Head of digital jobs

Head of Digital, Data and Technology

ZSL London

London, Greater London (Hybrid)

Circa £90,000 per annum

Full-time

Permanent

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Job description

We are seeking a Head of Digital, Data and Technology to lead and shape our digital infrastructure, data governance and analytics capability.

Head of Digital, Data and Technology
Location: Head Office, Regents Park, London NW1 – Hybrid + Some travel required
Salary: C. £90,000

Purpose of the role

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and every role, every person in every corner of ZSL has one thing in common, we are all conservationists, and passionate about restoring wildlife.

In this role, you’ll guide and empower ZSL on its digital, data and technology journey, building confidence and capability across the organisation in how tools, data and insight are used to drive real impact.

You will play a key role in designing and delivering user-focused technologies, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening how we tell our conservation stories through data and digital innovation. By delivering user-focused technologies, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening our conservation storytelling, this role will evolve and future-proof ZSL’s digital ecosystem while supporting our mission to protect and restore nature in the UK and around the world.

This post is a blended role for office and home working; some travel to Zoo sites will be required.

Key Responsibilities:

Digital leadership and transformation

Define and deliver a transformative digital, data, and technology vision aligned with ZSL’s strategic goals, embedding innovation to drive measurable impact on conservation outcomes and supporter engagement.
Provide strategic oversight of IT operations, ensuring services align with organisational objectives, enable innovation, and support long-term growth.
Lead ZSL’s digital transformation journey, championing system integration and adoption of digital solutions to foster a culture of digital literacy across the organisation.
Design and implement change management strategies, readiness assessments, and adoption plans to ensure smooth delivery of digital initiatives and high-quality user experience.
Engage and influence senior stakeholders across the organisation to secure buy-in and alignment on digital priorities.

Systems and infrastructure

Identify, develop, and implement accessible, user-focused technologies and environmentally sustainable solutions that enhance organisational efficiency, impact, and engagement.
Ensure IT infrastructure is robust, scalable, and reliable to meet future organisational needs while adhering to sustainability commitments.
Increase organisational resilience by proactively managing risks associated with digital projects, including cyber security threats, data breaches, and system downtime.
Develop, maintain and connect databases, platforms and tools to enable effective and improved ways of working across ZSL systems.

Data, Analytics and Cyber Security

Establish and maintain strong data governance frameworks that ensure data integrity, compliance, and security, positioning data as a strategic organisational asset.
Drive integration across key datasets and applications holding conservation, science, and supporter content using analytics tools such as PowerBI and middleware.
Lead insights-driven decision-making by leveraging analytics to optimise user experience, operational efficiency, and storytelling impact for all stakeholders.
Oversee cyber security strategy, including policy, risk management, incident response, and reporting to the executive team, ensuring organisational resilience.

People Leadership

Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing digital and system users and IT teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
Build capability across the organisation to enhance digital literacy and adoption of new technologies.

About You

Extensive experience in IT, digital, data, or technology leadership roles, demonstrating increasing responsibility over time.
Proven track record of developing and delivering organisational digital and ICT strategies.
Broad experience across multiple IT and digital disciplines.
Experience managing budgets with a focus on cost-effectiveness and value for money.
Demonstrated success in leading and developing large, high-performing teams.
Outstanding leadership and strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to set vision and direction.
Deep understanding of data ecosystems, including platforms, governance, and insight generation.
Strong grasp of technical data concepts, including databases, data science, business intelligence, analytics, and cloud technologies.
Thorough knowledge of data governance principles, data ethics, relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR), and cyber security best practice.
Highly skilled at influencing and building relationships at senior organisational levels.
Strong commitment to creating a culture that lives ZSL values and commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity (collaborative, inspiring, inclusive, innovative, impactful and ethical).

About Us

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction. 

What do we offer? 

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct 
Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you 
Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays 
Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme 
Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops 
Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle 
Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group. 

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.

Closing Date: 8th February 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

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Posted on: 12 January 2026

Closing date: 08 February 2026 at 23:30

Job ref: 167879_LZ

Tags: IT, Business Development, Operations, Digital, Business Intelligence, Commercial, Compliance / Quality, Conservation, Data Protection, Database Management, Delivery, Environment / Animal, Information Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Risk Management, Strategy, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Wildlife, Governance / Management

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Head of Communications, Marketing, & Digital

Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis

Remote

£45,000 - £50,000 per year (salary depends on experience and pro-rata for part-time)

Full-time or part-time

Permanent

Using Anonymous Recruitment

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Job description

Role: Head of Communications, Marketing, & Digital

Location:Home-based, with regular attendance (at least monthly) of meetings in London.

Salary: £45,000-50,000 per annum. (Salary depends on experience and pro-rata for part-time).

