Employment and careers service team leader jobs

Stories Lead

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About the role

Sense has a fantastic opportunity for someone to join our team as our Stories Lead. This is a full time, hybrid role, working 37.5 hours per week at either our office in Kings Cross, London or Selly Oak, Birmingham.

This role sits within Sense’s newly established social change directorate, supporting the directorate’s wider purpose of breaking down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs.  The role is closely connected to the organisation’s co-production area of work and supports organisational wide research and insight gathering from people with lived experience. It also works closely with the fundraising and marketing directorate to deliver storyteller needs and requirements to support their strategic objectives. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining and growing Sense’s storyteller portfolio, made up of disabled people with complex needs and their families, volunteers, supporters and staff. You will play a leading role in ensuring that the most compelling stories feature across the charity’s integrated influencing, and fundraising and marketing activity to drive engagement, lasting change, and sustainable income. You will also champion, steward and promote storytelling internally and externally, working with teams across Sense to identify new storytellers and support colleagues to facilitate story collection, and will be responsible for building trusted relationships with contributors, ensuring they have a positive experience throughout.

Key responsibilities

• Manage Sense’s stories database and play a leading role in ensuring the most compelling stories feature across our media, campaigns, fundraising and wider communications and content.
• Oversee the management of storyteller relationships at Sense, making sure that their needs are met and that they understand the role of the charity, how their story can support it and the impact of doing so - ensuring they have a positive experience throughout.
• Lead on conducting sensitive interviews with contributors, writing up their stories and updating the stories database.
• When required, translate storyteller experiences into meaningful and engaging written content across core formats, including blogs, social media posts and emails.   
• Capture additional content from storytellers that aligns with Sense’s content plan, for example photography or short video pieces to camera.
• Collaborate with teams and build strong working relationships with colleagues in the social change department and across Sense to agree priorities, develop briefs and deliver story leads to deadline.   
• Co-ordinate story development across the social change department and be the first point of contact for storytellers when multi-media assets are being collected. 

Key skills and experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in media or communications related subjects.
• Strong understanding of what makes a good story to drive external engagement.
• Understanding of the core role of storytelling within the charity sector and how storytelling content enhances brand engagement.
• Understanding of ethical approach to gathering stories, informed consent, and data protection.
• Experience working in a marketing, communications, media, insights or content team.
• Demonstrable experience of sourcing, gathering and writing story content for both internal use and external communications.
• Experience conducting interviews with storytellers.
• Experience working with real-life stories in communications.
• Experience of working in a fast-moving, deadline-driven environment, and managing competing priorities effectively
• Ability to gather, adapt and edit stories to engage and motivate different audiences.
• Strong writing skills for digital channels.
• Strong proofreading skills and a great eye for detail.
• Interviewing skills and the ability to get to the heart of a story.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiating stakeholder needs.

For a full Job Description and Person Specification please see the link on the left hand side

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We’re proud to be a Disability confident leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

As part of our new three-year strategy, we’re delivering a transformational plan focused on strengthening support for disabled people with complex needs, driving social change and creating a fairer, more equal future.  For further information visit: Transforming Sense, together: our three-year plan - Sense

Our Values

Our values shape the way we behave and work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers:

• We’re creating change
• We’re always learning
• We’re better together

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. 

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks)

Days: To be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, with core hours between 8am – 6pm

Contract: Initial 12 months fixed-term contract (with option to extend), subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period

Responsible to: Senior Strategic Lead (People and Place)

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN

We are seeking to recruit to a brand-new post and are looking for an experienced and strategically minded person to strengthen Salford CVS’s strategic VCSE leadership role within Salford.

Main purposes of the post

To provide strategic leadership for Salford CVS’s place-based work, ensuring the VCSE sector is influential, represented and embedded within key strategic partnerships, boards and system-wide initiatives across Salford. The postholder will work closely with the Senior Strategic Lead for People and Place to shape strategic agendas, strengthen cross-sector relationships and ensure VCSE voices help influence the city’s long-term plans relating to Pride in Place, regeneration, housing, social value, climate action, culture, and wider place-based priorities.

For more information, please download the full Job Pack.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Wednesday 13th May 2026.

Interview date: Thursday 21st May 2026 at Salford CVS offices in Eccles.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks)

Days: To be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, with core hours between 8am – 6pm

Contract: 18 month fixed-term contract in the first instance (subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period)

Responsible to: Bruce Poole, Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN 

We are seeking to recruit to a brand new post and are looking for an experienced and strategically minded person to strengthen Salford CVS’s strategic VCSE leadership role within Salford.

