Head of communication jobs

First Step Trust is a charity and social enterprise with over 30 years’ experience supporting people who are furthest from the labour market to gain skills, confidence and move into employment.

We combine social impact with commercial enterprise, delivering training programmes, social enterprises and innovative virtual reality learning tools that create real opportunities for disadvantaged learners.

We are now looking for a Head of Commercial to lead the next stage of our growth.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving commercial income across our social enterprises and developing new revenue streams, including the commercial licensing of our virtual reality training products.

You will oversee a portfolio of social enterprise businesses, supporting project managers to increase sales, improve performance and ensure the businesses are operating effectively. Alongside this, you will identify and develop new commercial opportunities, partnerships and routes to market.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping the organisation’s strategy and helping us achieve our ambition that 60% of our income will come from commercial activity by 2030.

We are looking for someone who brings strong commercial acumen and a proven track record of generating income, alongside the ability to lead and develop teams. You will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operational level, with the confidence to drive growth while maintaining a clear focus on social impact.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a leadership role where you can shape commercial strategy, grow innovative services and make a real difference to people’s lives.

For full details of the role and how to apply, please see the recruitment pack.

Stella Maris UK is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of International Programmes to drive delivery of our international strategy and strengthen our global network.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for building strong relationships with international partners, identifying programme opportunities, and securing sustainable funding from corporates, trusts and foundations. The role will oversee the development and delivery of high-impact projects, ensure effective grant management and reporting, and support capacity building across the global Stella Maris network.

The role requires regular international travel to build partnerships, support programme delivery, and represent Stella Maris at meetings, conferences and network events.

We are looking for a confident leader with a strong track record in international development, grant fundraising, and stakeholder management, alongside the ability to translate strategy into delivery.

St John's College is an award-winning, Ofsted-rated Good autism-specific college for autistic young people aged 16–25. We are now seeking an experienced and strategic Deputy Head of College to join our College Leadership Team (CLT).

About the Role

As Deputy Head of College, you will play a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the College. Working closely with the Head of College, you will drive the quality of education, ensuring that all learners receive a high-quality, ambitious and personalised curriculum that prepares them for adulthood.

You will lead on the continuous improvement of teaching, learning and assessment, ensuring strong outcomes for learners, and will contribute to the development and delivery of the College's strategic vision. This is a highly influential role, supporting the alignment of education, health and care provision while ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the strategic leadership and continuous improvement of the College, contributing to long-term planning and vision
• Lead on the quality of education, ensuring a well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum aligned to learner needs and EHCP outcomes
• Drive high standards in teaching, learning and assessment through effective leadership and performance management
• Oversee curriculum planning, timetabling and delivery, ensuring consistency across provision, including off-site learning
• Lead on external accreditation and RARPA, ensuring robust assessment, tracking and reporting of learner progress
• Monitor learner outcomes and use data to inform decision-making, interventions and improvement planning
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders including families, local authorities and partner organisations
• Support safeguarding across the College, contributing to DSL responsibilities and a strong culture of safety and wellbeing
• Ensure effective operational management, including staffing structures, resource allocation and day-to-day systems
• Deputise for the Head of College as required

About You

We are looking for a confident and values-driven leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for autistic young people.

You will bring:

• Qualified Teacher Status and a relevant degree (or equivalent)
• Experience of leading teaching, learning and curriculum development within a SEND or specialist setting
• Strong understanding of autism, SEND legislation, EHCPs and the SEND Code of Practice
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop teams to deliver high performance
• Excellent communication, organisational and decision-making skills
• A commitment to inclusive practice, equality and learner-centred approaches

You will be resilient, collaborative and driven to deliver continuous improvement, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational delivery.

Why Join St John's College?

• Be part of a values-driven, autism-specialist organisation with a strong reputation for quality and innovation
• Join a committed and supportive leadership team with a shared ambition for learner success
• Play a key role in shaping the future of education for autistic young people
• Access high-quality training and professional development opportunities

If you are an experienced leader with a passion for inclusive education and a commitment to excellence, we would love to hear from you. Only applications submitted online will be considered via the recruitment portal.

Informal visit to setting/main college site - Tuesday 24 March 2026
Candidates informed of application outcome - Thursday 17 April 2026 
Interviews - to be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams - Thursday 23rd April 2026 

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Greenpeace is a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world from destruction. Their vision is a world where everyone has equal access to clean air, water, and energy; where the nature we love is protected, precious habitats are restored and communities are united by ambitious climate action.

