Head of communications and external affairs jobs

Are you a bold communicator who knows a great story when you see one? Do you want your work to genuinely matter - amplifying the voices of people who need to be heard, shifting public perception of social care, and putting a passionate, values-driven charity on the national map? 
 
Community Integrated Care is one of the UK's largest social care charities, supporting thousands of people with learning disabilities or mental health conditions to live the lives they choose.

​As we launch our new five-year strategy, Best Lives Bolder this is a defining moment for our organisation. We are setting out to be even more creative, courageous and influential in how we champion the people we support and drive change across the sector.

​We're looking for an exceptional PR & Media Manager to lead our media function and help us tell our story with ambition, imagination and impact - playing a pivotal role in bringing our Best Lives, Bolder vision to life through powerful storytelling and high-impact media engagement.

​This is a full time permanent, national role with hybrid working. You will be required to work from our head office at least once a week, so our ideal candidate will be based within an hour's commute of Widnes, Cheshire.

​What is "The Deal" for you?

• Flexibility: You can work your 37.5 hours over 4 days and enjoy a long weekend, or split the hours over 5 days to accommodate your other commitments.
• Pension: contributory pension scheme
• Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app
• Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives bolder 
• Development: We'll work with you to develop your career or to learn and experience new things. We're passionate about developing our people! 
• Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life

This isn't a press office role. It's a platform for someone who wants to shape conversations, build national influence and champion the people at the heart of social care. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and owning our national and regional Media & PR Strategy, aligned to our influencing and advocacy goals. 
• Proactively pitching compelling stories to secure high-quality national, regional, trade and broadcast coverage 
• Building and nurturing relationships with journalists, influencers and media contacts across care, sport, culture and nature sectors. 
• Leading crisis communications - protecting our reputation calmly and decisively when it matters most. 
• Translating complex policy and social care issues into accessible, powerful content for diverse audiences. 
• Collaborating closely with our Head of Influencing, Policy and Public Affairs to align media work with policy goals. 
• Working with our Partnerships & Communities team to turn high-profile community programmes and brand partnerships into media ready stories.
• Supporting and developing confident spokespeople at every level of the organisation.
• Monitoring coverage, producing insight-driven reports and keeping senior leaders informed on media trends and reputational risks. 

Our ideal candidate:

• ​Track record - Proven experience in a PR, media or communications role in the charity, public, health or social care sector. 
• ​Media instinct - You know a story, you know how to place it, and you know when to act fast. 
• ​Strategy - Experience designing and delivering media strategies with measurable outcomes. 
• ​Crisis management - Experience building proactive processes for reputation risks and leading calm, confident responses when issues arise.
• ​Relationships - A strong network of media contacts or the ability to build one quickly across sectors. 
• ​Storytelling - Exceptional writing, from press releases to opinion pieces to compelling human stories. 
• ​Collaboration - Proven ability to work across teams, influence senior leaders and align messaging. 
• ​Policy experience - Ability to turn complex social, regulatory or policy issues into content that lands with public and political audiences. 

Why join us

• You'll be working for an award-winning charity that’s passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible.
• Flexible hours - work 37.5 hours over four days for a long weekend, or across five days to suit you. You can also work from home, with at least one day per week at our Widnes Head Office. 
• A collaborative, values-driven team where your work will be seen, valued and celebrated 
• Opportunities to travel nationally and attend sector events and media moments. 
• A contributory pension scheme to help you plan for the future. 
• Wellbeing support, including a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, financial support options and a wellbeing fund. Retail discounts, holiday deals, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts via our benefits app. 

If you're a bold, strategic communicator who wants to use your skills to change perceptions, influence policy and amplify the voices of people in social care - we'd love to hear from you.

​Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.

We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.

In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.

The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations. 

Interview Date: Thursday 11th June 2026 & Friday 12th June 2026

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Philanthropy Lead at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service
Solace is embarking on a new five-year fundraising strategy, with ambitious plans to double fundraised income to £3m by 2031. This voluntary income plays a pivotal role in the financial wellbeing of the charity, enabling us to do more to support the thousands of women and children who come to us each year as a result of violence against women and girls.

Fundraising at Solace works closely with colleagues responsible for winning and managing statutory funding contracts, and is situated within the Business Development Directorate, alongside our award-winning Communications, Partnerships & Public Affairs teams. You will collaborate with colleagues within Fundraising, including Corporate, Individual Giving and Community, as well as across the organisation including senior leadership and Solace’s wider support and volunteer networks such as trustees and its lived-experience-led Shadow Board.

