Head of communications and campaigning jobs

Your mission

We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking Head of Communications who will be responsible for the global communication strategy and ensure that key stakeholders, such as (institutional) fundraisers and marketing and communication teams in our fundraising markets have the necessary inspiring content, assets and information about our programmes. You will lead the War Child Alliance Foundation’s communications team and will also ensure there is an outstanding communications and marketing platform for our critical programmes, advocacy and scaling work. You will  plan for and support the War Child Alliance internal communications processes to foster information sharing and support our People and Culture and Leadership teams.

Team

The War Child Alliance Communications team is responsible for the brand and the reputation on a global level for War Child, as well as overseeing all global and corporate communications and supporting the communications requirements of the War Child Alliance Foundation directorates. In tandem, the team also offers a robust service provision to our fundraising member network, supplying them with content, information and assets to support their communications and marketing outputs, and supports our internal communications processes across the Alliance.

What you will do: 

You will report directly to the CEO of the War Child Alliance. Your key stakeholders will be those that are leading our programmes, scaling and advocacy work, global grants managers, research and development teams and the Fundraising and communications professionals operating in our fundraising markets. You'll lead, motivate and inspire a hugely talented team to innovate and adopt new ways of working in order to deliver our global communications.

 
You will be responsible for: 

• Implementing the War Child Alliance Foundation’s communications and marketing strategy, linked to the Alliance strategy and goals, managing risks and barriers and overcoming these
• Designing and running processes with colleagues across the Alliance to coordinate comms approaches which work effectively for all Alliance members and offices. 
• Managing (in some cases, developing) in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, communication guidelines and policies, content calendar, campaigning frameworks and other marketing and comm’s tools and standard operating processes that enable strategy implementation.
• Overseeing the creation of creative and inspiring content about country and global programmes, research results and scaling efforts, our advocacy work and campaigns that help to raise brand visibility and engage new supporters and donors
• Acting as an inspirational team leader, able to bring others together so that there is a sense of shared purpose and cooperation among the Alliance members’ communication and fundraising teams.
• Drawing on the benefits of international diversity and our organisational culture, bring together people from many cultures with varied work experiences and different perspectives on strategic and organisational challenges. 
• Pro-actively advise the CEO and stakeholders on internal and external global communications.
• Act as a focal point in the alliance for questions regarding internal and external communications. 
• Act as a communications crisis focal point and lead in crisis situations. 

Your profile

• Experience leading high profile and effective multi-functional, globally focused communication and marketing teams. 
• Strong critical analysis and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience of providing strategic, integrated communications and compelling (corporate) storytelling for a well-known brand. 
• Proven experience and an excellent eye for content marketing, global campaign and PR possibilities. 
• Track record and a keen ability in responding to reputational risks, crises or challenging situations quickly and professionally 
• Intellectual and professional level at least equivalent to higher education and with a focus on a background in humanitarian affairs and development, ideally with exposure to child rights. 
• Knowledge and experience of global brand identity development and promotion
• Knowledge and experience of global advocacy focused communications campaigns 
• Strong ability to express skillfully in written and oral English is a must; mastery in Arabic, Dutch, French or Spanish is preferred.
• A highly networked individual, with a sophisticated network of contacts. 
• Strong people manager and skillful team builder

What we offer

• Location : Amsterdam or UK. Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits. War Child does not offer relocation or visa sponsorship. 
• Contract Duration: 9 - 12 months 
• • Contract Type: Dutch /UK contract provided that you have the right to work there. 
  • Salary and benefits are in line with your residing country and contracting office, we offer local packages.
    • UK Contract
      • Salary range £62100 - £70100GBP per annum
      • Flexible working - we recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with our employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, occasional working from home and compressed hours.
      • Annual leave – 28 days per year (full-time) rising to 33 days with service, plus bank holidays
      • Pension - all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis. This increases to 6% after one year's service. 
      • Family leave – we offer enhanced Maternity, Partner/Co-Parent/Paternity Leave, Adoption & Shared Parental Leave
      • Health & wellbeing - employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
      • Learning & development - dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
      • Workplace Nursery Benefit – employees make tax and NI savings on nursery costs for children up to the age of 5
      • Flexible public holidays - up to two standard UK public holidays can be exchanged for those that have cultural or religious significance. 
      • Cancer Cover: Voluntary contributions can be made through payroll allowing employees to claim back on a range of cancer treatments.
      • GP 24/7 Helpline: A GP helpline is be available to all UK employees providing access to a qualified GP, 24/7 via a telephone or webcam consultation, and offers diagnosis, advice and reassurance on a range of medical matters, as well as authorisation of private electronic prescriptions.
      • Welcome Bag for new starters: A War Child Tote bag, War Child T-shirt and some other practical things to welcome new colleagues to War Child.
      • Discounts on War Child Merchandise: 25% discount on full price War Child merchandise, available to all employees, sold through Shop for Good. 
      • Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans.
    •  NL Contract
      • Salary range € 5131 - € 6380  
      • Flexible working: Flexible working policy
      • Pension -Full pension contribution from War Child
      • Annual leave : 28 vacation days on full time basis (consisting of 26 vacation days plus 2 additional fixed free days, based on 40 hours work week);
      • Compensation for travel and work from home costs;
      • Laptop to work from any location and monthly mobile phone contribution of € 25;
      • Learning & development - Possibility to follow training and/or courses where relevant;
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
• Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
• Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization

Why You Should Apply

• Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
• Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
• Global Reach: Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme that operates in multiple conflict-affected regions around the world.
• Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity.

 
How to Apply
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by November 26, 2025. We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended. 

Disclaimer

• Only applications received via our website are processed.
• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.
• We have the right to close the advert before the deadline if we received many applications 

 By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.

War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, color, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.

The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Platform’s North Sea Workers’ Transition project is building towards a managed phase-out of oil and gas extraction in the UK North Sea. We’re organising for an energy industry that protects the rights and livelihoods of the current oil and gas workforce and directs wealth back to communities, especially those impacted by industrial change.

We have been working with offshore oil and gas workers and their unions for 5+ years. In 2023, we published a groundbreaking set of 10 demands for a just energy transition away from fossil fuels co-created with offshore workers: Our Power: offshore workers’ demands for a just energy transition. Since publishing the report we have launched public advocacy and media campaigns based on these demands - working alongside industrial trade unions, national and grassroots climate groups, and oil and gas workers. We coordinate a first-of-its-kind coalition of industrial unions and climate groups working together on national worker transition demands.

As living conditions continue to decline and the climate crisis deepens, we are looking for a motivated and creative campaigner, who is able to lead the next stage of the project, and who has a strong understanding of anti-oppression and energy justice.

About the role

The Worker Transition Campaigns Manager will work closely with our Worker Organiser and Public and Community Ownership Campaigner, supported by our Organising and Advocacy Lead, Research Lead and Communications Lead.

You will be responsible for strategising, project managing and delivering the project. Activities will look like:

• Coordinating an existing coalition of climate groups and trade unions, including holding relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders across movements;
• Developing and delivering political advocacy and public campaigns strategies to win Our Power demands - including public ownership of energy - at a UK and Scottish Government level;
• Supporting the work of Platform’s Worker Organiser(s) to build links with energy workers and involve them in media, political meetings and/or campaigning activities.

This post would sit within Platform’s internal collective management structure and would therefore be expected to support the collective management of the organisation in addition to finance and fundraising-related responsibilities. This includes line managing 1-2 staff members after the 6 month probation period and attending collective management meetings. 

Role Details

Hours: 4 days (32 hours) based on a 40 hour work week (5 x 8 hour days including a 1hr lunch break).

Contract: Permanent

Proposed start date: ASAP, depending on notice period.

Salary: £36,824.41 for 4 days (32 hours) per week (£46,030.51 FTE) is our baseline salary, adjustable according to our Socially Just Waging System. Terms and conditions apply.

Other benefits include: 30 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, enhanced parental leave, enhanced sick pay allowance. We offer Wellbeing and Training and Development funds to all staff. All policies subject to review.

Location: The role will be formally based at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG, but remote working is possible.

Most Platform staff are supported to work from home most of the time, but all permanent members of staff are expected to attend in-person meetings 3-4 times a year, usually at the London office, and other in-person meetings when required.

Responsible to: Management Group (MG), Trustees (in conjunction with the Treasurer) 

You can find more details about the person specification and job description on Platform's website. 

Head of External Engagement

Clergy Support Trust is an organisation which “punches above its weight”, in terms both of the help provided to hardworking clergy households, and the influence we seek to have on Church culture. We are looking for an experienced communications professional, able to lead a broad function encompassing all aspects of our external engagement: media engagement, strategic communications, events and fundraising, so we are looking for someone with strong experience across these areas.

As member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of External Engagement will be joining the leading Anglican wellbeing charity, supporting thousands of households each year, as we embark on a new strategic period (2026-30) and at a pivotal point in our mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• To lead, manage and report on the work of the External Engagement team.

• To design and deliver communications relating to the charity’s 2026-28 Strategy, ensuring appropriate, informative content for colleagues, applicants, supporters, partners and stakeholders.

• To oversee delivery of our first ever Fundraising Strategy.

• To be the charity’s principal Press Officer, and to support the Chief Executive

• as the charity’s principal spokesperson.

• To oversee the charity’s growing programme of events.

If you have significant experience in a comparable role, with exceptional writing skills and an excellent understanding of strategic communications together with previous team and budget management experience, we would love to hear from you!

Join our Team!

