Head of communications and campaigns jobs

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

Role: Oil and Gas Campaign Manager

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Location: Hybrid working. Cornwall or London office three days per week, home working two days per week.

Job Purpose

The Oil and Gas Campaign Manager will manage and deliver our campaign to end new oil and gas drilling in UK waters, and drive forward our Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling, a coalition of over 70 organisations united behind this goal. 

Reporting to the Head of Campaigns, this role will be responsible for the design and practical delivery of innovative, engaging, and clear campaign plans to meet Oceana’s goals to deliver an end to new oil and gas drilling in UK waters. 

Eligible candidates should have proven experience in managing and delivering complex public campaigns to drive national policy change. They must be passionate, and able to develop and implement creative and bold campaign activities, alongside our small but experienced team. 

The position will be hybrid, based three days per week (Tues-Thurs) in Oceana’s UK offices in Newquay, Cornwall or Paddington, London. Regular national, and occasional international, travel will be required to meet team members and stakeholders in geographically diverse locations, including: Washington, DC.

Responsibilities 

• Develop, manage and deliver Oceana UK’s Oil and Gas campaigns, taking responsibility for their quality, timeliness and success. 

• Contribute and advise on campaign strategies through annual planning and budgeting process, and through on-going detailed project planning. 

• Design and manage delivery of all of Oceana UK’s Oil and Gas campaign activities, including (but not limited to) campaign actions and launches, public mobilisations, digital actions, NGO partnerships and allies, coalitions and potential legal challenges. 

• Plan all projects in detail, securing approval of all details, and documenting clear methodology, roles, responsibilities, and timelines in advance. 

• Oversee the successful management of the Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling, growing the alliance in number and impact. 

• Manage the campaign calendar and budget, ensuring that all campaign deliverables are managed and delivered on time and to budget, with any updates accurately reflected in the quarterly reforecast process. 

• Monitor and evaluate progress against plans, ensuring effective delivery of campaign objectives. 

• Work with Science and Research colleagues to ensure that the Oil and Gas campaigns have scientifically robust foundations and evidence. 

• Work with Policy colleagues to ensure campaign plans deliver effective lobbying and advocacy toward our goals, including through drafting briefings and letters, meeting and engaging decision makers, planning and attending events, and responding to consultations. 

• Support the Communications team to ensure our campaigning plans and delivery are effectively reflected to engage supporters and other relevant audiences. 

• In collaboration with the Communications team, manage consultants to design and deliver creative, digital, and design assets in support of campaign actions. 

• Collaborate internally with UK Leadership Team and other relevant colleagues, including internationally, taking on board all relevant input, to ensure strong campaign impact. 

• Commission and manage consultants to deliver campaign activities and events. 

• Build strong external relationships and represent Oceana UK to ensure we advance our campaign goals with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, politicians, NGOs, and businesses. 

• Be spokesperson for these campaigns, representing Oceana externally in the media, social media, events, relevant networks, with partners, and in meetings. 

• Line manage the Oil and Gas Campaign Officer, offering day-to-day support and learning, as well as longer term career development. 

• Be present in person in the London or Cornwall office 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs), promoting a positive working culture. 

• Help to draft timely, accurate and compelling funder and supporter reporting. 

• Ensure a strong commitment to the organisation's values and vision, as set out by Oceana globally. 

• Travel occasionally, both nationally and internationally, to meet with team members and wider internal and external stakeholders. 

• Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign and organisational objectives.

     Candidate Requirements

     Education and work experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in campaigning, ideally toward ocean or environmental goals (essential).

• Experience managing environmental protection or energy related campaigns in the UK, with an understanding of the main issues, processes and stakeholders involved.

• Experience turning complex policy issues into innovative and engaging campaigns.

• Degree or masters in a related field (preferred).

• Line management experience.

     Skills and knowledge: 

• Familiarity with energy and environmental regulations, legislation and policies in the UK, as well as with the key institutions and decision-making processes.

• Proficiency at understanding and distilling complex scientific issues for campaigning purposes.

• Excellent understanding of UK parliamentary and political processes and engaging in them for campaign advancement

• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrable experience managing and prioritising multiple workstreams, tasks, projects and timelines effectively.

• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality and impactful campaign outputs.

• Excellent management skills, and proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and with other organisations and allies.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.

• Good understanding of the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a proven commitment to improving these in the environmental space.

• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to speak confidently in the media and at events.

• Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.

Application Deadline: 9 September 2026 

Interviews: From 17 September 2026

This role leads two of the most consequential shifts in our 2026–2028 strategy. First, our move from a narrative-based to an evidence-based organisation: designing our impact measurement framework, leading the rollout and adoption of the Impact Hub (our custom CRM and data platform), and embedding data-driven decision-making across every team. Second, the community around our programmes: the trusted community and education referral partnerships that bring young people to us, and the structured alumni community that keeps them connected, supported and contributing after they complete our programmes.

WHAT YOU OWN

• Impact framework : the organisation's impact measurement framework, metrics and indicators.

• The Impact Hub (CRM) : the platform, its roadmap, adoption and supplier relationship.

• Data governance : data quality standards, validation protocols and UK GDPR compliance.

• Evaluation methodology : how programmes and services are evaluated, including external evaluation partnerships.

• Referral partnerships : the community and education referral partnership model and its members.

• Alumni strategy : the alumni engagement model, tiered support structure and Advisory Council.

• Organisational reporting : impact reporting to the board, funders and the public.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Impact Measurement & Evidence ~ Develop and own the organisation's impact measurement framework, defining metrics and indicators that reflect outcomes and effectiveness rather than interest or activity alone.

2. Organisational Insight & Foresight ~ Act as the organisation's insight lead: translate quantitative and qualitative data into organisational insight that shapes strategy, programme design and resource allocation.

3. The Impact Hub ~ Lead the delivery, rollout and adoption of the Impact Hub, including migration from Upshot, in line with the phased plan in the Data & Digital strategy : and own its roadmap as the organisation's insight platform thereafter.

4. Stakeholder Engagement Framework (Governance) ~ Act as guardian of the unified stakeholder engagement framework, defining the standards, data capture requirements and reporting consistency that all teams apply across our five stakeholder groups.

5. Community & Education Partnerships (Referral Pipeline) ~ Design and deliver the structured referral partnership model set out in the Talent & Engagement strategy, piloting quarterly cohorts of university, faith-group and community-organisation partners with clear MOUs, shared objectives and referral tracking through the Impact Hub.

6. Alumni Community & Engagement ~ Design and deliver a structured 12-month alumni engagement calendar with audience-segmented communications, supported by Impact Hub data.

7. Reporting & Funder Evidence ~ Produce evidence-based impact reporting for the board, funders, partners and public communications, supporting grant bids, corporate stewardship and the annual report.

8. Team Leadership ~ Line-manage the Data Administrator, Progression coaches and any future team members, providing guidance, training and performance oversight.

9. Organisational Leadership ~ Contribute to organisational strategy, annual planning and budgeting as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Read the full Job Description attached to see the full Key repsonsibilites, Person specification and 12 month success metrics.

The Head of Communications role is an exciting opportunity to lead on maximising the credibility, visibility and impact of Runnymede Trust’s esteemed research and policy portfolio. You will be responsible for leading Runnymede’s small communications team, developing our traditional, new and digital media strategy and supporting the development of our campaigns identity.

The role will involve providing effective leadership and oversight of all our communications activities. The working environment is often reactive and fast paced whilst also managing a steady stream of longer term project related outputs. This is a key role with the potential to shape the UK’s research and policy narratives on race and inequalities with one of the country’s leading think tanks on race and social justice. You will bring extensive experience in leading a diversely skilled communications team, a track record of dealing with politically sensitive communications issues, and a deep understanding and passion for our work in furthering racial justice.

We’re looking for a talented communications officer to join the Trust for London team, at a time when communications has never been more important to our work.

Job purpose
The purpose of this post is to work with the head of communications to support delivery of our communications strategy.

This includes work to:
• Strengthen our voice and influence on poverty and inequality in London
• Support and empower London voices and London itself
• Build visibility, credibility and trust in Trust for London as a modern, impactful funder

The role
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to grow an exceptional foundation for a career in communications for social change.

As an important member of a small communications team, you’ll be responsible for many of the activities that keep our work visible, engaging and influential.

You’ll gain a broad range of experience from creative data-led storytelling to day-to-day communication of the issues we’re working on. We regularly work alongside leading researchers, campaigners, other funders and civil society organisations, providing an especially unique opportunity to gain varied exposure and experience.