Type: Permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week) or flexible to at least 0.8 FTE

Responsible to: Director of Fundraising & Communications

Responsible for: Digital Marketing Manager, Communications & Engagement Manager, Communications Administrator (indirectly), Podcast Manager (indirectly)

Benefits: Flexible working arrangements, 28 days of annual leave and bank holidays (FTE pro-rata for part-time), + 1 day for your birthday, pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme

About the role

Every five minutes, someone, somewhere in the world is told that they have MS. There are currently 2.9 million people in the world living with MS. When you’re diagnosed with MS, in just seconds, the future that you saw for yourself and your loved ones has been shattered. A diagnosis often comes at a time when you’re in the prime of your life, when you should be planning your future, not facing a lifetime of uncertainty. Knowing you have MS can feel incredibly isolating and lonely.

Overcoming MS is here to provide hope: through lifestyle changes, backed by scientific research, a full and healthy life with MS is possible.

Could you be the person that helps us get this message of hope through to thousands of people diagnosed each year, their families and friends? Overcoming MS is at a crucial point in our strategy, where we are ready to significantly expand our reach and let everyone affected by MS know about the support that is available for them to live well. We are ready to own the lifestyle and MS space, to offer hope, positivity and choices to all, and we’re looking for the right person to drive awareness of our brand profile as well as the wider importance of healthy lifestyle and MS.

Job summary:

The Head of Communications, Marketing & Digital is responsible for shaping, delivering, and evaluating the charity’s communications, brand, digital engagement, and marketing activity.

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising & Communications, the postholder plays a pivotal role in growing the charity’s profile, strengthening engagement, and ensuring all communication channels, platforms and content are effective, accessible, and aligned with organisational goals.

In a small charity, this is both a strategic and hands-on role, requiring creativity, strong digital skills, excellent communication, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Key responsibilities and duties:

1. Communications & brand

Lead the delivery of the charity’s communications strategy to increase visibility, trust and engagement.
Manage and protect the charity’s brand, ensuring consistency of messaging, tone, and visual identity.
Oversee and produce high-quality content for website, newsletters, reports, blogs, case studies, and information materials.
Support the Director in developing campaigns that unite messaging, fundraising, marketing, and advocacy.

2. Marketing & supporter engagement

Lead marketing activity to grow audiences, increase engagement, increase participation in our services, and support fundraising objectives.
Work closely with colleagues to create compelling campaign assets, supporter journeys, and integrated marketing plans.
Develop marketing materials, key messages, and digital assets that support awareness, engagement, service numbers and income growth.

3. Digital leadership

Oversee the charity’s digital ecosystem, including website, email marketing, social media and CRM integrations.
Ensure digital content is accessible, user-focused, streamlined and optimised for engagement and conversion.
Fully review website development and maintenance, including UX improvements, analytics, SEO, and content.
Oversee data-led insights and dashboards to measure digital performance and inform decision-making.

4. Media & public relations

Build media relationships and respond to press requests in coordination with the Director.
Draft press releases, statements, Q&As, and key messages for external audiences.
Support reactive and crisis communications, ensuring timely, accurate responses and reputational protection.

5. Internal communication & collaboration

Support effective internal communication, ensuring staff team, Program Facilitators and volunteers are informed and engaged.
Work collaboratively across teams to gather stories, insights, and content that bring the charity’s work to life.
Provide guidance and support to colleagues on communications, brand, and digital best practice.

6. Other

Manage agency and supplier relationships where relevant.
Stay informed about sector trends and emerging tools that could benefit the charity.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential experience

Significant experience in communications, marketing and digital roles, preferably within a charity or mission-driven organisation.
Proven track record of developing and delivering digital and communications content across multiple platforms to multiple audiences.
Experience managing websites, CRM systems, email marketing tools, and social media channels.
Demonstrable experience in audience engagement, digital analytics, and campaign performance measurement.
Experience in managing a brand profile across different audiences and different products, ensuring consistency and authority over time.
Hands-on experience creating accessible and compelling written, visual, and digital content.
Experience working with agencies, freelancers, or creative suppliers.

Essential skills & competencies

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling messages.
Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into practical delivery.
Highly organised, able to manage multiple deadlines, and comfortable working independently in a small team.
Strong attention to detail with a commitment to quality and accuracy.
Strong understanding of brand management and visual communication.
Strong knowledge and understanding of fundraising, communications, GDPR, safeguarding, accessibility and other standards.

Personal attributes

Passionate about the charity’s mission and values.
Collaborative, positive, and comfortable working closely with colleagues across the organisation.
Proactive problem solver who brings ideas and embraces innovation.
Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and ethical communication.
Excellent standard of written and spoken English and ability to communicate effectively with a range of people from diverse backgrounds.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Fully committed to Overcoming MS’s values.

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