Employment retention specialist jobs

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• 40 days paid leave per year: 25 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 3 days between Christmas and New Year and 4 wellbeing days
• Strong commitment to professional development with a dedicated training budget
• Annual performance and pay progression reviews
• Up to 5% pension contribution
• Scope to take real ownership in a fast-growing charity
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering free therapy
• Work phone and laptop
• A supportive and inclusive culture with regular team social events

Settle is committed to increasing the representation of lived experience of the care system in our team. For this reason, care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria below are particularly encouraged to apply, and will be guaranteed an interview. Please refer to the final page of the job description to understand what we mean by the term ‘care-experienced’. 

Choosing to join Settle in our mission means contributing to meaningful and much-needed societal change. As Trust and Foundation Fundraising Officer, you’ll be working to generate income which will enable Settle to expand its reach, achieve its strategic goals and, ultimately, make a real difference to the amazing young people we serve.

You’ll work closely with our senior leadership and support team to help deliver our fundraising strategy. As part of a fundraising and communications team of 5, you’ll report to our Head of Fundraising and be accountable for writing grant applications and funder reports, prospecting for new funding opportunities and day-to-day funder administration and correspondence.

Candidates with experience of trust and foundation fundraising are encouraged to apply; however, direct fundraising experience is not an essential requirement for this position. Trust and foundation fundraising is a skill that can be taught, and we’re confident in our ability to nurture and develop new talent. Essential requirements include exceptional writing skills, reliable administrative skills and strong people skills. Applications would be welcomed from candidates with a background in communications or writing-based roles, or from other areas of the charity sector.

Settle is committed to increasing the representation of lived experience of the care system in our team. For this reason, care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria below are particularly encouraged to apply, and will be guaranteed an interview. Please refer to the final page of this job description to understand what we mean by the term ‘care-experienced’. 

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You care about improving the lives of our young people
You’re deeply committed to our mission and will go the extra mile to ensure young people are receiving the best quality support they deserve.

You have outstanding writing skills
You’ll have a track record of producing high quality written work with a keen eye for detail and ability to tailor your writing to the needs of the audience.

You’re great with people
You’re going to be working with colleagues, partners and young people from a range of backgrounds. It is essential that you demonstrate the compassion and communication skills to build good relationships, and that you are dedicated to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into all areas of your work.

You’re an organised and thoughtful worker
You’ll apply a considered, research-informed approach, both when identifying and approaching funders. You can manage multiple deadlines efficiently and you are meticulous in your attention to detail, recognising the rigour required in collecting data and in record-keeping, as well as the nuances of grant-writing.

You are proactive
You will take ownership and responsibility for the quality of your work, and you’ll be able to take initiative as well as instruction, leading on projects independently as well as working collaboratively with other team members when required.

You are self-reflective
You’re continually looking for opportunities to learn and improve. You’re able to recognise areas for development and demonstrate an appetite for continual professional development and growth. You view feedback as a gift and use it to shape your practice. 

Lead the marketing and brand strategy for the Voice of North East schools developing and delivering strategies to serve our stakeholder groups. 
 

Marketing and Brand Manager

Salary:              Senior Manager Band 5 – £40,775–£52,196, depending on experience
Location:          Central Newcastle (with flexibility to work from home on Fridays)
Hours:              Full-time, 36 hours per week
Holidays:         30 days plus Bank Holidays
Travel:              Some regional and national travel, as required

Closing Date:   5pm Wednesday 27 August 2025
Interview Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025

Make a Difference with Schools North East

Schools North East is a dynamic, purpose-driven charity that champions the schools sector across the North East. Representing a collaborative community of over 1,150 member schools, we are recognised nationally as the Voice advocating for North East schools, the Glue fostering collaboration, and the Bridge connecting them with the wider world. Now approaching our 20th year, we are entering an exciting new phase of development, strengthening our influence, expanding our reach, and enhancing the value we deliver to our members.

As Marketing and Brand Manager, you will be a senior leader responsible for setting and delivering our strategic marketing and communications agenda. You will ensure alignment across all marketing activities, communications, policy, events, and external relations, integrating workstreams to achieve organisational goals and reinforce SNE’s position as the authoritative voice of North East schools. This is a pivotal, high-profile role requiring a dynamic, commercially aware, and highly experienced strategic thinker with a strong background in PR and marketing.

We are looking for a values-led leader who can anticipate long-term trends and align strategies with the organisation’s vision, taking account of the political, economic, and educational landscape. You will make bold yet considered decisions, taking calculated risks where appropriate, and responding promptly and effectively to critical events. You will lead by example, actively promoting SNE’s values and vision both internally and externally, and influencing our strategy, direction, and culture to increase organisational effectiveness.

You will bring a collaborative, resilient, and adaptable approach, fostering a culture of learning and development that helps the team grow and succeed, while sharing your own expertise to support others. With exceptional communication skills, you will engage stakeholders with purpose and conviction and ensure that service delivery is efficient, impactful, and aligned with stakeholder needs. This is an opportunity to join a respected and ambitious organisation at a key point in its journey—and to play a personal role in shaping its next chapter of success.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership

• Contribute to the strategic leadership of Schools North East as a senior manager, ensuring marketing work supports the organisation’s long-term mission and values.

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Develop and deliver a forward-thinking marketing strategy that elevates Schools North East’s brand regionally and nationally, aligning with organisational goals and values.
• Act as the senior lead on all marketing and brand initiatives, embedding marketing thinking across the organisation.

Brand Development & Management

• Strengthen Schools North East as the authoritative voice of education in the region and a credible influencer on the national stage.
• Manage and refresh as necessary the brand identity to ensure consistency across all channels, content, campaigns, and events.

Content & Campaign Strategy

• Create and oversee a compelling multi-channel content strategy that delivers high-value engagement across all audiences – from school leaders and policymakers to media and potential funders.
• Lead integrated marketing campaigns that amplify the impact of events, policy work, and membership services.

Audience Engagement & Insight

• Develop segmented engagement strategies to better serve diverse stakeholder groups, ensuring messages land with clarity and purpose.
• Use audience insight, member feedback, and data analytics to shape messaging, improve outcomes, and report on ROI.

Media & Public Relations

• Act as brand guardian and media lead by proactively shaping public narratives, overseeing media inquiries, and managing external comms.
• Build/manage strategic relationships with regional and national media to drive influence and awareness.

Digital & Social Media Strategy

• Transform Schools North East’s digital presence, particularly on LinkedIn and other platforms, to increase visibility, engagement, and thought leadership.
• Introduce a more dynamic and audience-friendly approach to communications and e-newsletters, reducing information overload and improving open and engagement rates.

Revenue Generation & Innovation

• Identify new, and retain existing, income-generating opportunities through memberships, partnerships, sponsorships, or creative campaigns that align with SNE’s mission.
• Support diversification of income streams while maintaining the organisation’s charitable ethos.

Systems & Tools

• Oversee the development and optimisation of CRM, website, and digital tools to streamline marketing operations and track impact.
• Ensure data compliance and user experience best practices are upheld.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor direct reports setting clear KPIs and fostering a creative, ambitious, and collaborative team culture across the organisation.
• Work closely with Directors, Business, Events and Policy teams to ensure marketing activity supports and enhances core functions.