About the Role

Philanthropy has been identified as a key opportunity and will play a central part in future income growth. In this newly created role, you will lead the establishment and growth of philanthropy fundraising for Solace. Responsible for building and managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, advisors, senior volunteers and trusts and foundations, you will use your entrepreneurship and excellent communication and influencing skills to secure and steward committed, high-value, mutually rewarding funding partnerships for Solace.

About You

You will be someone who is committed to the Solace values and is an experienced philanthropy fundraising expert who will embed best practice, and grow and nurture the relationships that drive sustainable income growth. As well as managing a portfolio of donors and prospects with major gift potential, you will work closely with colleagues and allies to build a culture of philanthropy.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

About Bond

Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. We unite and support a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice. We strengthen and champion the sector to make international development more efficient and effective. We work to influence governments and policy-makers, develop the skills of people in the sector, share expertise, and build organisational capacity and partnerships. Find out more here.

About the role

£53,016 - Permanent - Full Time (35 hours)

Main purpose of the job

To lead and coordinate Bond’s UK G20 strategy and engagement by developing and delivering a multi‑year workplan. The role will convene and support Bond members and global majority civil society to shape shared policy positions, driving external advocacy and government engagement on the G20 agenda, overseeing communications and campaigns inputs and managing the resources, reporting, and partnerships needed to ensure effective UK civil society influence on the G20 through 2027.

Main responsibilities

Lead on planning and coordination of UK G20 work within Bond, including:

• Leading on developing a strategy and workplan guiding activities on G20, covering the period to end of 2027.
• Leading internal coordination within Bond to bring together relevant teams and staff to deliver on the strategy and workplan.
• Track delivery of the G20 strategy and workplan and reporting to Director of PAR.
• Update Bond staff on G20 activities and providing regular updates to the Senior Management Team and the Board. 
•  Liaise with the formal civil 20 (C20) advisory group to prepare for the UK’s G20.

Lead convening and coordination of Bond members and global majority civil society actors on G20, including:

• Establishing/identifying processes for communicating with and convening Bond members on UK G20 work.
• Producing and sharing regular written updates for Bond members on G20 work.
• Organising regular meetings of Bond members to develop policy positions and influencing strategies and prepare for engagements with government.
• Develop and collaborate with a network of key global majority civil society partners in developing policy positions for the UK G20.
• Producing written products presenting Bond member and civil society positions on the UK G20.

Play a leading role on G20 external affairs activities, including:

• Lead on identifying and pursuing advocacy opportunities for Bond and its members targeting UK government on G20 agenda. 
• Organising regular meetings of Bond members with key government officials, across HMT, Cabinet Office and FCDO.
• Supporting Bond’s relationship management and engagement with Cabinet Office, FCDO, HMT and other relevant departments on G20 agenda. 
• Identifying and pursuing opportunities to build relationships and develop collaborations with other relevant UK bodies - including think tanks and research organisations, trade unions, faith groups and related campaigns groups - on the G20.
• Identifying and pursuing opportunities to build relationships and develop strategic and focussed collaborations with organisations leading other formal G20 engagement groups.

Input to media, communications and campaigns work on the G20, including:

• Working with the Head of Media and Comms to design and implement a communications strategy for Bond’s G20 work and support Bond's wider communications objectives.
• Collaborating with the media adviser to produce quotes and OpEds on G20 and to organise press briefings. 
• Producing member updates, blogs and briefings for communicating Bond work and positions on G20.
• Working closely with the campaigns lead to support member engagement and coordination and implementation of key activities when required.
• Provide policy advice and inputs for campaigns activities.

Provide significant support for personnel and financial resource management, donor reporting and fundraising for G20 work, including:

• Supporting staff members contributing to G20 and global reforms work to plan their activities and track and report on delivery 
• Act as budget holder for relevant restricted and unrestricted budgets funding G20 and wider global reforms work, including supporting liaison with funders 
• Work with finance to produce timely and accurate internal and external (for donors) financial reports
• Supporting ongoing fundraising for G20 and wider global reforms work, including inputting to proposals and joining meetings with donors

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience managing high profile policy and advocacy processes, including helping to agree political strategy and manage relationships with key stakeholders at senior levels.
• Experience convening groups to plan joint activity and coordinate implementation.
• Basic knowledge of issues related to debt, illicit financial flows, tax and private capital mobilisation. 
• Experience leading strategy development, implementation and tracking.
• Experience of inputting to media, communications and campaigns activities. 
• Strong interpersonal, relationship building and communication skills. 
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Desirable