We are entering an exciting period of change to transform understanding of Crohn's and Colitis across society, increase our reach and, ultimately, work towards a cure for the conditions.

We have an exciting new opportunity to join us as our Head of Communications and be a driving force in making that shift by creatively leading strategic communications and campaigns.

You will also play an important role by working with an external agency on the development of a new legacy proposition and supporting materials, as well as working on internal legacy promotions and staff training.

In this role you will lead our media, social media, campaigns and engagement functions, as well as project teams across the charity. You'll grow our engagement with diverse audiences and support them to take action towards ambitious campaign goals.

Full details of the job description and person specification are found in our Recruitment pack for download below.

About you

We are looking for an experienced, creative and driven communications leader who will be committed to improving the lives of people affected by Crohn's and Colitis.... could this be you? Are you:

• experienced in leading multidisciplinary campaigns that delivered ambitious results?
• an effective coach with experience of building high performing teams?
• seasoned in driving media relations to deliver results?
• a calm and experienced leader, demonstrating sound judgement even with the pressure is on?
• adaptable to the ever changing trends in communication, embracing them as opportunities to innovate and strengthen engagement?
• aware of social media and campaigning tools to amplify the community voice in communications?

If this sounds like you then we would love to hear from you.

Our location

We are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, so we are easily accessible by road and rail. In this role there is plenty of scope for working from home, although there will be occasions when you will need to attend  directorate days and face to face meetings. In addition, the charity meets four times a year at the office in Hatfield for our mandatory 'All Staff Together' days.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing by one day per year up to 30 days
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
• Flexible working options
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Wellbeing programme
• Interest free loan for season tickets
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking and secure bike locks
• Training and development financial support and/or study leave
• Performance review and development scheme

§  Salary: £30,600

§  Contract: 6-month fixed term contract, with potential to extend to 12 months

§  Working pattern: Full time (4 days a week or condensed hours considered)

§  Location: Hybrid until March with one or two days required in the office in Farringdon. (Think Ahead’s hybrid working model is currently under review).

§  Closing date: 9am, Wednesday 26 November

§  Interview dates: Tuesday 9 December and Wednesday 10 December

If you have a passion for storytelling, digital communications and using your creativity to make a social impact, this is an exciting opportunity to join our mental health charity as our communications officer, working across the full communications mix.

Think Ahead supports people living with mental health needs by supporting a strong and thriving mental health workforce. We know that good mental health care means looking at the whole person and the social determinants of their health – their home, relationships, finances, work and community.

As communications officer you will:

§  Support the organisation to secure new work and diversify our income streams through effective, targeted communications.

§  Advocate for mental health practitioners, and for social approaches in mental health, including through our campaigning, research and external engagement.

§  Amplify Think Ahead’s profile and key messages through compelling storytelling, content creation and media work. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a creative and pro-active communicator to develop their skills in a small, collaborative team and make a real difference at a pivotal time for Think Ahead.

It is an exciting time to join Think Ahead as we diversify our income and drive new business across our portfolio of training, workforce development, research and campaigning. 

We are currently funded by Department of Health and Social Care until August 2027.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is creative, proactive and motivated, with a talent for clear, compelling and engaging communication, and a genuine interest in mental health and social change. You’ll bring strong writing and digital skills, and an eye for engaging content that connects with different audiences.

You’ll have experience working in a communications or media role, ideally within a charity, public sector or values-driven organisation. You’ll be confident managing content across websites, social media and email marketing. An understanding of media relations and curiosity about how communications can support growth, influence and impact will also be valuable.

You’ll be comfortable juggling multiple priorities, collaborating with colleagues, and taking initiative in a fast-paced environment. Most importantly, you’ll share our commitment to improving the lives of people with mental health needs.

What we can offer you

We offer excellent employee benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement (28 days) plus additional office closure over Christmas, enhanced family-friendly leave, flexible working around our core hours of 10am to 4pm, a matched pension scheme with up to 7% employer contributions, an employee assistance programme and more. 

How to apply 

Please provide a CV and a supporting statement (max 2 pages) outlining your fit for the role based on the person specification in the candidate pack on our website together with the completed Equality and Diversity questionnaire.

We will use both the CV and the supporting statement to enable us to shortlist and invite candidates for interview.

We are looking for a new Head of Influencing to lead Switchback’s work driving change across the justice system, with the voice of young prison leavers at its heart.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the leadership team of an organisation delivering sector-leading impact. You will be growing Switchback’s work to tackle social and racial injustice through creative policy influencing and media campaigns based on insights from our frontline delivery, as well as overseeing our work co-producing research and policy solutions with our Experts by Experience Board and partners across the sector.

We are looking for someone to build on our fantastic progress shifting policy and perceptions – such as our most recent work influencing government policy on recall with insights from our participatory action research and through convening a third sector Recall Reform Coalition to build momentum and a compelling evidence-based case for change.