Main purposes of the post

To provide strategic leadership for Salford CVS’s health and social care work, ensuring the VCSE sector is influential, represented and embedded within key strategic partnerships, boards and system-wide initiatives across Salford.

The postholder will work closely with the Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care to shape strategic agendas, strengthen cross-sector relationships and ensure VCSE voices help influence the city’s long-term plans relating to Health and Social Care.

For more information, please download the full Job Pack.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Tuesday 12th May 2026.

Interview date: Friday 22nd May 2026, in person at Salford CVS’ offices.

Creative Content & Brand Lead

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Creative Content & Brand Lead

Full Time/Permanent

Salary: £46,000 to £50,000  

Our offer to you

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive: 

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping 

 
About Us 

St John Ambulance is England’s first aid charity. We put the power of first aid into everybody’s hands, so we’re all closer to help in an emergency. Powered by thousands of volunteers and supporters, we work alongside communities to help more people feel confident and ready to act when it matters most. We educate people in first aid – through our free local community sessions, our youth programmes, and our expert workplace training for companies. We respond to health emergencies – at events across the country, and by providing trusted first aid supplies. Every course booked and product purchased helps fund our charity’s work, so together we can reach more people, build stronger communities and save more lives. If you believe in the positive power of first aid, join us.

Job Summary 

We’re looking for an inspiring and strategic leader to shape how the public sees, feels and experiences St John Ambulance. As Creative Content & Brand Lead, you will define and deliver a compelling creative vision across our content, storytelling and campaigns, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our brand and resonates with our audiences. Whether motivating people to donate or volunteer, or providing clear, trusted clinical information, your work will play a vital role in strengthening engagement and impact.

As part of the Fundraising, Brand and External Communications team within the Operations and Income Generation Network, you will be instrumental in building brand understanding and consideration to support fundraising growth. You’ll champion the value of brand and creative content across the organisation, leading with a positive, adaptable and resilient mindset. An optimistic and approachable leader, you will foster an inclusive, collaborative environment where ideas can thrive and challenges are met with creativity and professionalism.

You will bring strong creative judgement alongside a practical, results-driven approach, confidently navigating complexity to deliver high-quality outcomes. With emotional intelligence and compassion, you will build trusted relationships and create a culture of accountability, ensuring your team consistently delivers impactful, audience-focused work that drives results.

About You 

You are an experienced creative, content or brand leader with a strong track record of delivering impactful work for high-profile, purpose-led organisations. You will bring significant expertise in developing content strategies and leading creative output across complex environments. You are confident managing multi-channel brand campaigns end-to-end, working across in-house teams, freelancers and agencies to deliver high-quality, audience-focused content.

You have proven experience of leading and developing high-performing teams, setting clear direction through vision, strategy and measurable objectives. Comfortable operating in large, complex organisations, you build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and know how to navigate complexity to get things done. You are highly organised, with strong project management skills, and are always looking for ways to improve processes and team efficiency.

A skilled communicator, you bring excellent presentation, copywriting, editing and proofreading abilities, underpinned by exceptional attention to detail. You are confident leading meetings and working groups, and able to influence and engage a wide range of audiences. You keep a close eye on external trends and best practice, using insight and inspiration to continuously evolve creative approaches and raise standards.

You are a strong brand guardian, with the ability to ensure consistency and quality across all channels and touchpoints. Alongside your strategic strengths, you are comfortable with hands-on delivery, with working knowledge of design tools and the ability to create draft creative assets and presentations where needed.

About the Role 

• Lead the creative vision and direction for all visual and written content, ensuring a consistent and compelling brand experience across all channels.
• Develop and deliver an insight-led creative and content strategy that meets audience needs and drives engagement.
• Oversee creative production processes, championing excellence, accessibility and diversity, while continuously improving how the team works.
• Act as a brand expert and consultant, building organisational understanding, safeguarding brand integrity and supporting partnerships, campaigns and new initiatives.
• Shape and deliver impactful multi-channel brand campaigns, including leading flagship activity such as Save a Life September.
• Strengthen and scale the real-life storytelling programme, ensuring a consistent pipeline of powerful, ethical and safeguarded stories.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation, developing tools, guidance and partnerships that enable teams and volunteers to deliver high-quality, on-brand content.
• Lead, coach and develop the Creative Content team, while managing agencies, budgets, performance and contributing to wider strategic planning and reporting.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply) 

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here 

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.   At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.    

'St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role'. 

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.