• Experience writing reports and briefs for a variety of audiences 
• Detailed working knowledge of debt, illicit financial flows, tax and private capital mobilisation issues 
• Experience managing high level relationships 
• Experience managing staff, budgets and project reporting 

Benefits

Bond offers a competitive salary and benefits package including:

• 27 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays, with additional staff privilege days, normally between Christmas and New Year
• 7% pension contributions (staff pay 3.5%) ​
• Flexible working hours (Hybrid working – 1 day, minimum in the office per month)
• Staff Development days
• Perk Box access
• Employee Assistance Programme
• WeCare (Health and wellbeing services, including access to 24/7 online GP services, second medical opinion, mental health support such as counselling, guidance from health professionals, burnout prevention, life event counselling, get fit programmes, nutritionist advice, etc. – for staff and immediate family)
• Interest-free season ticket loan

How to Apply

To apply submit your CV and cover letter by midnight on Sunday 14th Juune 2026.

In the cover letter we expect you to set out:

• Why you are interested in this role
• How you meet the role requirements
• Your understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion and why it matters in this role

Bond and Equal Opportunites

Bond values diversity and works to advance equity and inclusion. All staff have a responsibility to ensure that they are being open, accepting and respectful to all that they come into contact with within their work at Bond, regardless their protected characteristics. Acting in accordance with the EDI policy, Bond staff must contribute to our inclusive organisational culture ensuring that they are aware of and respond appropriately to micro-aggressions, racism, sexism, LQBTQ+ misconduct and disability equity. Bond Staff must not be bystanders, and must report when they witness any unacceptable behaviour.

In order to assess and ensure the continued effectiveness of Bond’s Equal Opportunities Policy, all applicants are asked to complete a short questionnaire when applying. You are not obliged to answer the questions but the more information you supply the more effectively we can monitor our equal opportunity practices. Completion of all questions is voluntary and failure to answer any question(s) will not affect your application in any way. 

The information you supply will be treated in confidence and will not be seen by any member of the selection panel responsible for the appointment. The questionnaire will be detached from your CV and cover letter, stored anonymously and used purely to provide statistics for monitoring purposes.

Privacy Note for Applicant

Our Privacy Notice for applicants can be found when you apply.

Subject of Employment at Bond

If successful, you must have the right to work for the duration of your contract at Bond. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references. Bond 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 their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

About the Role

We're looking for an organised, proactive and people-focused HR Administrator to join our small, friendly team and UKCISA.

You’ll play a key role in supporting the full employee and volunteer lifecycle, helping us create a positive and inclusive experience for everyone who works with us.

This is a varied role where no two weeks look the same. You’ll support recruitment, onboarding, HR administration, volunteer governance, and small improvement projects — all with the guidance of our Head of Finance & Resources and an external HR advisor when needed.

If you enjoy meaningful work, value autonomy, and like being part of a mission‑driven organisation, this could be a great fit.

About UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) support international students and the institutions, students’ unions and organisations who work with them. Our mission is to ensure every international student has a positive, supportive and informed experience throughout their time in the UK.

We are a small team of around 20 permanent staff, working closely with a network of volunteers, trustees and member organisations. Despite our size, our impact is significant – we provide expert guidance, training, policy insight and a trusted advice line that helps shape the national conversation on international student experience.

We’re collaborative, values-driven and committed to creating an inclusive environment for both our staff and the communities we serve.

Further information about us and the services we provide can be found on our website.

What You’ll Be Doing

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Support managers with scheduling interviews and communicating with candidates

• Prepare offer letters, contracts and new starter packs

• Carry out right‑to‑work and reference checks

• Co‑ordinate induction plans and ensure new starters are set up on our systems

• Provide admin support for recruitment of staff, trustees and committee members (We typically recruit around five roles per year, so this is steady but manageable.)

HR Administration – Employees

• Keep personnel files accurate and up to date

• Process changes such as hours, job titles, salary amendments and contract renewals

• Draft routine HR letters (e.g., confirmations, probation outcomes)

• Support the review and updating of HR policies

• Manage the quarterly rota for our advice line

HR Administration – Volunteers

• Maintain accurate records for trustees and committee members

• Support governance admin such as registers of interest and suitability checks

• Ensure compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House requirements

• Work closely with the Head of Finance & Resources on governance tasks (Governance cycles are predictable and well‑supported.)

