Grassroots development officer jobs in Chichester, west sussex

Are you an outstanding leader, fundraiser and a natural networker? Do you want to help local communities to take practical action to make a difference to UK seas and shores? 

Sea-Changers is looking for a motivated leader to make a step change at a key point in the organisation’s journey. Sea-Changers’ vision is a future where the UK’s seas and shores are clean and healthy and marine species and habitats are protected. Our grants seek to support communities of Sea-Changers – people who care about the seas and want to take practical action to make a difference. Through our grants we enable diverse, grassroots and community-led marine conservation across the UK.

Doubling our income to over £300,000 in 2025 has catalysed Sea-Changers to move from a volunteer-led charity to a sustainable organisation with a dedicated staff team. To enable this, we are seeking to appoint our first Executive Director. This new role will work alongside the Co-Founders and our Board of Trustees and lead the transition from a volunteer-led operation to a staff-led organisation.

As a driven individual, you will build on our success — strengthen partnerships, expand our impact, and help more communities to protect the ocean. Supported by a strong group of volunteers and an impressive Board, the Executive Director will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operation level, and ‘hands on’. By the end of 2027 it is our expectation you will take full responsibility for the strategic leadership and overall operational delivery of Sea-Changers.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for the right individual. It is a chance to build on our success to date, to forge new partnerships with our funders, to motivate and inspire our inspiring volunteer team and to engage with our wide community of applicants. Through Sea-Changers, the Executive Director has the rare chance to deliver a lasting legacy for UK marine conservation.

Strategic leadership, increasing organisational income and managing a motivated team of volunteers are essential aspects to the role. A passion for the marine environment is key, as is a working understanding of UK marine policy. We want someone who passionately advocates for Sea-Changers, who can communicate confidently and credibly at all levels. You will champion our oceans and galvanise others. 

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for women’s rights.

We are recruiting a Head of Campaigns & Influence to lead our public campaigning and movement-building work. This is a senior role for someone who can turn build campaigns that cut through, mobilising supporters and communities, raising awareness of the most pressing issues facing women today, and helping shape the political conditions for progress on women’s rights.

This role drives how Fawcett builds our influence & impact. It brings together campaigning, public affairs, supporter mobilisation and leadership, with a strong focus on turning evidence and policy priorities into clear, credible and compelling public asks.

About the role

The Head of Campaigns & Influence will lead the development and delivery of Fawcett’s campaigning strategy, ensuring our work is politically sharp, driven by women's experiences, and capable of building momentum over time.

You will work across campaigns, public affairs, digital and membership, helping ensure that our external work is joined up, strategic and effective. You will also play a key role in connecting our national influencing work with the energy, insight and experience of our members, supporters and communities.

This is a senior leadership role, reporting to the Chief Executive and contributing to wider organisational planning and decision-making. You will line manage campaigning capacity, help shape a collaborative and inclusive culture, and support Fawcett to grow its public impact over the coming years.

You would be joining a small but ambitious team, with the opportunity to shape both the work itself and how we work together. At the moment, the team is small, which means this role will suit someone who is comfortable leading in a hands-on way while supporting others to grow. We expect to strengthen our campaigning capacity over time, so there is real scope to help shape the next phase of that development.

What you will do

• Lead and deliver an integrated campaigns strategy aligned to Fawcett’s priorities and mission.
• Turn research and policy positions into clear, compelling and politically credible campaign narratives and asks.
• Build momentum by mobilising members, supporters and people with lived experience in meaningful and effective ways.
• Lead Fawcett’s cross-party public affairs approach and represent the organisation in external meetings, coalitions and forums.
• Work closely across campaigns, communications, digital, membership and income generation to strengthen impact and visibility.
• Define success measures for campaigns and improve how we understand and evidence our impact.
• Line manage and support staff through inclusive, accountable and values-led leadership.
• Contribute to senior leadership planning, organisational development and wider strategic decision-making.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Experience of leading and delivering campaigns, advocacy or movement-building work designed to achieve social, political or cultural change.
• Experience of mobilising supporters, communities and/or people with lived experience in ways that strengthen campaigns, projects or organisational work.
• Experience of influencing political, institutional or other decision-makers, including translating evidence, policy positions or strategic objectives into clear and credible public asks.
• Previous line management experience, with evidence of supporting and developing others well through inclusive, accountable and values-led leadership.
• A strong commitment to women’s rights and tackling misogyny, with a clear understanding of intersectional feminist and anti-racist practice.
• Strong strategic judgement and the ability to work effectively in politically sensitive or fast-moving contexts.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across different teams and audiences.

Encouragement to apply

We know that women and people from marginalised backgrounds are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single criterion listed. If this role excites you and you feel you could do it well, we strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements.

Introduction

the3million is the largest grassroots organisation for EU citizens* in the UK, formed after the 2016 referendum to protect the rights of people who have made the UK their home. 

Our work ranges from organising EU citizens’ communities and informing people about their rights, to holding the Government to account on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and advocating for social justice.

We are looking for an experienced, values-driven and thoughtful Communications Manager to help shape and strengthen the3million’s public voice. The role focuses on sharing our work as widely and effectively as possible, through social media, supporter communications and news media. You will act as a spokesperson for the3million, write and develop communications materials, and help grow our supporters and donors base through lived-experience focused communications.

The ideal candidate is a passionate communicator, motivated by social justice and passionate about amplifying the voices of EU citizens and other migrant communities. You are as comfortable shaping strategy as you are delivering high-quality content, and you are committed to challenging injustice and influencing decision-makers.