Greenpeace UK’s mission is to halve emissions and restore biodiversity by the end of this decade in a fair and equitable way. Their three-year plan outlines how Greenpeace UK (GPUK) is going to play a vital role in getting there.

The Key Relationships programme sits at the heart of Greenpeace UK’s fundraising, securing the philanthropic investment that powers its campaigning work. The team raises around £15–16 million annually from major donors, trusts and foundations, and legacies, contributing significantly to the organisation’s wider fundraising income of approximately £37 million.

We are now seeking a Deputy Head of Major Gifts to play a pivotal role within this high-performing and evolving team. This is a newly created position, designed to increase capacity and support ambitious income growth, with significant scope for the successful candidate to shape and define the role.

Blending trusts and foundations with high-net-worth individual fundraising, this role will focus on building and stewarding a mixed portfolio of donors while strengthening Greenpeace UK’s climate philanthropy. It is a highly donor-facing position, suited to someone who thrives on relationship building and is motivated by the opportunity to drive meaningful income in support of urgent environmental change.

This is an exciting moment to join Greenpeace UK. Following a period of organisational change, this is a newly created role which will enable Greenpeace UK to meet ambitious growth in income and unlock opportunities to grow funding for climate campaigns in particular.

As Deputy Head of Major Gifts, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of major donors, trusts, and foundations giving £100,000+, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding long-term partnerships
• Personally secure six- and seven-figure gifts in support of Greenpeace UK’s strategic priorities
• Play a key role in strengthening Greenpeace UK’s climate philanthropy
• Develop and deliver compelling funding propositions aligned with Greenpeace’s strategic priorities
• Build and deepen relationships with key funders and prospects, increasing external engagement and visibility
• Contribute to prospecting strategy, identifying and progressing new opportunities across both T&F and HNWI audience
• Work collaboratively across fundraising, campaigns and communications to deliver integrated, high-impact fundraising approaches
• Act as a senior member of the team, contributing to planning, strategy and a strong, collaborative team culture

This role would suit a relationship-led fundraiser ready to step into a broader, more strategic position, or an experienced manager looking to deepen their impact across major gifts. You will thrive in a role with significant autonomy, confident operating in a fast-evolving environment and shaping both your own portfolio and the wider programme.

Essential skills and experience:

• A strong track record in high-value fundraising, across trusts & foundations (including family foundations) AND major donors
• The ability to work across a blended T&F and HNWI model, regardless of your core specialism
• Personally securing six-figure gifts from T&Fs and major donors
• Experience managing a portfolio of donors and funders within a complex, values-driven, or global organisation
• Proven success engaging senior stakeholders, including Board members, and philanthropic networks
• A proactive, self-starting approach, with the ability to shape a new role and drive activity forward
• Effective collaborator, able to work seamlessly across fundraising, campaigns, and international teams
• A commitment to Greenpeace’s mission, values and independence

Desirable:

• Experience of securing 7-figure gifts from trusts & foundations and/or major donors
• Experience in capital campaign fundraising and cross-market collaboration
• Experience of climate or environmental philanthropy

Diversity and Inclusion

Greenpeace UK recognise the value in having a diverse workforce, as well as the importance of creating equal opportunities for all. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from people of all backgrounds.

Applications are particularly encouraged from people of colour, disabled people, and people who identify as working class now or in the past.

Candidates will be selected based on how well they meet the criteria for the role and all applicants will be treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. 

If you have any specific requirements which would enable you to participate in the recruitment process more fully, in particular if these relate to a disability or access issue, please see page 11 of the applicant pack for contact details. If you require the job pack in a different format, please get in touch and we will happily provide you with one.

Anti-racism and inclusion commitments

Greenpeace UK wants its team to reflect the diversity of the communities it works alongside. It is committed to fairness, inclusion, and challenging discrimination and oppression in all its forms.

The environmental sector still has further to go when it comes to representation. Greenpeace UK has published ambitious race representation targets and, through its Anti Racism Plan, is working proactively to achieve stronger representation of people of colour, particularly within leadership positions.

