations.
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Plan and execute BASIC’s website redevelopment strategy, including better functionality for fundraising efforts and overseeing all aspects of website content/management.
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Draft, edit, and manage organisational newsletters using MailChimp/MailerLite, ensuring clear, engaging, and audience-focused content that aligns with BASIC’s communications strategy.
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Provide communications training to staff, fostering a culture of shared responsibility for communications.
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Create promotional materials to advance BASIC’s initiatives.
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Strengthen BASIC’s internal and external communications, ensuring alignment with key stakeholders.
Programme Responsibilities
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Develop and execute tailored communications plans for specific programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and effective audience engagement.
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Collaborate with programme teams to create and distribute engaging content that highlights programme achievements and key messages
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Work with programme teams to define the strategy, vision and purpose of newsletters
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Coordinate programme events (virtual and in-person), in terms of communications outreach to increase visibility and structuring of success stories
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Support the creation of digital content (social media posts, website updates, videos, etc.) to promote programme activities and initiatives
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Assist with publishing programme reports including proofing and providing guidance for branding and imagery
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Provide communications support for programme fundraising activities
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Monitor and analyse communications impact across programmes, using feedback and data to suggest improvements and ensure messaging is reaching the right audiences
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Help to manage relationships with key stakeholders for each programme by ensuring ongoing engagement and support for programme objectives
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Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all programme communications to maintain coherence with the organisation's overall identity
Person Specification:
Essential:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Education, Business, Fundraising)
- 8+ years of working in a communications role
- Knowledge of global security or related issues with linkage to UK policy
- Proven experience in developing and implementing communication strategies aligned with organisational goals and objectives
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling messages
- Ability to generate innovative ideas and content that engage target audiences and enhance brand visibility
- Strong networking and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience in monitoring and evaluating communication impact through media coverage, engagement metrics, and analytics. Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies and identify areas for improvement.
- Strong collaborative skills with the ability to work effectively across teams to ensure consistent messaging and brand representation.
- Keen eye for detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality in all communications materials
Desirable:
- Experience in crisis communications, including drafting statements and managing sensitive issues.
Why Join BASIC?
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the communications strategy of a respected international security think tank. If you are a creative, strategic, and proactive communicator who thrives in a collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Resource Futures
We want to create a future where organisations, people and communities can thrive and rebalance their relationship with material resources.
Resource Futures is an organisation accelerating the shift towards a circular world: putting restorative practices of reuse, repair, recycling at the heart of the fight to address the climate crisis. We help governments, businesses, NGOs and non-profits embrace regenerative change.
We are non-profit-distributing and have a close-knit team of 50+ trusted employees who collaborate across various areas of the business. Our multi-disciplined and connected approach sets us apart from the competition and enables us to build robust solutions that have a meaningful impact in the world.
We are passionate not only about what we do but how we do it, and we’re proud to be a part of the global B Corp movement to use business as a force for good. Employee-owned and independent, we’re all about helping each team member grow, and together striving towards our goal of creating a sustainable world.
The opportunity
Education is central to our vision for the future. Our team focuses on equipping young people and their wider school and home communities with knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes that promote sustainable development and care for the world’s people and resources.
The Resource Futures Education Team has worked over the past 17 years in developing and delivering high quality Education for Sustainable Development programmes, specialising in waste issues.
Your role will be part of the education team in Devon who enable schools and young people to develop more sustainable practices and lifestyles, specifically within the areas of waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.
Our ideal candidate will live in or around the East Devon / Exeter / Teignbridge area, where the majority of delivery will take place, with some home working. For the successful candidate, there may be an opportunity to expand the number of hours you deliver on a short-term basis, dependent on funding opportunities.
What you will be doing
· Develop and deliver high quality education programmes in schools on the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle - and composting, to include:
o Leading workshops, assemblies and waste audits.
o Advising school staff (including senior staff, cleaners, caretakers, kitchen staff and other non-teaching staff) on educational and practical waste issues.
o Support or lead school visits to waste management facilities such as recycling centres and energy from waste (EfW) plants.
· Recruit schools to the programme and ensure bookings, administration and preparation are undertaken to a high standard.
· Develop new learning and teaching materials to support the programme, including physical and e-resources.
· Create and maintain effective relationships with Devon County Council, district councils and other relevant organisations.
· Assist schools in the practicalities of setting up and maintaining their recycling and composting systems, in liaison with district councils.
· Work in partnership with Devon County Council to run events, competitions and teacher training courses.