As Head of Influencing you will work closely with the CEO and your small but mighty Influencing team to campaign for a more human, more effective approach to resettlement. You will harness the powerful insights of Switchback Trainees, alongside the rich evidence from our delivery programme, and grow our collaborative influencing partnerships, including our ambitions to build a national participatory research programme building the business case for a national resettlement framework.

We are looking for a highly creative and collaborative individual with a strong strategic mindset and ability to see the bigger picture, helping Switchback punch even further above our weight. You will bring engaging communication skills and a strong track record of securing policy change through targeted policy work and public campaigning with lived experience at its heart.

You will see the value in shifting wider narratives about young people from poor or ethnic minority backgrounds and understand how to influence decision-makers. Above all, you will be driven to do this by centering the powerful voice and experience of the young men we support and working in collaboration with others across the sector to achieve our aims.

Are you a strategic and creative communicator with a passion for storytelling that drives change? Then join Shelter Scotland as our Communications Manager, where you’ll lead the development and delivery of a bold communications strategy that raises our profile, showcases our impact, and keeps housing and homelessness high on the public agenda.

About the role

Over two million people across Scotland are fighting daily battles with homelessness, unfit housing, soaring rents and discrimination. Scotland is in the grip of a housing emergency - and we're rallying the entire country to end it.

This is where you come in. As Communications Manager, you'll shape how Shelter Scotland speaks to the world. You'll own our narrative, craft the messages that cut through, and equip our entire organisation to tell our story with clarity and power.

Leading a team of four communications professionals and reporting to the Head of Communications & Engagement, you'll translate our bold strategy into compelling narratives that provoke action, shape public conversation, and make the housing emergency impossible to ignore.

Role specifics

As Communications Manager at Shelter Scotland, you’ll lead the development and delivery of our creative and impactful communications strategy that raises our profile, strengthens our brand, and keeps housing and homelessness at the forefront of public conversation. Managing a talented team of four across digital, media, and creative content, you’ll craft and maintain our key messages, ensure consistency of voice across all channels, and drive engaging campaigns that inspire people to act. You’ll oversee media engagement, prepare and brief spokespeople, and make sure lived experience and anti-racism are embedded in all our communications. With proven experience in strategic communications, message development, and team leadership, you’ll bring both creative flair and strategic focus to help shape national conversations and advance our mission in Scotland.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

As part of the Communications and Engagement team, you will be responsible for developing integrated communications plans across all digital and traditional channels including local and regional print, broadcast, online and social media.  You will manage our media relationships and support our objectives.

About Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland is Scotland’s national housing and homelessness charity. Our vision is of a home for everyone in Scotland. For over 50 years, the way we drive change has remained the same. We advise and support people in housing need today and use the insight we gain to inform our campaigns to change tomorrow. We also raise professional standards for those working in Scotland’s housing and homelessness sector by offering a broad range of training courses.

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday thousands of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter Scotland is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter Scotland does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Senior Head of Trusts & Foundations – Bloomsbury Football Foundation | London

700,000 young people in London are growing up in poverty, facing inactivity and mental health crises. At Bloomsbury Football Foundation, we’re using football to help tackle these challenges and build resilient, connected communities – already reaching over 6,200 children every week.

We’ve grown fundraised income from £0.75m to £3.5m in three years – and now we’re aiming for £8m by 2028. Trusts & Foundations is our biggest income stream, and we’re looking for a first-rate fundraiser to take it to the next level.

As Senior Head of Trusts & Foundations, you will:

• Lead and grow our £2m+ trusts portfolio
• Write outstanding bids and reports that inspire multi-year, high-value commitments
• Manage and mentor two bright trust fundraisers
• Work with our Director of Fundraising and CEO to secure transformational grants
• Harness AI innovation to boost the pace and quality of our work

We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of winning major multi-year grants (six- and seven-figure), exceptional writing skills, and the ambition to help make Bloomsbury the UK’s most effective fundraising team.

Salary: £58,000–£90,000 (or £42,000–£55,000 for a ‘Head of’ level candidate)
Location: Camden, London (with great staff perks, socials, and match tickets)

Full job description available at Bloomsbury Football Careers page. 

The Opportunity   

This role is central to shaping and delivering the Social Mobility Foundation’s media, public affairs, and campaigning work, alongside the Campaigns Manager. You will influence changemakers - including politicians and journalists - through strategic media, political, and social media interventions. You will also collaborate with our Young Campaigners to amplify their voices and co-create impactful campaigns with them that drive systemic change.

1. Helping to plan and deliver campaigns activity, both planned and reactive, including: 

• Organising campaign events e.g. Parliamentary receptions and communicating our campaigns online and on social media.
• Assisting the Campaigns Manager to commission research and polling support our campaigning.
• Monitoring parliamentary activity, and horizon scanning - considering how political developments may affect our campaigning work, providing opportunities and risks. 