As part of this commitment, a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) is being piloted. Greenpeace UK aims to offer an interview to everyone who opts into the scheme and meets the essential criteria. Guaranteed interview applications will be processed by QuarterFive and shared only with the Greenpeace UK recruiting manager and HR team.

If you identify as a person of colour and meet the essential criteria for the role, you can choose to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme via the link on page 2 of the applicant pack.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that women and people of colour may hesitate to apply unless they meet every area of the person specification. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, you are encouraged to apply.

Employee benefits

Benefits include: 

• 25 days annual leave for full-time staff, with additional leave accrued according to length of service up to a maximum of 32 days
• Once a month, all Greenpeace staff take an organisational ‘breather’ day where the office closes with no expectations of output on these days
• Office closure normally occurs between Christmas and new year and staff are not required to use annual leave to cover this period
• Employer pension contribution of 8.5% of basic salary, provided employees contribute at least 3%
• Interest free season ticket loan, or a tax efficient bicycle loan
• Life assurance scheme (4 x annual salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme that includes access to free confidential advice with a qualified counsellor

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Whitley Fund for Nature to recruit an interim Head of Communications to join the organisation as a 14 month maternity cover contract.

Contract: Full time, interim 14 month role
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Location: Hybrid role between home and London office, with three days per week at the organisation's office in Holland Park, West London
Closing date for applications: 9am on Friday 27th March
Interviews: First stage interviews will be held remotely on Thursday 9th April with second round held in person on Wednesday 15th April

Established in 1993, Whitley Fund for Nature is a fundraising and grant-giving nature conservation charity that has channelled £26 million to 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries across the Global South.

Offering long term, laddered support in the form of grant awards to courageous changemakers leading local solutions to the global biodiversity and climate crises, the organisation supports work rooted in communities that creates lasting benefits for wildlife, landscapes and people. Whitley Fund for Nature enables grassroots conservationists to scale up their work and make a global impact.

The interim Head of Communications will join a small team in London to lead and deliver an integrated communications and engagement strategy that amplifies the voices of grassroots conservation leaders internationally. The role is key within the organisation and holds responsibility for raising the organisation's profile, strengthening audience engagement, and supporting fundraising objectives across digital, print, and events.

Core responsibilities will be as follows:

• Implement a dynamic annual communications strategy that aligns closely with PR and fundraising priorities
• Leading impactful campaigns across email marketing, social media, website, branding and events
• Acting as webmaster and brand guardian, ensuring all communications are compelling, consistent and on brand, while driving measurable growth in digital engagement and audience development
• Leading communications around the Whitley Awards, an international awards programme celebrating outstanding grassroots conservation leaders, working across digital campaigns, ceremony communications, publications, social

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within an influential conservation organisation, shaping storytelling that drives real-world impact.

We would love to see applications from candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Ability to think strategically combined with creative flair and a passion for purpose-driven communications
• Demonstrable experience of working in a similar role within the charity or NGO sector
• Proven experience delivering communications strategies and producing effective digital and print communications for a wide range of audiences
• Strong digital expertise across email marketing, social media, websites and analytics
• Experience managing brand identity and external suppliers, and of event communications
• Excellent writing and editorial ability, with an eye for design
• Ability to undertake webmaster and editor responsibilities, with experience of using WordPress preferred
• Experience setting social media strategy, and using online tools such as Canva and Hootsuite to aid with content creation and scheduling
• Proven success in contributing to PR campaigns and securing media coverage
• Strong project management and line management skills, as well as excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to manage and prioritise a busy and varied workload
• Understanding of or interest in issues in wildlife conservation
• Proven ability in effective budgeting, negotiating and budget management

If you're interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance by clicking 'Apply Now'.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Wimbledon Guild is a community charity in Merton offering practical help and support so that people never have to face life’s challenges alone. Whether money’s tight, someone is feeling low or overwhelmed, or they’re looking for new friends and activities locally, we’re always here.

We support more than 4,000 people across our borough every year through a range of innovative services that we continue to develop in response to changing needs.

As Head of Communications and Fundraising, you will be a key member of the Senior Management Team, leading on raising the profile of Wimbledon Guild and driving income through diverse fundraising streams.

You will be responsible for providing clear, professional direction and leadership of Wimbledon Guild’s fundraising, volunteering and communications activities.

The role offers huge personal satisfaction and the opportunity to work with a talented, friendly team, as part of a supportive and collaborative organisation.