· Develop effective and supportive relationships with primary, secondary and special schools across the Devon area.
· Keep accurate records of work, including data on schools visited and waste audit results.
· Monitor and evaluate the programme, including contribution towards the written annual report.
· Liaise with other Resource Futures colleagues on project tasks, such as publicity and promotion.
· Contribute to the Recycle Devon and Zone websites, School Sustainability Bulletin and social media where required.
· Help schools to access resources to write and implement climate action plans.
· Keep abreast of new developments and ideas in education, particularly education for sustainable development.
· Represent Resource Futures at external meetings.
· Identify opportunities for business development.
· Any other tasks as deemed appropriate to this post.
Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) employers check will be carried out for this role.
The essentials
· Previous experience working in or with primary schools, or experience or training in a relevant subject or area.
· Knowledge of education in schools including the National Curriculum.
· Demonstrable knowledge of sustainable resource and waste management issues and solutions, including composting.
· Demonstrable knowledge of and/or experience in education for sustainable development.
· Experience of monitoring and evaluation processes.
· Experience of developing learning and teaching materials.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as presentation skills.
· Great interpersonal skills to motivate others.
· Ability to work effectively on own initiative and as part of a team.
· Ability to perform calmly under pressure.
· Willingness to deliver workshops and activities outdoors as well as indoors.
· Competent IT user, particularly Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
· Current full driving licence with own transport or ability to travel easily in and around Devon. As this role will mainly take you to East Devon, Teignbridge and Exeter (as well as home working), you will need to be within easy commuting distance of these areas.
· Commitment to education and sharing expertise.
· Imaginative and resourceful as well as enthusiastic and constructive.
· Access to a compost bin/heap for some of the workshop delivery.
Great to haves
· Qualified teacher status (QTS).
· Experience of working in or with secondary and special schools.
· Knowledge of energy and carbon management issues and solutions.
· Experience of partnership working with Local Authorities and Districts or similar local organisations.
· Business development skills.
· Knowledge of other IT packages e.g. Canva, Eventbrite, Mailchimp and SurveyMonkey.
· Knowledge of climate action plans in education settings.
Benefits
· Embedded flexi working culture.
· 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, each year (pro rata for part-time hours) – flexibility to work or use some bank holidays for annual leave.
· Buying and selling annual leave policy to add further flexibility around how you manage your work/non-work time and give you better control over how much and when you take leave from work.
· Paid volunteer time each year (a full day for those working 19 hours or more per week, and a half day for those working up to 18.75 hours per week).
· Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
· Enhanced sick pay.
· Scottish Widows pension plan – the company will match up to 7% of your contribution.
· Group life assurance cover.
· Healthcare portal offering 24/7 GP access and prescription service, mental health support, wellbeing advice, financial and legal guidance.
· Mental health and wellbeing group with trained mental health first aiders and responders, maintaining a focus on support for our team.
· A cycle to work scheme for all and on-site showers at the Bristol office.
· Home and tech scheme - costs at Currys and Ikea spread across 12 months, and up to 10% savings.
· Paid professional membership such as CIWM or ISEP.
· An opportunity to become a company member, contributing to decision making and the future direction and success of our business.
· Consultative Group – a group of employees providing an anonymous vehicle for employee voice, raising issues, proposing changes and engaging senior management.
· Regular line manager 1:1s and performance reviews, with opportunities to discuss and build targets that inspire and push you professionally.
· Annual training budget to ensure continued progression and development, as well as regular internal ‘Lunchtime Briefs’ and other sessions to share skills and knowledge across all roles.
· Two annual team activity days, each followed by evening socials.
· Green and accessible Bristol office, surrounded by nature, and close to the harbourside.
· Accessible central Glasgow office close to local public transport links as well as cafés and shops, with various complementary facilities, events and networking opportunities.
· An opportunity to join a friendly, fun, professional, challenging, and supportive place to work, and a team that is collectively focused on making a positive impact.
Resource Futures is an equal opportunities employer. We strive to create a working environment where everyone can make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment.
We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us in being themselves at work. We pride ourselves on working flexibly to enable our people to take care of their mental health and maintain a good life-work balance.
We are Disability Confident and a Living Wage employer, and our hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.
We recruit and treat everyone with equality and respect regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital or partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. In line with the expectations set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, we place an obligation upon all of our people to respect and act in accordance with this statement.
Please apply via our website link by 9am on Monday 1st December 2025. Please let us know if you would like to submit your application in a different format. Interviews for this role will be held at Pinbrook Recycling Centre in Exeter on 11th and 12th December 2025.