2. Leading our media work to maximise the impact of our campaigning, building awareness of social mobility as an issue amongst influential and informed audiences: 

• Developing and executing media and communication plans to support our campaign goals.
• Monitoring the media and responding to stories that allow us to land our key messages, share our point of view and platform SMF young people.
• Responding to requests from journalists for comment and advising and briefing members of staff on how to respond.

3. Co-create campaigns alongside our Young Campaigners and engage them in delivering and designing campaign activity:

• Developing and facilitate spaces for our Young Campaigners to co-create campaign activities and take actions to influence changemakers.
• Working with young people to share their experiences, through speaking at events and other campaigning opportunities.
• Training and supporting young people to speak to the media, ensuring safeguarding processes are embedded and providing follow up pastoral support where needed.

See attached job description for more detail on the key responsibilities in the role

Person Specification

• Experience of working within a media, campaigning, public affairs or political environment.
• Excellent understanding of the UK political system and political processes and a thorough understanding of public affairs tactics.  
• Experience of planning and delivering projects or campaigns in a charity, political or media context. 
• Excellent copywriting skills, with experience of writing press releases, quotes, interview briefings, social media posts and opinion pieces.
• Experience of successfully influencing policy or practice.
• Experience of speaking to journalists, succinctly describing our positions, handling media enquiries and making recommendations to senior colleagues on next steps.

See attached job description for more detail on the person specification

Benefits

• 36/37 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank and public holidays and three days to be taken between Christmas and New Year) plus up to 3 days additional annual leave increasing with length of service.  
• Time off in lieu for work outside contractual hours
• Employer pension contributions of 5% plus salary sacrifice contribution the equivalent of Employer National Insurance after a satisfactory completion of your probationary period 
• Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time
• Cycle to Work scheme

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this role, please head over to our website by 23:59, Tuesday 2nd December and submit:
 

a) A cover letter (no longer than 700 words) outlining your previous experience, your motivation and your suitability for the role.
 

b) A 500-word op-ed written for our CEO, Sarah Atkinson on why the government should make large employers report on their class pay gap, linking this to a recent news hook, relevant events or political moments happening soon.
 

c) A short email pitching your op-ed to the comment editor of the Guardian.

Please note that generic applications and CV’s will not be considered.

Location: Reading, Hybrid 
Hours: 37 per week 
Salary: £49,098 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Campaign Closes: 28th November 2025
First Stage Interviews: 9th/10th December 2025

Second Stage Interviews: 15th/16th December 2025

We are looking for a Communications Lead to shape and deliver impactful communications that inspire and engage. You will lead day-to-day coordination of internal and external communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and creativity across all channels. Acting as deputy to the Head of Brand, Communications & Entertainment, you’ll manage specialist managers and oversee integrated planning for campaigns, partnerships, and internal engagement.
Essential Criteria 

• Significant experience (2+ years) in a mid-senior communications role, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector. 
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and coordinate communications teams and projects across multiple disciplines.
• Strong understanding of integrated communications planning – including PR, digital, social, and internal comms.
• Demonstrated experience delivering impactful communications that build engagement, increase awareness and drive consideration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling, and emotionally resonant messages.
• Experience developing and delivering internal communications strategies that foster alignment and culture.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to coach, motivate, and support a high-performing team.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership communication experience.
• Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery skills and a focus on impact and efficiency.

Core Purpose
The Communications Lead plays a pivotal role in delivering Make-A-Wish UK’s mission by leading the planning, coordination and execution of impactful communications across internal and external channels.

Acting as the communications lead across every day operations, this role ensures alignment, clarity, and consistency across the organisation’s communications outputs, storytelling and messaging. It provides strategic and operational leadership to specialist communications managers and supports the delivery of high-quality campaigns, partnership communications, and internal engagement activity.

This role supports the Head of Brand, Communications & Entertainment to develop long-term brand and engagement strategy, while ensuring excellence in delivery, team coordination, and communications impact. 

Key Responsibilities 
Communication leadership & coordination

• Lead the day-to-day management and coordination of Make-A-Wish UK’s communications activity, ensuring cohesive planning, consistent messaging, and effective delivery.
• Line manage specialist communications managers and coordinate cross-team workflows to improve collaboration and reduce operational bottlenecks.
• Oversee integrated communications planning for key projects and partnerships – ensuring alignment across media, social, digital and internal channels.
• Lead and support delivery of flagship communications moments such as organisation wide annual campaigns, events and major brand partnerships.
• Serve as deputy to the Head of BCE where required, representing the communications function internally and externally.