Alongside all of this, you'll have the freedom to experiment with new ways of communicating, develop your own ideas and help us continually improve what we do.

Most importantly, you'll be helping shape the conversation about poverty and inequality in one of the world's greatest cities.

Closing date: 7 September 2026

Interviews: Second half of September 

If you think we’re the right fit for you, we’d love to hear from you. To apply, please go to our website and download the application pack.

We look forward to receiving your application.

We’re currently looking to welcome a new Communications and Campaigns Officer to join our team at the Society of Authors (SoA) which is the UK's largest trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. We’ve been advising authors and speaking out for the profession since 1884. 

Role overview

To support and deliver the internal and external communications and campaigns with the goal of enhancing the SoA’s profile, engage stakeholders, and promote key initiatives. The successful candidate will have at least two years’ experience in content creation, media and policy monitoring, digital marketing, and multimedia communications across a range of channels, including newsletters and social media. Objectives • Help to ensure consistent, high-quality communications and campaigns across all channels. • Provide support for brand visibility and audience engagement through digital marketing. • Provide support for delivering content via The Author magazine and outgoing mailers. • Support organisational campaigns, events, and key initiatives. • Monitor media coverage and policy developments, and evaluates website and communications performance. 

Key responsibilities

• Media monitoring and reporting: monitor media for relevant coverage and compile regular media reports and summaries, maintaining media contact lists and databases.

• The Author magazine and mailers: liaise with The Author magazine production team, contributors and internal departments, support with the production schedules and deadlines. Oversee the administration and invoicing for The Author advertising and subscribers. Support with distribution and performance tracking (e.g. open rates, click through rates). Provide support for development of membership mailouts including proofing. 

• Digital marketing and social media: contribute to the development of digital marketing campaigns across platforms – create and schedule engaging content, monitor engagement metrics and optimise content performance.

• Design and visual communication: produce basic graphics for digital and print (e.g. social posts, newsletters, flyers, banners). Support with the layout and visual design of newsletters and publications. Work with approved templates and design tools (e.g. Canva, Adobe suite basics).

• Video and multimedia production: create and edit short-form video content for social media, newsletters, and website. Support with the filming of events, interviews, or promotional material for SoA events and campaigns. Add captions, branding, and basic effects to videos.

• Event promotion: support the Events and Engagement team with the communications and digital marketing plans for events, supporting with the creation of promotional materials (digital and print), proof events copy, ensure visibility of promotion on our website.

• Website: contribute to the content management of the SoA and Human Authored websites, updating content and posts as needed. 

Role specification

Essential skills and competencies

• Two years’ experience creating engaging digital content for different audiences

• Good graphic design skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Social media management and content planning experience

• Media monitoring and reporting experience

• Familiarity with email marketing platforms (e.g. Mailchimp, Campaign Monitor or similar)

• Experience with social media platforms (e.g. TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn)

• Experience with design tools (e.g. Canva, Adobe InDesign/Photoshop basics)

• Video filming and editing skills (e.g. Premiere Pro, CapCut, or similar)

• Use of scheduling and analytics tools (e.g. Hootsuite, Buffer, Google Analytics)

Desirable skills

• Experience working for a membership/not-for-profit organisation

• Experience managing publications or organisational magazines

• Understanding of branding and communications strategy

• Photography skills

• Knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation and digital content optimisation

• Experience with audience segmentation and database systems 

What we offer

As a progressive and ethical not-for-profit organisation, we offer a range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

We are a London Living Wage and a Disability Confident – Committed employer.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Death-in-service benefit (8 x salary)

• Employee assistance programme

• Flexible, hybrid working practices.

• Family-friendly, disability-confident inclusive culture

• Generous annual leave, including all bank holidays.

• Salary exchange pension scheme

• Interest-free annual travel card loan

• *Office closure over Christmas

• Private healthcare

*Colleagues can work over the Christmas period, although the building is closed. For those who wish to take additional time off, colleagues take these days from their annual leave allowance.

Flexible Working

As an employer, we nurture a working environment in which staff can grow and develop. We recognise the value of flexibility in the way we work with a positive culture of hybrid working practices.

Inclusion

Inclusion, diversity, and representation are at the core of our values, and we work to tackle structural discrimination and prejudice. Part of this commitment means that we are looking to increase diversity in our 3 organisation at all levels. We strongly encourage applications from a broad range of social, cultural, educational, and underrepresented backgrounds.