About the Department/Role
The Reconciling Leaders Network (RLN) has a vision for the church to be a reconciling presence in conflict and communities, with a purpose to mobilise a generation of reconcilers, pursuing a just and flourishing world. RLN works across the Anglican Communion and ecumenically, supporting a ministry of peacebuilding and reconciliation, with a small and agile team (currently six team members).
Reconciling Leaders Network (RLN) has developed Difference, growing a cohort of global champions and a network of leaders focusing on reconciliation as a mission.
Difference (difference.rln.global) aims to encourage, support and mobilise a generation to live out their calling as peacemakers and reconcilers, pursuing a just flourishing world. This role will seek to deliver significant growth and engagement of Difference.

What you'll be doing
The Head of Communications and Partnerships (for Reconciling Leaders Network) will lead RLN's communications, marketing, and digital engagement strategy, ensuring our message is clear, compelling, and consistent across all channels, extending the reach and engagement of Difference. This role is central to shaping how RLN and Difference are experienced by audiences in the UK and globally.

The successful candidate will bring understanding of the reconciliation and peacebuilding sector, as well as the geo-political and church contexts in which RLN operates. They will be a strategic thinker, a skilled marketeer, theologically astute and a relationship builder who is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and justice, and brings cultural sensitivity to their work and leadership.

The post holder will support the bold objectives for this reconciliation ministry. They will have budgetary and line-management responsibilities and work with external agencies and freelancers to deliver outcomes.
You will work with and through Anglican systems, structures and networks as well ecumenically across different Christian denominations and other organisations - reaching a global audience. As well as working with civic, community and multinational organisations and networks.

Key role requirements
- You will need experience working with senior leadership to translate strategic goals into measurable communication plans and outcomes
- This is a 2-year fixed-term contract or secondment for internal NCI staff (extension dependant on funding)
- An enhanced DBS check (with child barring) will be required as part of our pre-employment checks
- The successful candidate will need to spend 2 days per week in Church House, London
- This post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.
- A willingness and availability to occasionally work outside normal office hours is required
Flexible to meet the demands of the post (attending events, including weekend events when required)

This role is open to both full-time (35 hours) and part-time (24.5 hours) candidates. If interested in the part-time role, the pro-rated salary is £43,049.30. Please indicate your preference within your application.

The interview date is still to be confirmed, but the process will consist of two stages.

Closing date for Applications is 08 March 23:55

Prospectus is collaborating with a well-known centre of Christian worship in the North-East of England to recruit for a Head of Communications and Marketing.

The incoming Head of Communications and Marketing will ensure the department is a strategic enabler of transformation, by amplifying our client’s voice, nurturing relationships, and guiding public perception. Through compelling messaging and innovative campaigns, the postholder will ensure that our client’s story, and the Christian faith which underpins it, reaches and resonates with local, national, and international audiences.

The successful candidate will be an experienced communications and marketing professional having led a marketing or communications function previously. You will have demonstrable skills in adapting messaging for different audiences, and ideally will have experience of supporting a fundraising function from a communications perspective.

For the full Appointment Brief and for details on how to apply please click through to the vacancy on the Prospectus website. Following review you may be asked to provide further information as part of the recruitment process. For further information about this role please reach out to Steven Fraser at Prospectus.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Role Overview
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with a fantastic charitable organisation on a fantastic Head of Communications and Giving role on a 9 month contract. This pivotal position involves developing and leading strategic communication and fundraising initiatives to strengthen community engagement and advocacy efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that enhance the organisation's visibility, reputation, and community engagement.
• Lead fundraising campaigns and initiatives, fostering relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Oversee content creation across multiple channels, ensuring messaging aligns with organisational values and objectives.
• Manage a team of communication and fundraising professionals, providing leadership, guidance, and development.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication and fundraising activities, adjusting strategies accordingly.
• Cultivate partnerships and networks to broaden support and philanthropic giving.
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies, regulations, and ethical standards in all communications and fundraising activities.

Person Specification

• Experience in leading communication strategies within the charity sector or related fields.
• Proven track record of successful fundraising and relationship management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Strategic thinker with an analytical approach to evaluating campaign success.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively under tight deadlines.