Key responsibilities

1. Communications strategy & leadership 

• Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of the communications strategy of the3million, working closely with the3million’s CEO, Head of Policy and Advocacy and Organising team to deliver timely strategic communications support
• Growing and safeguarding the3million’s brand identity, integrity and strategic positioning across all our external channels, networks and audiences
• Develop new initiatives to expand and improve the reach and engagement of the3million’s communications
• Regularly reviewing the effectiveness of campaigns and responding to opportunities that arise
• Use analytics tools to evaluate performance and inform strategic decisions
• Support the3million’s sustainability through effective fundraising messages and campaigns
• Maintain positive and productive relationships with partner organisations, working on shared campaigns and promoting strategic collaborations, opportunities for engagement and projects

2. Content and digital communications 

• Build the3million’s public messages, using the most effective frames to communicate complex issues clearly to targeted audiences, with lived experience underpinning these messages
• Take overall responsibility for developing the3million’s website content, creating written and visual content
• Oversee and manage the3million’s online presence, engaging with relevant online platforms
• Produce regular newsletters, with clear and effective calls to action 
• Develop effective fundraising content to disseminate to supporters 
• Manage the3million’s social media channels, leading on creating engaging social media content (written and visual), developing and expanding the3million’s social media presence using relevant up to date digital tools 
• Support EU citizens in having their stories heard, sourcing and writing compelling stories, ensuring safeguarding and consent policies are followed

3. Media relations 

• Monitor media outlets for issues related to our campaigns, respond to developments in an appropriate and timely fashion
• Write and disseminate press releases, opinion pieces and articles
• Manage press enquiries, liaising with journalists and other media contacts
• Proactively pitch, develop and maintain relationships with relevant media stakeholders, developing our contacts list
• Support people with lived experience in working with journalists to have their stories heard
• Develop key messaging and briefings for staff and spokespeople to ensure consistency across communications, as needed
• Lead on crisis communications and rapid response messaging in reaction to political or media developments 

4. Campaign communications & messaging 

• Work closely with the policy and advocacy team to translate complex issues into compelling narratives 
• Work with the Community Organising team to ensure lived-experience led storytelling is embedded in the community organising strategy
• Support with the development of published materials (in print and online) such as leaflets and reports. Lead on the visual design of published materials
• Support people with lived experience (including community leaders) to be effective spokespeople for the3million, delivering relevant communications training and support their leadership development (working closely with the Organising team)

5. General: 

• Maintain relationships with relevant funders of the3million’s communications activities, providing regular reports and updates 
• Represent the views of the3million at events, conferences and in the media
• Provide assistance in other areas of the3million’s work as and when deemed necessary by the CEO

Person specifications

Knowledge and experience: 

• Demonstrable experience (minimum 2 years) in managing communications for a charity or an NGO in the UK
• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape, including experience securing media coverage and managing press relationships 
• Experience managing digital communications channels (website, email, social media) and growing engagement 
• Experience supporting or working alongside people with lived experience in communications, storytelling or campaigns 
• Experience using data and analytics to evaluate communications performance and inform strategy

Skills:

• Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences and channels 
• Ability to identify and quickly respond to external opportunities and risks, including fast-moving political or media developments 
• Strong media relation skills, including pitching stories and handling press enquiries 
• Digital communications skills, including social media management, email campaigns (eg using Mailchimp or Action Network) and website content management 
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to develop clear, compelling messaging and narratives grounded in lived experience
• Confidence in supporting and briefing spokespeople, including people with lived experience
• Good design and visual content skills (including using Canva for content production)

Personal attributes:

• Passionate about EU citizens’ rights and committed to supporting and advancing the rights of all migrants, irrespective of nationality, immigration status, or other matters
• Strong understanding of power, inequity and intersectionality
• Ability to work independently, managing competing priorities and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• A positive, proactive and solutions-oriented attitude, able to take initiative
• Willingness to occasionally travel across the UK

Desirable: 

• Experience with campaigning or political communications 
• Knowledge and experience in fundraising communications (donor messaging, appeals)
• Knowledge of migrants rights or the EU Settlement Scheme
• Experience delivering media or communications training 

Before you apply

One of the3million’s core values is equity - we are people led, we value diversity and are enriched by differences. We strive to listen to, engage with and represent the broadest range of people. 

We recognise our team is not currently representative of communities that experience racism and that our own ways of working may replicate wider societal oppression and injustices. We are actively working towards becoming an anti-oppressive organisation, including taking steps to create a more inclusive recruitment process.

You may not have worked in an organisation whose focus is campaigning for migrants’ rights. Or you may have experience in a grassroots setting which is not formalised. Please still consider applying as many other settings offer transferable skills.

If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the migration sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism, or you have lived experience of migration, or you are a disabled person, or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - we strongly encourage you to apply.

We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity. the3million welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do.

About applying 

Apply by submitting an up to date CV and cover letter through CharityJobs, detailing your motivations for applying for this post and how your skills, knowledge and experience fit the person specifications of the role. Please note we will not be reviewing applications which do not include a detailed cover letter.

Working conditions 

Position: Full time 
Duration: one year contract, with possibility of extension, subject to funding 
Salary: £35,000
Location: Remote, UK. Home working. Occasional travel required - within the UK (all travel expenses covered)
Benefits: 28 days holiday + bank holidays, contributory pension scheme, flexible working patterns.
Reporting to: CEO

Closing date: 21st April 2026. Please note we are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and this vacancy may be closed early if we find a suitable candidate.