Head of engagement jobs in Charing cross, greater london

Hybrid – within commuting distance of one of our campuses in Beckenham, Blackburn, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Doncaster or Redcar

Lead communications and engagement for a nationally influential organisation transforming teacher and leader development.

About us

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has an unswerving commitment to high-quality, evidence-informed teacher education and is on a mission to improve the quality of teacher and leader development across the system.

About the role

The National Institute of Teaching is looking for an exceptional Head of Communications and Engagement to lead how we tell our story, build our reputation and deepen our relationships across the education sector. Guided by our belief that teaching is a fundamental societal good, a privilege and a responsibility, this is a senior, strategic role at the heart of an ambitious organisation working to improve the quality of teacher and leader development at system level. You will shape a clear and compelling organisational narrative, lead integrated communications and engagement activity, and act as the NIoT’s main link with the press, ensuring our voice is credible, consistent and influential with schools, trusts, policymakers, partners, funders, journalists, the media and the wider public.

You will bring outstanding judgement, creativity and communication expertise, with the ability to translate complex ideas into messages that move people to understand, trust and act. Working closely with the Executive Director of Partnerships, the CEO and senior colleagues across research, programmes, recruitment marketing, impact and policy, you will help position the NIoT as a distinctive, evidence-informed and school-led organisation with growing national reach and influence.

This is a hybrid role, with an expectation that the postholder will work from the office at least once a fortnight, and more frequently where required to meet business needs. The role also involves national travel, which may include overnight stays.

What we’re looking for:

• A senior communications and engagement professional with significant experience of strategic leadership, ideally in education, public policy, charity, higher education or another mission-led environment.
• Exceptional written, verbal and editorial skills, with a talent for conveying complex, evidence-informed ideas clearly, accurately and compellingly for different audiences.
• Proven ability to develop organisational narratives, lead brand and reputation activity, and maintain clear, consistent messaging across channels and teams.
• Strong PR and press experience, including media relations, journalist engagement, press office processes, handling enquiries, drafting press statements and identifying proactive opportunities to build profile and influence.
• The confidence and credibility to advise senior leaders, influence colleagues, manage sensitive issues and represent the organisation externally.
• A collaborative, values-led leader who can build a high-performing team, strengthen ways of working and support colleagues to communicate with clarity and confidence.
• A commitment to inclusive, accessible and audience-centred communications that help the NIoT reach diverse school communities and national audiences.

Key benefits

• Generous annual leave – 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays), rising to 33 days after five years’ service.
• Flexible working – we offer flexible start and end working times, with hybrid working in place for all roles.
• Pension – entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Salary sacrifice schemes – we offer salary sacrifice schemes for bikes, cars and tech!
• Lifestyle benefits – we offer discounts on gyms, cinema, retail and much more!
• Parenthood leave – we offer above the statutory minimum for maternity, adoption and paternity leave.
• Working environment – we have a stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of like-minded professionals.
• Support – our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides confidential support for employees on personal or work-related matters.
• Development – we fully support the development of our staff and ensure that you have a high level of continuous professional development.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

For more information and to apply, please visit our vacancies page.

Closing date: 31 August 2026.

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

As a condition of employment, this post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and an Occupational Health Check.

Head of Communications & Engagement (Maternity Cover)

£54,068 with 2026/27 annual pay award yet to be agreed, plus 6% contributory employer’s pension.

War on Want’s head office: 44-48 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7JP. Hybrid working with a minimum of one day per month in the office, with one day or more per week preferred to coincide with communications team attendance and other key meetings.

War on Want is a radical charity working in solidarity with grassroots movements around the world to fight the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice. We campaign against corporate power, economic exploitation and systems of oppression that drive poverty and human rights violations. 

The Head of Communications and Engagement leads the development and execution of War on Want’s organisational strategic communications plan. In doing so, they contribute to a wide range of shared organisational objectives including campaign, supporter engagement, and income generation priorities.

Working closely with the Income & Engagement Director, and other Departmental or team leads, the successful candidate will further strategic and operational communications to ensure War on Want delivers engaging creative public campaigns, and reaches the right audiences, with the right messages, at the right time to advance its vision and mission. In doing so, they will raise War on Want’s profile and make significant contributions to the effectiveness of its campaigns, international partnerships, and global movement building activities.

If you’re excited by the chance to lead on organisational communication strategies across multiple audiences to advance a wide range of objectives, then this may be the role for you. You and your team will bring to life complex issues like climate breakdown, Israel’s apartheid and genocide of the Palestinian people, workers’ rights, and economic injustice. Your skills as a team leader and ability to collaborate with others will deliver compelling storytelling that inspires, mobilises, and delivers impact.

Deadline for applications: 11.00AM on Monday 27th July. Please note we will be interviewing on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the recruitment process early if a suitable candidate is appointed.  

War on Want is a registered charity no 208724. We actively encourage applicants from ethnic minorities and aim to be an equal opportunities employer.

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting our client – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - in seeking a Deputy Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement. The postholder will join the Policy Directorate team, providing key support in the delivery of the organisation's global research and innovation policy work.

This is a new role in the organisation'ss Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement Team. Working with the Team Head it will lead the academy’s growing global research and innovation policy activities, including the academy’s international policy data capabilities, the academy’s international policy work on international comparative R&D, knowledge systems strengthening, evidence-informed policymaking and equitable partnerships.

Working with the Head and two other Deputy Heads the role will identify, cultivate and maintain impactful relationships and networks with researchers, policymakers and practitioners to enhance the influence of the academy’s international engagement and international policy programmes and activities.

A key aspect of the new role will be to help build out and develop coherence in the academy’s global research and innovation policy portfolio – an area of burgeoning work and considerable senior leadership and sector interest. This might include, for example, exploring the international connectedness of the humanities and social sciences in an increasingly contested world, the role of and support needed for the humanities and social sciences in this international funding landscape, and the importance of the SHAPE disciplines to international innovation collaboration.

Please apply in the first instance and we will contact suitable candidates for further conversations. Interviews will take place in person on 20th August. If you are not going to be available for an in person interview on these dates, please make this clear within your application.

The organisation welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with a commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. They make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the selection criteria.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.