What’s on Offer
Salary: £47,000 per annum
Hybrid working 
9 month maternity cover

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Head of Communications & Influencing (Maternity Cover)

Salary: circa £60,000

London / Birmingham - hybrid  (primarily homebased with some travel to London, Birmingham and external meetings)

12month fixed term contract

Closing date: 3rd April 2026

We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Communications & Influencing to lead our high impact PR, media and influencing work during a period of maternity cover.

As our Head of Communications & Influencing, you’ll drive national media coverage for National Debtline and Business Debtline, act as a senior spokesperson, and lead campaigns that shape policy and support people in financial difficulty.

You’ll oversee our communications, public affairs and policy activity line managing a talented team and contributing to organisational strategy.

About us

We’re a national charity working to prevent financial difficulty and remove problem debt from people’s lives. Through our frontline debt advice services, National Debtline and Business Debtline, plus our campaigns, research and policy work, we support hundreds of thousands of people each year.

What you’ll do

This is a wide ranging and influential leadership role where you will:

Lead our external communications strategy

· Shape impactful PR and media campaigns that boost awareness of our services

· Act as a senior media spokesperson, including on TV and radio

· Drive high impact consumer facing media coverage

· Oversee a proactive press office and strengthen relationships with key journalists

Drive our influencing and policy agenda

· Lead our influencing strategy and high profile campaigns

· Oversee policy development and public affairs engagement

· Represent the Trust at senior external meetings, including with politicians, regulators and partners

· Ensure the voices of people in debt sit at the heart of our campaigns

Lead and inspire

· Manage and develop a talented team of communications and policy professionals

· Contribute to our wider organisational strategy as part of the Leadership Group

· Foster a creative, collaborative and forward-thinking department

About you

You’ll bring:

· Significant experience in communications, PR and/or influencing

· An ability to think strategically to develop and deliver effective communications, stakeholder engagement and influencing activity

· A track record of leading impactful campaigns and securing high profile media coverage

· Strong public affairs and policy skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders

· Excellent leadership abilities and a passion for developing people

· Confidence acting as a media spokesperson

· A passion for making a difference to people facing debt and financial difficulty

Why this role matters

Financial difficulty can affect anyone. The work you lead will raise awareness of vital national services, influence policy change, and help create a more supportive system for people in, or at risk of, problem debt.

We believe in taking care of our people, and we offer a great range of benefits, including:

· 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays

· A contributory pension scheme

· Flexible hybrid working arrangement

· Generous Life Insurance

· Wellbeing days to support your mental health

· A healthcare cashback scheme

· Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

· Enhanced maternity pay

· Working outside the UK (up to 30 days per 12-month period)

Ready to make a difference?

We’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us drive real change for people facing financial challenges across the UK.

*Please note that the contract may end earlier (with suitable notice provided) if the substantive post‑holder returns sooner than expected

We are looking for talented individuals and therefore, we value authentic applications and prefer to see your own words and experiences reflected in your application. Please refrain from using AI-generated content, as we want to understand your genuine interest in this role and your own unique perspective.

If you need any adjustments to help you perform at your best during the recruitment process, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to discuss them with you.

We reserve the right to close the role early should we receive high numbers of applications. To avoid disappointment, please apply as soon as possible.   

We will only use the data you supply to us in CVs or application forms for recruitment purposes. This data will be held for twelve months. For further information please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants, available on the vacancies page of our website. 

We take diversity seriously and are committed to making diversity and inclusion a part of everything we do. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Our vision, underpinned by our values, be balanced, be supportive, be innovative, is to be a place where everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and to make us an employer of choice. 

We are committed to working in an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We use a blind recruitment system which hides your personal details such as name, address, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, educational institution to ensure all candidates are on a level playing field. Personal details will only be revealed once the application has been shortlisted. 

Lead the future of youth opportunity in Bristol.
Drive income, build partnerships, and change young lives every day.

Young Bristol is looking for an ambitious and passionate Head of Fundraising & Communications to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our charity and the thousands of young people we support.

This is more than a fundraising role. It’s a unique opportunity to take ownership of income generation at one of Bristol’s leading youth charities, working at a time of exciting growth as we approach our 100-year anniversary. You’ll lead our fundraising strategy, grow a diverse income portfolio, and build meaningful partnerships that directly enable young people to thrive.