Attendance & Leave Management

• Keep annual leave, sickness and other absence records up to date

• Run leave reports and share them with managers ahead of the leave‑year end

General Support

• Contribute to HR projects and help improve our processes

• Keep our intranet updated with useful HR information

• Provide friendly, high‑quality support to staff and volunteers

• Help us nurture a positive, inclusive workplace culture

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in an HR support role (CIPD Level 3 or working towards it is ideal)

• A commitment to confidentiality and professionalism

• Excellent attention to detail

• Clear, confident communication skills

• Ability to work effectively with remote colleagues

• A proactive approach and willingness to improve how we work

• Alignment with UKCISA’s mission and values

In Your First Few Months, You Will Have…

• Built strong working relationships across the organisation

• Become confident using PeopleHR to support the team

• Reviewed our HR systems and suggested ways to improve efficiency

Why Join Us?

• A genuinely supportive team

• A role with variety and autonomy

• Opportunities to shape processes and make a real impact

• A mission‑driven organisation where your work matters

• Staff benefits include:

o A defined benefit pension scheme (USS),

o Support for your training & development as well as 3 days personal development leave

o 25 days annual leave + bank holidays as well as concessionary days between Christmas and New Years. Staff also receive an extra day of leave for every year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days.

o Flexible working – Our staff mainly work from home, but we have an office in London for collaborative work and staff who want access to an office space. We also meet in person for regular all-staff days in London.

We welcome applications from throughout the UK, as long as you are able to join us in London for one day every month.

We are unable to sponsor visa for this role, so you must have the right to work in the UK.

Sight Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity providing specialist care, education and research for people with vision impairment. The charity has been in existence for over 230 years, and offer a variety of services in the community as well as education, transcription into alternative formats and residential care for adults and children. Their vision is of an inclusive Scotland where people of all visual abilities have the opportunity to thrive. To achieve their mission they are looking for a Fundraising Manager focused on trusts and grants who will cultivate a pipeline of opportunities and ensure an excellent funder experience, to provide Sight Scotland with sustainable income.

The Fundraising Manager – Trusts is responsible for developing trust income. There is a robust pipeline in place, and huge scope to look beyond the pipeline and work with the service delivery teams to identify new funding opportunities. This role will focus on larger funding bids, and exploring the potential for funding for Sight Scotland Veterans. The role supports the organisation’s purpose to make a significant impact on the lives of people living with visual impairment in Scotland by maximising fundraising income to deliver brilliant services and create a positive impact on our ability to deliver for the long term. 

This specialist manager role would suit someone who is already operating at a senior trust fundraiser level, or someone who can demonstrate experience of developing a trust and grants pipeline, creating compelling applications and directly delivering income success.This role will line manage a Trusts Fundraiser (a brand-new post to Sight Scotland), so this could be the ideal opportunity for someone looking to take on people management for the first time.

Whats on offer

• Hybrid, working from Edinburgh office for 1-2 days a week

• 37 days leave pro-rata (inclusive of bank holidays) 

• Contributory pension scheme – up to 12% employer contribution 

• Enhanced policies

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Monday 8th June 

Interviews are expected to be held on Wednesday 17th June 

We’re looking for an exceptional Associate Director of Fundraising to lead one of the most ambitious and high-performing fundraising teams in the sector.  

At Blood Cancer UK, our fundraising is in a strong position. Over the last five years, we’ve doubled our income, achieved growth across every fundraising discipline, successfully launched new products, and reached new audiences.

We have fantastic momentum and the ambition to go even further. You would be joining us at an especially exciting time – we’re in the early stages of our first-ever major appeal and have already secured more than £8 million towards our £25 million target. Backed by a highly engaged and well-connected appeal board, this campaign has huge potential across Fundraising, but especially our high value audiences.

We’re looking for an experienced and confident high-value fundraiser — someone who can build authentic relationships with senior and influential supporters, open doors, and inspire people to be part of something transformative.

Alongside this, you’ll oversee our thriving mid-value and legacy fundraising programmes and help us deepen engagement with supporters across the UK.

Our community is the heartbeat of our organisation: passionate, determined people, often with a personal connection to blood cancer and a powerful desire to make a difference. With around five million people affected by blood cancer in the UK, the opportunity to grow our reach and impact is enormous.

You’ll bring ambition, passion and high standards, with the ability to lead and inspire a large, talented team of nearly 50 people. Collaboration will come naturally to you — you’ll build strong relationships across the organisation and be a key member of the Blood Cancer UK leadership team, creating a culture where people feel inspired to be their best.

Most importantly, you will make a real difference to the lives of people affected by blood cancer.