Our vision is to create a sustainable world. We support organisations, people and communities to thrive using material resources sustainably.
Terms: 0.6 FTE, 3 days per week; one year contract, with possibility for extension
Salary: £24,000 - £38,000 per annum, depending on experience
Location:Remote working
Start Date:5th January 2026, or sooner by agreement
Line Manager:Communications Manager
Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK.
Closing Date: 07 December 2025
About BASIC
BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, an adherence to Earth’s planetary boundaries, and the consideration of future generations
For nearly 40 years, we have developed a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We comprise an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep and wide-ranging institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.
BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.
BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment in which to work, with an exceptionally-positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade, and we are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.
What We Offer
-
Competitive salary with room for growth
-
30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period
-
Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)
-
Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours
-
Remote working with option to use co-working space
-
1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities
-
Opportunities for professional growth and development
-
Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion
The Role
BASIC is seeking a Digital Communications Officer with exceptional design sensibility and meticulous attention to detail. This role is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the organisation's digital presence through clear, consistent, and effective communication with key audiences. The Digital Communications Officer will support the implementation of strategic communication objectives, promote organisational priorities, and uphold the integrity and professionalism of BASIC's online profile.
Reporting to the Communications Manager and working closely with BASIC's programme teams, the postholder will develop, deliver, and analyse the impact of digital content across our online platforms — including BASIC's website and microsites, social media channels (LinkedIn, X/Twitter, BlueSky), and email communications.
Essential Requirements
The ideal candidate will be a fluent English speaker with strong copy-editing and proofreading skills. Professional-grade capabilities in graphic design, web design, newsletter software, and audio/video production are essential for creating compelling online content. We are looking for someone who combines technical fluency with creative flair and storytelling, and who understands how to engage diverse audiences across multiple digital platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
Digital Strategy and Content Management
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Work with the Communications Manager to develop, maintain, and refine BASIC's digital communications strategy and associated workplans
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Ensure consistency in the presentation of programme communications strategies and accessibility for all staff
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Monitor and evaluate the impact of communications activities, identifying successes, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement
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Prepare communications plans for conferences, speaking engagements, international engagements, and campaigns
Website and Digital Platforms
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Commission, edit, and publish articles and commentaries for BASIC's website
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Maintain and update BASIC's website, microsites, and online presence (including Wikipedia and directory listings)
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Ensure all digital content is accurate, well-formatted, proofread, and on-brand
Social Media Management
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Develop and maintain a content calendar for BASIC's social media accounts (LinkedIn, BlueSky, X/Twitter)
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Create engaging, visually compelling, and timely social media content that advances BASIC's communications objectives
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Monitor social media engagement and use analytics to inform strategy
Email Communications and Newsletters
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Produce BASIC's regular newsletters, ensuring they are newsworthy, well-designed, and properly formatted
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Develop compelling headlines and select impactful imagery
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Use graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) to enhance visual appeal
Media Relations Support
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Develop, maintain, and update media contact lists and databases
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Work with the Communications Manager to document and refine media engagement processes
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Prepare press releases, ensuring they are compelling, accurate, and properly formatted
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Compile monthly digests of nuclear policy and security-related media coverage (as required)
Content Creation and Design
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Create visual, audio, and video content using professional-grade tools to tell BASIC's story effectively
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Ensure all imagery is well-cropped, edited, and appropriately branded
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Liaise with staff to identify the most impactful content for external communications
Additional Responsibilities (as required)
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Prepare programme Q&As, one-pagers, briefing notes, and key messages
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Support organisation of media training sessions
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Liaise with external contributors for website content
Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Other tasks may be required as they arise.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Degree in marketing, visual communications, journalism, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
- Proven experience in a digital communications or media role
- Experience in audio-visual storytelling such as video work or podcasting
- Excellent written and spoken English, with strong copy-editing and proofreading skills
- Professional-grade skills in graphic design, web design, and audio/video production
- Demonstrated ability to manage websites, social media channels, and digital campaigns
- Strong analytical skills, including experience using digital analytics to inform strategy
- Familiarity with email marketing or CRM platforms (e.g., Mailchimp)
- Technically fluent, with creative and storytelling flair
- Highly organised, collaborative, and attentive to detail
- Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Desirable:
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field
- Experience working in a think tank, NGO, research, or public policy organisation
- Experience in media relations or crisis communications
- Knowledge of global security, defence, or nuclear policy issues
Working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.