Head of Communications & Public Affairs 

Salary: Up to £62k depending on experience
Location: Remote, with regular planned travel nationwide, particularly to London and the South, plus attendance at monthly and quarterly team meetings
Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

We're looking for an exceptional communications leader to join Help for Heroes as our Head of Communications & Public Affairs. This is a rare opportunity to shape how one of the UK's most recognised charities engages with the media, policymakers, supporters and the wider public, ensuring the voices of veterans and their families are heard where it matters most.

Leading our integrated communications, public affairs, policy and PR activity, you'll develop influential campaigns that continue to strengthen our reputation, support fundraising and drive meaningful change for the Armed Forces community. Working closely with senior leaders across the charity, you'll act as a trusted adviser, bringing insight into the political, media and stakeholder landscape while helping to navigate the opportunities and risks that affect our mission.

This is a high-profile leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with outstanding delivery, thrives on building influential relationships and wants to use their expertise to create lasting impact for those who have served our country.

Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role.

About the Role

As Head of Communications & Public Affairs, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how the charity is seen, heard and understood by the public, media, policymakers and supporters. Ensuring the experiences of veterans and their families remain at the heart of national conversations and decision-making.

• Developing and delivering an integrated communications, public affairs and policy strategy that advances the charity's mission and influence.
• Leading high-profile campaigns that raise awareness, support fundraising objectives and drive systemic change for the Armed Forces community.
• Building influential relationships with media, government, political stakeholders, partner organisations and sector leaders.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on reputation, stakeholder engagement, public policy and emerging issues
• Leading the charity's press office, crisis communications activity, ambassador programme and external reputation management
• Developing, inspiring and coaching a high-performing team, fostering innovation, collaboration and measurable impact.

About You

Are you a strategic communications leader who knows how to turn insight into action and ambition into results?

Do you have a strong track record of leading integrated communications, public affairs, policy or campaigning activity that has built reputation, influenced decision-makers and delivered measurable impact?

Can you confidently navigate complex issues, build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and provide clear, credible counsel?

Are you equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy, responding to fast-moving external events and spotting opportunities to raise the profile and influence of an organisation?

If you're passionate about telling powerful stories, understand the UK media and political landscape, and enjoy leading talented teams to achieve ambitious goals, we'd love to hear from you.

You'll bring significant senior-level experience across communications, public affairs or policy, alongside expertise in media relations, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by the opportunity to use your skills, networks and leadership to improve outcomes for veterans and their families.

About the Team

You’ll join our ambitious Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs directorate, a team dedicated to amplifying the voices of veterans and their families and ensuring their experiences influence public understanding and decision-making.

We are a collaborative, creative, and purpose-driven team that works across the charity to tell powerful stories, build meaningful relationships and create lasting impact. Together, we’re passionate about helping the Armed Forces community get the support they deserve.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.

Closing date: 23rd August 2026

Interview Process: Two stage process with an initial competency based interview and second round stage involving a task.

First round interviews to be held in person or via Teams 4th/7th/8th or 9th September.

Second Round in person 16th or 22nd September.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of strong applications.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

At St Leonard’s Hospice, we are looking for a skilful communicator to lead our Communications team as Head of Communications. Building the charity’s brand and driving audience engagement, this roleis the strategic lead for communications at the Hospice, from clinical services to income generation.

This role is key to the Hospice achieving its aims to:

• Provide accessible services that meet the needs of our local community
• Improve public policy on, and raise awareness of, palliative and end-of-life issues
• Build partnerships that improve the quality of care and secure the Hospice’s future

The Head of Communications is intended to work collaboratively with other leadership roles across the Hospice to develop and implement an insight-based, audience-focused communications strategy to engage our three key audiences:

• Referral partners in the healthcare system
• Patients, families and carers who can benefit from Hospice services
• Members of the public who can enable our work through volunteering, donating and fundraising

To fulfil the Head of Communications role, you will need:

• Significant experience planning, delivering and evaluating communications strategy
• A proven track record of delivering impactful campaigns
• Strong leadership and management skills
• The ability to communicate complex messages sensitively and appropriately to a range of audiences

What’s in it for you:

• Flexibility for a great work/life balance
• Generous annual leave entitlement of up to 41 days
• Attractive pension schemes
• Extensive employee discounts on shops, holidays and lifestyle choices and Blue Light Card discounts
• Opportunities to grow your skills and career
• Free onsite car parking
• A supportive and friendly working environment

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week, usually Mon-Fri though occasional evening and weekend work will be required. This role supports working from home, though a regular presence on site at the Hospice is essential. The salary band for this role is £49,647 to £56,842 per annum.