Working closely with our Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and Trustees, you will drive sustainable income across trusts, corporates, major donors and events, while also leading communications that bring our impact to life. From powerful storytelling to strategic relationship-building, your work will ensure more young people have access to safe spaces, trusted adults, inspiring activities, and life-changing opportunities.

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach — a confident communicator, relationship builder and leader who is motivated by purpose and driven to make a difference.

In return, you’ll join a values-driven, supportive team who truly believe in every young person and are committed to helping them discover what they are capable of.

If you’re ready to lead, inspire and create lasting impact across Bristol’s communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications is 17:00 on Wednesday 22nd April

Interviews will take place on the Wednesday 29th April.

About Sophie Hayes Foundation

Sophie Hayes Foundation is a small but mighty charity supporting women survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking as they rebuild their independent lives, free from re exploitation for the long-term.

We provide an employability programme which enables survivors to rediscover their skills, build their confidence and sense of purpose, develop workplace skills, and open up opportunities for work placements or volunteering. We also offer a conversational English course, a digital skills programme, and run a survivor network CREW (Creative Resilient Empowered Women).

We do all we can to meet survivors where they are in a complex system, flexing and adapting to need as it arises. We also do not accept a system which fails survivors, leaving them at risk of re-exploitation, and engage in policy and advocacy campaigns based on our lived and learnt experience.

In the words of our participants, “The Programme changed my life’s trajectory. We explored our purpose and discussed the idea of work and career as a central part. Sophie Hayes Foundation should not underestimate how much it plays a big role in people's lives.”

About the Role

We can’t do any of this work without brilliant and concerted fundraising efforts. SHF is independent and relies on funds from grant-making bodies, individuals, and businesses in our supporter community.

This role will be at the forefront of the realisation of SHF’s bold strategic ambitions. You will work alongside our small and dynamic executive team to unlock growth, develop new approaches and communicate our impact.

You will build a lead small, effective and positive fundraising and communications team.

You will develop deep and meaningful relationships with the individuals and organisations while support SHF’s work – and new supporters we have not met yet.

You will be hands on, getting stuck into grant applications, prospecting, communicating, and developing new engagement programmes.

We know small charity fundraising is no mean feat – you will get all the support and engagement you need from the SHF team and Board to do you very best work, in a hugely meaningful context.

You will have the opportunity to get involved in any and all parts of the organisation’s work, including policy advocacy, lived and learnt experience co-design, research and service delivery.

If you are an energetic, positive, collaborative and experienced fundraiser, we can’t wait to hear from you! You can find out more about the mission and values of Sophie Hayes Foundation our website: 

Objectives

FUNDRAISING

• Leadership of successful portfolio of grant funding, including stewardship of existing funders, and growth to new ones through high quality applications and proactive identification of opportunities.
• Development and implementation of income generation and diversification strategies, most particularly through major donors programme and corporate partnerships.
• Working alongside Executive team to develop programmes enabling new sources of funding to be opened up.
• Building close relationship with existing supporters and using network to significantly expand network and prospects, through supporter engagement journeys.
• Ensuring all fundraising activity is in line with the required legislative frameworks and complies with best practice.
• Funding to be opened up
• Building close relationship with existing supporters and using network to significantly expand network and prospects, through supporter engagement journeys.
• Ensuring all fundraising activity is in line with the required legislative frameworks and complies with best practice.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Developing the charity’s existing communications efforts into a coordinated, coherent, and impactful strategy, across all communications channels and traditional and social media.
• Developing and implement opportunities to raise the charity’s profile and engagement.
• Working alongside team members to develop and publicise the charity’s policy and advocacy activities, creating and leading innovative communications campaigns.
• Overseeing the production of all branded materials.
• Overseeing the charity’s duty of care to participants who share their stories, ensuring we approach this with due care and sensitivity, working with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

