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Kids is a national charity that supports disabled children, young people and their families, helping them to thrive and reach their full potential. Through a wide range of services, advice and advocacy, Kids empowers children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access opportunities, have their voices heard, and overcome barriers to inclusion.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy, you will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning communications, policy and influencing, and youth voice. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering an ambitious communications and external affairs strategy that raises the profile of Kids, strengthens stakeholder relationships, and supports the charity's mission to create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities.
This role offers a unique opportunity to combine strategic communications leadership with public affairs, media engagement, campaigning and programme oversight. You will work closely with senior leaders across the organisation, providing expert advice on communications, reputation management and external engagement.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop and deliver an integrated communications and external affairs strategy aligned with organisational goals.
- Enhance the charity's profile with government decision makers, stakeholders and partners.
- Lead brand positioning and ensure consistent, compelling messaging across all channels.
- Oversee digital communications, including website, social media, email marketing and campaigns
- Provide leadership and oversight for youth participation and digital inclusion programmes.
The appointed candidate will have:
- Significant experience leading multi-channel communications within a charity or values-led organisation.
- The ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders with confidence.
- A strong understanding of public affairs, policy, influencing and campaigning.
- Expertise across digital communications, brand management and content development.
- Line and team management with the ability to coach and develop
TPP Recruitment is acting as the exclusive recruitment partner for Kids and will be managing all applications for this role.
TPP and Kids are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience and those with protected characteristics that are currently underrepresented within our workforce.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
Recruitment Agency 
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Thank you!
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.