Open Up Music exists to open up music to young disabled people. We’re looking for an ambitious Head of Development to build the income and support that will help more young disabled musicians flourish.

We work alongside young disabled musicians to tackle inequality, develop accessible instruments, commission new music and reimagine music education and performance.

Our programmes include the National Open Youth Orchestra, the world’s first disabled-led national youth orchestra; Open Orchestras, the UK’s largest network of accessible school orchestras; and Clarion, a digital musical instrument that can be played using the movement of an eye, head or finger.

About the role

This is an opportunity to shape the next phase of fundraising at a nationally recognised charity with a strong record of turning ambitious ideas into high-impact programmes.

You will join us from a position of strength. We have already secured more than 70% of our contributed income target for the coming academic year, and our Board has committed strategic investment to growing our fundraising capacity.

You will inherit a successful trusts and foundations programme, supportive trustees, established digital and CRM systems, and an organisation-wide commitment to fundraising. You will recruit and lead a small fundraising team, diversify our income and help shape Open Up Music’s future as a member of our Senior Management Team.

Key details

• Salary: £50,000, reviewed annually
• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
• Location: Bristol, with the option to work from home for up to half of each week
• Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: 3% employer contribution
• Other benefits: Professional development opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Reports to: CEO

We understand that people have different circumstances and are open to discussing alternative working arrangements and job-share applications.

What you’ll be working on

• Leading the development and delivery of our fundraising strategy
• Recruiting, managing and developing a small fundraising team
• Protecting and growing income from trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships
• Developing individual giving, major donor fundraising, community fundraising and legacy giving
• Working with our Marketing and Communications team to create effective fundraising campaigns
• Building relationships with supporters, funders, partners and prospective donors
• Leading fundraising budgets, income forecasting, reporting and performance monitoring
• Helping colleagues and trustees play an active role in fundraising and donor stewardship

This job is for you if:

• You have significant fundraising experience and a strong record of securing contributed income
• You can manage and develop a varied fundraising portfolio
• You have led fundraising strategies, campaigns or programmes and turned plans into results
• You build strong, lasting relationships with funders, donors and partners
• You can recruit, support and develop staff and build a positive team culture
• You are confident managing budgets, forecasts, targets and fundraising data
• You can influence and work effectively with senior colleagues and trustees
• You share our commitment to equity, inclusion and ethical fundraising

Experience in music, the arts, education or disability is welcome, but it is not essential. We know that strong candidates may not meet every criterion, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your skills and experience are relevant.

How to apply

Please complete and submit both application forms included in the recruitment pack.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 25 August 2026
Interview date: Monday 7 September 2026, in person in Bristol

We shortlist anonymously using candidates’ answers to our application questions. The panel will not see your name, pronouns, education or employment history until shortlisting has been completed.

We particularly welcome applications from Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent people, people from the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ people and people from working-class backgrounds. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Application materials are available in alternative formats, and we will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

This role is subject to an DBS check.

ABOUT CHEFS IN SCHOOLS

Chefs in Schools exists to improve children’s health and futures through better school food and meaningful food education.

We work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. We combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that children want to eat.

We’re backed by some of the biggest names in food and are ambitious about both impact and scale. We want every child to have access to excellent school food and a real food education, regardless of background.

We are a values-led organisation - bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

You will lead the delivery of Chefs in Schools External Affairs function, ultimately ensuring there is widespread recognition that poor quality school food is unacceptable. Through integrated media, digital and advocacy work, you’ll ensure quality school food is viewed as a vital tool for healthy development and food literacy. 

You will turn strategic direction into coordinated delivery, leading a multidisciplinary team that increases our influence, strengthens our reputation and helps achieve meaningful improvements in school food.

Working closely with External Affairs colleagues and Chief Executive, you will ensure our public profile, policy influence and media work reinforce one another, while creating the management capacity required for a growing organisation. This builds on the new functional structure where media and content, policy and campaigns, and the School Food Review programme all sit within External Affairs.