MANAGEMENT 

• Managing and monitoring all parts of income generation and communications, especially high-quality impact reporting.
• Managing fundraising budget – setting budgets, reporting against them, managing funds, reporting to Board risk & finance committee on fundraising.
• Building a highly effective small team of 2-3 people – outcome-focused and empathetic line management of team members.
• Contributing as key member of Senior Executive Team to organisational strategy and decision-making.
• Acting as a senior leader and figurehead within the charity for all parts of development and fundraising.
• Working closely alongside the Board to unlock potential for income generation and communications.
• Undertaking any other duties as directed by the CEO which may be required. Experience & Skills
• Significant success and experience of impactful charitable fundraising from a diverse range of income streams, especially grants, major donors, and corporates. Or comparable experience of business development in another sector.
• Experience of communications campaigns, PR and marketing.
• Convincing and engaging written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build excellent collaborative working relationships across a wide range of people; colleagues, external partners and funders.
• Highly organised. Ability to prioritise workloads, project manage and deliver to deadlines, often with competing priorities.
• A knowledge of the Modern Slavery sector & trauma-informed practices is desired but not essential, but a commitment to the vision, purpose, and values of Sophie Hayes Foundation is important.
• Effective line management skills and ability to deliver alongside and through small team.
• Positive, creative, entrepreneurial, and solutions-focused.
• Proactive, dynamic, able to work effectively independently. 

About the role

We are looking for an experienced communications professional to drive and deliver our global communications strategy and maintain momentum across our target regions during a period of parental leave. This is an exciting role for someone who is passionate about improving global health and climate outcomes, enjoys activating a diverse range of stakeholders to achieve communications objectives and can support and motivate colleagues to deliver impactful work across different time zones.

Selection criteria

Essential:

• Experience designing and implementing successful communications strategies  that support the delivery of positive social, corporate or political change. We imagine the ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience, but we are open to consider candidates with less experience who possess the required skills. 

• A high level of strategic thinking and an understanding of how to leverage different campaigning approaches to achieve objectives, including community organising and knowledge brokering

• The ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling and nuanced messaging 

• A proven track record of crafting and landing compelling stories in high-impact media that advance campaign objectives

• Existing relationships with journalists in at least one relevant media area, such as news, health, sustainability or food

• Experience managing communications teams in a collaborative and effective way, and a willingness to support colleagues from other teams to develop relevant skills

• A general understanding of building decarbonisation and the energy transition

• Fluency in English

• The right to work in the country you live in (please note we are not able to offer sponsorship for a business visa or work permit at this time)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Spanish and/or French

• A passion for food and cooking cultures

What we offer

• A role in which you can have a tangible impact on global health and climate outcomes

• The chance to join a supportive and inclusive team that combines their determination to improve health and climate outcomes with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work

• A flexible and supportive work environment 

• A diverse network of influential stakeholders in multiple countries

• Competitive remuneration for the not-for-profit sector

Key responsibilities 

Strategy

• Deliver the existing global communications strategy, adapting where necessary in line with organisational priorities during the cover period, and develop associated implementation plans 

• Participate in broader campaign and organisational strategy development, contributing perspectives on the role of communications 

Media

• Build and maintain relationships with key media contacts

• Select, brief and liaise with media spokespeople 

• Develop key media messaging and oversee the development of pitch content 

• Lead on media liaison for both reactive and proactive opportunities

Knowledge brokering

• Coordinate the development and promotion of knowledge products, including case studies, research reports and toolkits

Management

• Hire and manage contractors and agencies as necessary for the implementation of the communications strategy

• Manage the Digital Communications Manager, and lead on the recruitment and management of any other communications professionals required as the GCC grows

Coordination

• Coordinate with the wider team and coalition stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the communications strategy and to continuously refine it to reflect new opportunities and challenges 

Reporting

• Oversee the global communications budget forecasting 

• Contribute to internal and external reporting of the GCC’s communications activities

How to apply

Your cover letter should be no longer than two pages and it should outline why you are interested in this role and how you fit the selection criteria.

Please indicate ‘Head of Communications (parental leave cover)’ in the subject line.

Applications close Monday 30th March 2026.   

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalised groups to apply.

This role requires that you are resident and have the right to work in the UK.

On a day-to-day basis, you will help NEON’s partners develop effective content and digital comms strategy - and offer support and training in both digital skills and ways to stay safe online. You will centre anti-oppression in your work and be able to help people stay safe online, especially those from marginalised backgrounds. You’ll be across emerging trends, using platforms effectively and aware of how to make use of digital to empower our base and persuade people to our causes. You will be across what’s happening online and in the news - and be able to quickly jump on opportunities to tell a compelling alternative story.

