UnLtd is a vibrant, ambitious organisation at the heart of the UK’s social enterprise sector. As a key stakeholder and leading funder and supporter of social entrepreneurs, we continuously learn and adapt to better meet their needs and maximise their impact.
We are seeking a talented Communications Manager to amplify UnLtd’s voice and influence within the sector while shining a spotlight on the incredible work of social entrepreneurs. This role is about balance: telling inspiring stories that bring their journeys to life, while also demonstrating measurable outcomes, addressing challenges, and showcasing how our unique funding and support model drives impact.
As a core member of a small, collaborative team, you will create and deliver high-quality communications across multiple channels. Your work will include managing media relations, overseeing day-to-day digital communications and social media, updating and optimising website content, producing marketing and campaign materials, managing communications projects, and supporting events.
We are looking for someone with experience in a broad communications role, including press office expertise, who thrives in a dynamic environment and brings a proactive, learning mindset. The potential for impact is significant: your work will strengthen UnLtd’s positioning as the UK’s leading organisation backing social entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, while engaging funders, partners, and communities to build a fairer, brighter future together.
We find social entrepreneurs with bold solutions to today's challenges.
Senior Communications Manager
FCDO Research Commissioning Centre (3ie)
1. Background
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) has been established to commission and manage research to enhance development and foreign policy impact. The RCC, co-led by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) and the University of Birmingham, provides support to FCDO teams for commissioning and delivering high-quality and impactful research. It addresses challenges associated with research bureaucracy by providing a streamlined process for commissioning and delivering FCDO-funded research.
This role is based at 3ie, working closely with colleagues at the FCDO, University of Birmingham and across the RCC consortium. This is a fixed-term position for the RCC, which is a pilot project that began on the 6th June, 2023, and is due to run until the 5th June, 2028. The role is linked directly to the project funding.
The International Initiative of Impact Evaluation is a mission-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to using evidence to transform people's lives in low- and middle-income countries. We are the global leader in funding, producing, and synthesizing high-quality evidence of what works, for whom, how, why and at what cost. We believe better policy-relevant evidence will make development more effective. 3ie is a registered non-governmental organization in the US. It has offices in New Delhi, London and Washington, DC.
2. Position summary
3ie is inviting applications for a Senior Communications Manager to join the FCDO Research Commissioning Centre (RCC) team at 3ie. With the RCC entering its third year of operation, this is an exciting time to join the project.
The role will be responsible for the strategic management of RCC communications and for the oversight and management of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) website . The position will work closely with the team of the FCDO Chief Scientific Adviser and FCDO’s Deputy Head of Research to support the development and rollout of GRTD, suiting a strategic thinker with experience or knowledge of leading communications and engagement campaigns.
The successful candidate will be a highly organised, skilled communicator with excellent command over producing a range of communication and knowledge products such as blogs, policy briefs, infographics, impact stories and case studies, as well as editing technical writing. Prior experience in social media and event management, is desirable. They will be a self-starter with a can-do, team-player attitude.
The ideal candidate will be based in the UK and have the flexibility to travel to London for in-person meetings and events as required. The candidate will need to work according to UK office hours. The role will largely be remote working with dedicated in-person time with the RCC team and with FCDO.
3. Key job responsibilities
a) GRTD website development oversight and strategy; FCDO GRTD communications, branding and development
- Work with FCDO to develop a coherent strategy and campaign for engaging with and communicating GRTD to external partners. Manage the relationship with FCDO communications counterparts in delivering the vision for GRTD
- Lead engagement with FCDO to determine design of enhancements and new features for GRTD; oversee these developments, managing external contractors (when required) and working with technical colleagues to ensure developments are fit for purpose
- Collaborate with FCDO teams to support the rollout and visibility of the GRTD brand
- Contribute to the development and implementation of editorial standards, templates, and guidance for GRTD content, in coordination with FCDO and RCC stakeholders
- Assist in the dissemination of impact stories and research outputs that align with GRTD branding and strategic objectives
- Support stakeholder engagement activities and campaigns led by FCDO to promote the GRTD platform, where relevant to RCC-funded research
- Monitor digital engagement with and develop KPIs to track performance, with a focus on continuous improvement and optimization
b) RCC presence on GRTD
- Ensure the RCC is adequately presented on GRTD and that the design and structure of RCC pages is coherent and promotes the RCC vision
- Create, edit and post new website content for the RCC on GRTD as required
- Coordinate with the 3ie Strategic Communications Office to monitor the website regularly to ensure content is updated and bugs are identified.