We want Chefs in Schools to become the most trusted and recognisable voice in the conversation around school food and food literacy. This role will play a central part in building that influence and recognition.

We are looking for somebody who understands that influence is built through consistency, credibility, creativity and cultural relevance as much as through formal communications activity alone. 

WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the External Affairs team.

• Translate organisational strategy into clear plans and objectives.

• Ensure media, content creation, campaigns, policy and coalition activity reinforce one another.

• Set priorities and allocate resources across competing work.

• Develop team capability through coaching, support and performance management.

• Contribute to organisational strategy and annual planning.

• Advise on reputational opportunities and risks.

• Ensure innovation is embedded at the heart of our work and approach.

• Deputise at SLT level where appropriate.

• Represent the organisation externally.

• Build a collaborative, ambitious, solutions-focused culture.

Operational planning

• Develop and oversee the annual External Affairs plan in line with strategy.

• Coordinate campaign calendars, policy priorities, publications and media moments.

• Ensure external activity supports fundraising, programmes and partnerships.

• Monitor delivery against KPIs and adjust plans where required.

Campaigns and public engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of policy development and campaigning.

• Challenge and refine policy recommendations before publication.

• Ensure campaigns are evidence-led and aligned with organisational strategy.

• Support relationships with government, sector leaders and coalition partners.

• Build strong relationships with media, MPs, councillors and key stakeholders.

Media & communications

• Oversee media strategy and organisational messaging.

• Ensure consistency across press, social media, website, publications and events.

• Identify media moments and hard hitting stories that will hit the headlines. 

• Sign off major messaging and communications.

• Lead communications planning around major announcements or crises.

School Food Review 

• Provide strategic oversight of the School Food Review programme.

• Ensure coalition work complements Chefs in Schools wider influencing strategy.

• Support senior relationships with coalition partners and funders.

• Remove barriers to delivery for the Programme Manager.

Budget & governance

• Manage the External Affairs budget.

• Ensure safeguarding, risk management and governance requirements are met.

• Oversee procurement of agencies and consultants.

ABOUT YOU

Essential experience and skills

• Significant senior leadership experience across media relations, campaigns, policy or public affairs.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong operational planning skills.

• Excellent political judgement.

• Experience influencing senior stakeholders.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication.

• Strong project and budget management.

• Comfortable balancing long-term strategy with fast-paced reactive work.

• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape and digital channels. 

• Excellent communication skills – written, verbal and visual. 

• Experience of working with MPs and other key stakeholders.

• Strong alignment with the mission and values of Chefs in Schools.

Desirable

• Education, food systems or public health experience.

• Coalition leadership.

• Charity senior management.

• Experience working with ministers, journalists and on national campaigns.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

We know that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution to our mission, we would encourage you to apply.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive.

Head of Finance

Salary£80,000.00 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid (with 1 to 2 days a week in the office)

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Head of Finance

Location: London/Hybrid (with 1 to 2 days a week in the office)

Salary: £80,000.00 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1228366

About Us

Founded in 1844, YMCA is a global movement and the world's largest youth-focused charity.  In England and Wales, YMCAs are based in over 700 communities across 168 local authorities supporting young people and communities to reach their potential. The turnover of YMCA in 2025-26 was £386m. YMCA England & Wales is a £23 million organisation of more than 400 colleagues, supporting a Federation of 80 local YMCAs to deliver vital services which positively impact young lives across the country. As we grow our income and impact, we are seeking an established and inspirational Head of Finance to take on one of the most pivotal roles in our organisation.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership appointment, reporting to the Director of Resources and leading a Finance team of around nine, including the payroll function. You will act as our lead on all matters of finance, liaising with our Federation members where necessary, providing expert support to our Income Generation Directorate (Fundraising and Retail) and other internal Directorates, embedding financial insight into revenue-generation strategy and working in close collaborative partnership with senior colleagues both within those teams but also across the Federation. Beyond this, you will oversee statutory reporting, investments, VAT and taxation compliance, and provide expert counsel to our Board of Trustees and Finance and Audit Committee.