Internal communications

• Lead the development and implementation of a structured internal communications strategy to strengthen staff engagement, visibility of organisational priorities, and alignment across teams.
• Alongside senior leadership and relevant stakeholders, deliver consistent, creative, and on-time internal communications such as internal newsletters, all staff update meetings, and ad hoc announcements.
• Equip managers and internal stakeholders with tools and guidance to communicate effectively across teams.
• Corporate and partner communications
• Coordinate and develop communications for key corporate partnerships, high-value donors, and campaigns to ensure strategic alignment and high-quality delivery.
• Work collaboratively with fundraising and partnerships teams to ensure communications activity enhances partner experience, reinforces brand values, and drives impact.
• Oversee the production of tailored communications plans, toolkits and templates for partners to ensure consistent, on-brand engagement.

Campaigns and storytelling

• Provide senior communications support for major campaigns, ensuring clear narratives, powerful storytelling, and consistent brand representation across all channels.
• Support the Head of BCE in developing emotionally resonant communications that connect audiences to the mission and deepen understanding of Make-A-Wish UK’s impact.
• Ensure quality control and brand alignment across all public-facing content, in partnership with the Content Manager.
• Drive the development and optimisation of key messages, and their effective use across all touch points within the organisation.

Measurement and continuous improvement

• Track and evaluate communications performance using agreed KPIs.
• Use available data and insights to refine processes and improve communications effectiveness across channels. Seek out new data and tracking ability to enhance learnings and inform development.
• Contribute to a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement within the BCE team.

Making The Leap is an innovative societal change charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we refuse to stay in our lane and believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

The ethos of the organisation is to be passionate about helping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds; build up other charities and community groups and want to partner with them or support them; want to work with businesses and organisations to get things done; and care deeply about addressing racial inequity.

The organisation has a number of strands: core Making The Leap; the UK Social Mobility Awards; the Social Mobility Podcast; The Social Mobility List and Black Charity Leaders.

*Please note that applicants with less experience may be considered for a communications officer role.

Martingale Postgraduate Foundation (Martingale) exists to fund and support the next generation of talented researchers. We believe that family income should not be a barrier to the pursuit of excellence, and our mission is to enable and nurture talented individuals from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive within world-leading postgraduate research.

Martingale’s flagship programme is the Martingale Postgraduate Scholarship, which supports students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue and excel in postgraduate degrees, by providing:

• A fully-funded Living Wage Scholarship to pursue a one-year Masters degree or a four-year PhD.
• All tuition fees and research expenses, including a tax-free stipend for living costs.
• Tailored support to apply for Martingale courses at our partner universities.
• Access to Martingale programmes, including leadership training and connections with top academic and industry professionals.
• Membership of a pioneering community of talented researchers.

In the three years since Martingale launched, we are now supporting over 100 Scholars to undertake postgraduate degrees across our ten partner universities and have committed over £7.7m in Scholarships. We are continuing to expand our offer, bringing on new partners each year.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and collaborative Head of Communications and External Engagement to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping Martingale’s external profile, strategic partnerships, and policy influence.

As Head of Communications and External Engagement, you will join our growing senior management team, overseeing several critical aspects of Martingale’s work: communications and recruitment; partnerships and fundraising; and policy and advocacy. Working closely with the CEO, you will oversee all aspect of Martingale’s external communications and engagement to ensure Martingale’s success.

You will set the strategic direction of Martingale’s external positioning, working closely with the CEO on a day-to-day basis to ensure that our communications, partnerships and policy activity is aligned and meeting Martingale’s mission. You will ensure that Martingale’s messaging is consistent, with a bold brand presence and strong collaboration with various external stakeholders including funders, universities, media, and government.

We are looking for a strong communicator with extensive leadership experience including line management, partnership management and external relations. You will bring excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail, a proactive mindset, and a strong alignment with Martingale’s mission. We welcome applicants from a range of career paths who are excited to be part of a growing, fast-paced charity delivering meaningful impact.

Martingale Foundation is incubated by Purposeful Ventures who provide operational and strategic support. The Head of Communications and External Engagement will be employed by Purposeful Ventures.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and deliver a clear, bold strategy for communications, policy, and partnerships aligned with Martingale’s vision and growth.
• Lead the development of Martingale’s voice, ensuring consistency across all external channels and stakeholder interactions.
• Act as a senior leader within the organisation, contributing to overall strategic planning.

Communications & Brand

• Oversee all external communications, campaigns and media engagement, strengthening Martingale’s profile and influence.
• Manage content strategy, digital channels, storytelling and brand evolution.
• Ensure high-quality and accessible communications across print, digital, and in-person events.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain and grow relationships with Martingale’s university, philanthropic, and other partners.
• Collaborate with the CEO on fundraising engagement strategies and impact storytelling.
• Oversee ambassador engagement and support Martingale’s national and regional events.

Policy & Advocacy

• Lead Martingale’s policy and advocacy work to shape the future of postgraduate access and equity.
• Along with the CEO, represent Martingale in external forums, responding to consultations and influencing key stakeholders in research and education policy.
• Collaborate with researchers and partners to generate evidence and drive systems change.