This project is part of a wider Communications Hub in which you’ll play an active role, helping to develop the overall strategy and direction of the project. The overall aim of the Hub is to strengthen the communication skills and abilities of progressives in the UK. The Hub has five programmes, and Digital will be the sixth programme.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the strategy development and delivery of the digital comms programme
2. Set up and manage a reactive social media unit which clips and generates new content for spokespeople, working with a pool of consultants to create fresh digital content
3. Work with the rest of the Comms Hub to develop a package of support for online influencers who have the backing of social movements, including broadcast media training, messaging insights and production tools and techniques
4. Project manage a schedule of digital media trainings - including a follow-up to our flagship spokespeople training and a one-day digital strategy training for members of the wider NEON network
5. Provide digital comms support to our spokespeople and allied organisations
6. Working with a digital crisis comms support service - helping spokespeople skill up in countering misinformation and disinformation, and stepping in with tailored support for spokespeople receiving hate online
7. Give regular insight to our partners on digital trends, changes to the media landscape and shifts in the ways digital content is shaping public opinion
8. Play an active role in the wider Comms Hub, attending and feeding into key messaging and narrative development and supporting the Co-Directors with overall strategy
9. Monthly oversight and control over the Spokesperson Network finances
10. Fundraising and evaluation for the Hub’s ongoing needs
11. Play an active part in the wider NEON team

Person Specification

Essential

1. A track record of creating or managing innovative projects and bringing ideas to fruition, which push forward a progressive agenda.
2. A solid understanding of digital media, online trends and the changing media landscape
3. Recent experience of creating cut-through viral content that persuades new audiences of progressive arguments.
4. Experience in running effective training for diverse groups of people, and making those training inclusive.
5. Experience developing the personal brand, tone and positioning of an organisation, spokesperson or individual online.
6. Awareness of different audience types, adapting messaging to reach specific audiences and using digital testing methods to assess impact
7. Excellent team working skills - and a proven track record of building relationships.
8. Experience of building networks, making connections and working across differences

About us:

NEON is a capacity and infrastructure building organisation that seeks to accelerate the transition to a new economy by building the power of social movements - because without strong social movements we lack the power we need to win. We deliver trainings, develop resources, facilitate collaboration and work in partnership with key movement allies, especially in the climate, housing and migration movements. Our focus is on strengthening the organising, communications and strategy skills of social movement organisations, as well as deepening movement alignment, as we believe these are key to building collective power. As part of our work, we are looking to change the starting point in social movements from “what do we agree on” to “what can we win together?”

We also aim to mirror the change we want to see in social movements in the way we run the organisation internally. To that end, we are committed to building a workplace centred on joy, care and justice, whilst maintaining healthy boundaries of what a workplace is. We do this because it is important to live our values and principles, and because strategically an organisation with a healthy culture and strong foundations ensures we are always one step ahead in the fight for a just and sustainable future.

To build a culture and community that lasts, we organise around three values:

● Solidarity - we’re here to change the system and that requires working together across issues and sectors that aren’t normally in the same room. This means placing anti-oppression at the heart of our work and building the power of people most often affected by injustice to change the leadership of our movements

● Generosity is about sharing our time, resources and learning with one another as we support each other’s work. It means being open and honest with one another, especially when we hit problems, and thinking creatively about how we positively build from there

● Respect is the bottom line for all relationships in NEON. It means being respectful of different backgrounds and life experiences and giving space for all voices to be heard. This often means listening more than we talk and being open to changing ourselves as a result of what we hear.

We know that people from certain backgrounds and identities are often excluded in progressive movements and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this.

So:

• We particularly welcome applications from marginalised groups, especially people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Disabled people and those who identify as working class or have done so in the past.
• We know the work goes way beyond "diversity", it's about making the space inclusive too. So we are continuously working on that at NEON. So far this includes tangible things like a flexible work policy so people have genuine flexibility around where and when they work and a 28 hour week as standard; a gender-neutral parenting/leave policy, an anti-oppression strategy which is held at senior level given how important it is to the organisation. It also includes the day-to-day work of creating psychological safety for everyone at NEON and celebrating the wisdom of black, indigenous, queer, Disabled and other cultures in the way we work and behave

There are no formal education requirements for this role. As long as you can show us you have the skills we don’t mind where you got them from! Also important to us is your potential to learn and grow in the role so even if you don’t have 100% of the skills listed we want to hear from you.

Dates:

Application deadline: 12 April 2026, 11.59pm

Interview dates: First round of interviews: 28th April and 29th April 2026 Second round of interviews: 6th May 2026