Why You

Perhaps you have already established an excellent track record within a charity with significant fundraising and retail operations and are ready for the scale and influence this role commands. Or perhaps this is your first move into a charity; you are a seasoned accountant whose clients have included charitable organisations, and you now plan to apply that expertise where it matters most. Either way, this is a genuine opportunity to shape the financial future of a movement with over 180 years of heritage as we continue to embed strong financial practices whilst delivering our strategic ambition

What We're Looking For

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with senior management experience leading finance in an organisation of comparable scale, ideally with charity reporting and SORP knowledge. Strong business partnering skills, gravitas with trustees and committees, and genuine collaborative leadership are essential to succeed in this crucial role.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check

Summary of some of the main duties for full details and how to apply visit the website link provided.

•Lead the development and delivery of integrated marketing campaigns across HOME’s full artistic, engagement and membership programme, working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners.
•Collaborate with the Head of Digital to plan and deliver integrated campaigns, ensuring messaging is consistent across digital and physical channels and guided by audience insight. 
•Lead the development of campaign messaging and positioning, ensuring clear, consistent and compelling communications tailored to HOME’s target audiences across different artforms and initiatives. 
•Partner with the Head of Digital to design and deliver multi-channel marketing campaigns across HOME’s entire programme, ensuring they meet or exceed income targets and contribute to audience growth. 

•Work closely with the Head of Digital to apply audience insights and segmentation in campaign planning and creative delivery. 
•Lead HOME’s media buying. Plan and manage out-of-home advertising strategies, ensuring creative alignment, timely delivery, precise targeting and budget control. 
•Be the lead for HOME Communications, Manage HOME’s relationships with PR agencies and build successful relationships with media partners and influencers. 
•     Manage freelance marketers and designers – briefing, negotiating and overseeing delivery. 
•Collaborate with visiting companies, artists, producers, funders and distributors to maximise shared marketing opportunities and ensure strong promotional presence. 

Team: Marketing and Communications

Reports to: Director of Audiences

Responsible for: 3 People

The Communications Manager provides operational leadership for CLAPA's communications delivery, ensuring communications and marketing activity is effectively planned, prioritised and delivered in support of the charity's strategic objectives. 

Reporting to the Head of Communications and Marketing, the postholder is responsible for translating the communications strategy into coordinated day-to-day delivery. They will oversee the planning, scheduling and operational management of communications activity across the organisation, ensuring work is appropriately prioritised, resources are allocated effectively and projects are delivered to a consistently high standard. 

The role directly manages CLAPA's Communications Officers, embedding effective planning, briefing and workflow processes that enable the team to deliver proactive, creative and high-quality communications.

Acting as the primary operational lead for communications delivery, the postholder will ensure colleagues across CLAPA receive responsive, well-planned communications support while maintaining clear priorities and protecting the team's capacity to deliver its best work. 

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

Join the award-winning Independent Society of Musicians
Central London – Senior Communications Officer Full time – £35k to £40k DOE

The ISM is now looking for an experienced and talented Senior Communications Officer to join our team, reporting to the Head of Sales & Marketing. This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding writer and communications professional to help raise the profile of the ISM, promote the value of membership and engage professional musicians through high-quality content and campaigns.
You will lead on the planning, writing, editing and publication of content across a wide range of channels, including the ISM website, newsletters, publications, marketing materials and external media. You will be responsible for developing compelling and persuasive content that supports membership growth, strengthens the ISM brand and communicates the organisation's work effectively to members and the wider music sector.
You will also play a key role in managing the ISM's content strategy and SEO activity, working closely with the Website and Marketing Manager to improve content performance, increase visibility and attract new audiences through search. This will include content planning, keyword research, link-building activity and reporting on performance and engagement.
Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will identify opportunities to showcase the work of the ISM Group, including its campaigns, events, resources, legal services and thought leadership. You will also work closely with the Chief Executive on the production of Music Journal, secure profile-raising opportunities for senior representatives and support the development of speeches, presentations and briefing materials.
You will have significant experience in a communications, content, copywriting or marketing role and be able to demonstrate exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills. You will have experience of producing engaging content for a variety of audiences and channels, alongside a strong understanding of content marketing, brand management and SEO best practice. If possible, you should have a music background. 
You will be joining a professional and committed staff team based in Bayswater, London. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative and proactive communications professional who wants to make a real impact in a leading organisation supporting musicians across the UK.

For a full job description for this role please visit our website. 

To apply please send a CV and covering letter saying why you are right the person for the job 

Closing date is Tuesday 1st September at 8.30am. First interviews will take place face-to-face on Tuesday 8th September. Applications generated by AI will not be considered.