Team Leadership & Management

• Line manage team leads across communications and partnerships, with oversight of a team of four.
• Support the professional development of the team, ensuring alignment with Martingale’s values and goals.
• Foster a collaborative, agile, and inclusive culture within and across teams.
• The post holder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the role as requested by the line manager. 

Key Requirements:

Essential Criteria

• Right to work in the UK

Experience and skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences including senior stakeholders.
• Significant senior-level experience in communications, policy, or external relations within a mission-driven organisation.
• Proven experience line managing a multi-person team, including managing people who manage others.
• Strong track record of developing and delivering high-impact external engagement strategies.
• Excellent communication skills — strategic thinking combined with hands-on content expertise.
• Experience managing and cultivating high-value partnerships or donor relationships.
• Understanding of UK education, social mobility, or research funding landscapes.
• Proven experience in account management, managing multiple external stakeholder relationships and partnerships successfully.
• Advanced IT proficiency: Spreadsheet, Word Processing, CRM or Databases, Email, Web-based applications.

Desirable

• Experience working with or within higher education or research organisations.
• Familiarity with charity fundraising or philanthropic communications.
• Experience delivering communications in a startup or scale-up environment.
• Experience in working with governance boards and/or trustees.
• Experience delivering / overseeing ambitious recruitment campaigns.

Personal Characteristics

• Excellent interpersonal skills: able to build rapport and trusting relationships, able to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting.
• A commitment to Martingale’s mission to support postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Comfortable working in a rapidly growing and changing organisation with a degree of ambiguity – confident to create processes and ways forward where they might not yet exist.
• Creative and innovative: willing to think outside the box to maximise reach.
• Resourceful, able to act on initiative, hardworking, detail-oriented, and systematic.

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after two years of service and to 30 days after three years of service. This entitlement is pro rata for part-time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays.
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work-life balance and personal commitments.
• As a Purposeful Ventures employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme, where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
• Access to Charlie Perks, offering discounts and rewards at over 30,000 brands and retailers.

Starting Salary: £54,269 - £59,422 (including LW)  

Contract: Permanent  

Location: Romero House, London - Hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of your time in the London head Office

Job Profile

CAFOD has an ambition to be digital first in our marketing and communications, to stay ahead of emerging trends and make the most of what digital technology can offer to strengthen our relationships with our supporters and in our ways of working across the organisation. Digital technology has already transformed our communications and will continue to do so. This senior communications and marketing role will be responsible for steering the ongoing digital transformation of CAFODs work, primarily in the supporter programme and also across the wider organisation.

This role encompasses overall responsibility for the brand, digital marketing, messaging, proactive and reactive media relations, with a core focus on digital transformation across all platforms. This post will play a key role in guiding our digital shop fronts and marketing efforts, evolving supporter journeys, steering our email programme and leading on the digital infrastructure to enable delivery of our supporter programme. It will ensure that digital engagement and conversion is embedded and an integral part of our communications planning. 

This role will drive innovation and data-informed insight across the full spectrum of communications and wider organisation functions. It will embed a digital-first approach across teams and guide and accompany the wider organisation on harnessing opportunities of new technologies, making digital engagement integral to communications planning. 

This role will drive brand awareness, brand advocacy and action across our programmes to ensure CAFOD is top of mind amongst the Catholic Community of England and Wales, helping to grow support from our constituency. You will bring proven senior-level experience in digital communications and marketing, ideally within the charity sector. With a strong understanding of communications at a senior level with expert knowledge of digital channels, audience engagement, and online conversion, you also have a strategic grasp of how digital integrates into broader communications and supporter strategies. Your leadership style is collaborative and visionary, and you have the gravitas and expertise to set the digital marketing direction for a large organisation, while bringing all teams along with your vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development, direction setting and delivery of an ambitious, insight-led digital-first communications strategy that enhances supporter journeys, increases engagement and drives measurable growth in support of our supporter programme, especially our parishioner-first fundraising strategy. 

• Act as CAFODs senior expert on communications, advising the Executive team, across departments and influencing strategic decision-making, including on digital direction and development, at the highest level. 

• Lead complex cross-organisational projects that improve our digital supporter experience, from acquisition to long-term engagement and conversion, ensuring timeliness and consistency with supporter programme priorities, especially the parishioner-first fundraising strategy and approach. 

• Provide leadership and overall oversight of external communications and messaging, including brand consistency and press/media engagement, ensuring consistency between our fundraising efforts, our campaigning work and profiling our international work to supporters and key stakeholders.

• Lead and oversee the digital teams - email marketing programme, social media engagement, digital developments, campaigns and the website, to ensure user experience is optimised and platforms support our supporter programme and broader organisational strategic objectives and ambitions. 

• Lead the media team to explore and encourage new approaches including how we further maximise the digital media landscape.

• Line manage senior specialists across digital marketing, website, and media and PR, ensuring high performance and professional growth. 

• Work closely with IT, data and external agencies to ensure agile, secure and effective digital delivery across platforms. 

• Represent the organisation externally where appropriate, with a focus on digital thought leadership. 
• Develop and manage the communications budget effectively, aligning resources to priority areas and demonstrating clear impact. Agree and ensure accountability for objectives and KPIs as part of the wider supporter strategy, fostering a culture of ongoing learning, adaptation and improvement.  

Safeguarding 

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Person Specification 

• Extensive experience in a senior digital communications and marketing leadership role, with demonstrable success in developing and delivering integrated and audience-led multi-channel communications and marketing strategies. 
• Strong experience of overseeing development of supporter journeys and objectives, website development, CRM integration and email engagement and conversion. 
• Passionate about digital innovation and technologies, with deep knowledge of platforms, formats, and trends. 
• Committed to insight-led and data-driven approaches with skills to use digital tools, platforms and analytics to shape decisions and measure impact. 
• Excellent leadership, inter-personal and team management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Strong cross-functional project management ability, with experience leading organisational change in digital capability. 
• Understanding of broader communications and marketing disciplines, with the ability to ensure alignment and brand consistency and also oversee media and PR work, including reputational risk and crisis communications. 
• Understanding of the Catholic church in England and Wales and knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching. 
• A track record of strong written and spoken communication skills. 
• Highly organised, able to manage a busy workload and consistently meet deadlines. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults 

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures. 

Head of Fundraising and Communications

Due to the current Head of Fundraising and Communications moving on, we are looking to recruit for an experienced senior leader in fundraising to play a vital role as the team transition into the new Youth Zone.

If you are ambitious to succeed, have experience in relationship-led fundraising (philanthropy or corporate giving) and are a great communicator then this role is the perfect platform to make a real-life difference to the young people of Grimsby!

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the organisation welcomes applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities.  The dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, with support from the Senior Leadership Team, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.

Position: Head of Fundraising & Communications

Location: Grimsby (at the Youth Zone when it has been built, some flexibility before then)

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000 (dependent upon experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Benefits: 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays; workplace pension; free gym access (once the site has opened); access to the Talent Academy; bespoke training and mentoring.

Closing Date: 9am, 1st December 2025

First Interview: Tuesday 9th December 2025

Young People’s Panel: Evening, Tuesday 16th December 2025

About the Role

As Head of Fundraising and Communications, you’ll be working with the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees, and Leadership Team to deliver £1.4m of income and establish a strong financial foundation for the new Youth Zone.

You’ll develop and drive income strategy, lead a high-performing Fundraising and Communications team, and personally manage relationships with key major donors, including local individuals and businesses supporting the Founder Patron campaign. Founder Patrons pledge at least £25k annually for four years, together these 34 Founder Patrons will ensure that the organisation has a strong financial position ensuring the team can transform the lives of 18,000 young people in the first four years.

This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic vision with hands-on fundraising expertise in a role that’s as inspiring as it is impactful.

About You

You will have a demonstrable track record of income generation through personally securing at least five figure major donor gifts from high net worth individual (HNWIs) and/or corporates, with an impressive track record in securing significant funds and meeting challenging financial targets, including both new business and account management

You will have experience of:

• Developing a new pipeline of HNWIs and/or corporate prospects and being pro-active in converting these to active donors.
• Developing and delivering successful fundraising strategies and aligned annual plans, with income and expenditure budgets, and associated fundraiser key performance indicators.
• Stewarding HNWIs and/or corporate donors, or key senior external stakeholders to maintain the highest levels of engagement.
• Managing and motivating team members to achieve their personal and collective goals.
• Working with and influencing senior leaders and peers within an organisation.
• Working to and achieving personal targets and KPIs.

About the Organisation

This is a brand-new locally run youth charity, set to provide thousands of young people with the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, try something new and feel safe. With community centric values and located in the heart of Grimsby, it will be an inspiring place for young people aged 8 – 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to enjoy their leisure. The building is due to be completed in 2025.

The charity recognises that the workforce is under-represented in certain areas and are committed to addressing this.  Therefore, they actively encourage applicants to submit anonymous applications; in practice this means removing your name and email address from your CV and cover letter.  The HR Lead will have these details from your submission, but they will not be available to the selection panel when they are considering your application. 

The charity is committed to the safeguarding of young people. In accordance with their Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires a basic DBS check.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Head of Fundraising & Communications, Head of Fundraising, Head of Communications, Fundraising & Communications Manager, Fundraising Manager, Communications Manager, Director of Fundraising & Communications, Director of Fundraising, Director of Marketing. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.