c) RCC Communications
Strategy:
- Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the RCC’s overall communication and engagement strategy, including areas of thought leadership around best practice evidence led by the RCC.
Content:
- Strategise on new communication products (including website content, impact stories, blogs, media articles, social media and multimedia content), launches, events, and online promotions Edit, manage and publish research commissioning call documents and participate and manage related events such as Early Market Engagements, FAQ sessions, etc.
- Work with RCC Grantees and project teams editing and publishing RCC publications and deliverables, including reports, briefs and other publications.
- Create social media content and manage dissemination through 3ie’s social media channels, working with 3ie colleagues (NB: RCC social media channels may be established and in this case the role will directly manage these).
- Events and engagement: Provide end-to-end support for workshops and events, including content, budget, logistics, communication and marketing
- Provide inputs for communication and implementation plans for research funded by the RCC.
d) Project management: Ensure that RCC publications and communications products are processed in a timely manner and published on GRTD
- Maintain and update process documents, guidelines and templates for external communications for the RCC and for communications from grantees.
- Oversee the implementation of and improvements to RCC’s branding and logo suite as needed.
e) Stakeholder support: Work closely with RCC staff to cultivate relationships across the research ecosystem, consortium and with grantees. This is likely to include RCC representation at external events.
f) Support RCC grantees: Provide guidance and advise on dissemination activities to grant recipients. Review and approve the engagement and dissemination products and plans submitted by RCC grant recipients as part of their work on RCC-funded projects and support the wider RCC team to monitor engagement activities undertaken by grantees.
g) Knowledge sharing: Collect and collate impact stories for the RCC to support both learning and reporting requirements
4. Qualifications and skills
- Master’s degree in journalism, public affairs, marketing, or a field directly relevant to international development, including formal communication training. Exceptional candidates with a bachelor's degree and extensive work experience may be considered
- At least seven to ten years of experience in a communication role in development sector.
- Proven ability to plan and implement communication and engagement strategies for organizations and research projects
- Knowledge of tools for graphic design, content management, social media and event management is desirable (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, Mailchimp, Canva, Drupal, etc.)
- Proven project management and coordination skills to ensure on-time delivery
- Excellent English writing and editing skills; cross-platform writing experience is desirable
- Self-motivated, creative, and multi-tasker with a proven ability to work under tight deadlines accurately and professionally
- Excellent interpersonal skills and willingness to work in a matrix-organized team environment
- Experience working with UK government departments is desirable
5. Eligibility
3ie is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, ethnicity, disability, caste, religion or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage women, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities to apply.
6. Terms of employment
The salary range for this position is competitive and commensurate based on qualifications and experience. Our policies and procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse. We follow a zero-tolerance policy for any form of bullying or harassment in the workplace.
7. How to Apply
Your application must include the following information*:
• A cover letter (not exceeding two pages) highlighting your qualifications and experience relevant to the terms of reference.
• Curriculum vitae along with names and contact information for at least three professional references.
*Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The deadline for receiving applications is 21 December, 2025. Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Product Manager – HOSTHub Lead
Reports to: Operations Director (Head of Delivery)
Contract: 0.6
Location: Remote (UK or International (GMT +3/-3)
Interview Process: Will commence in the New Year
Role Purpose
As Product Manager HOSTHub Lead, you will drive the vision, design, and delivery of HOSTHub, HOST’s secure digital platform for global civil society operations.
HOSTHub is the central nervous system of HOST - connecting partners, funders, and internal teams across finance, legal, and operations. You will lead the platform’s development and optimisation, ensuring every user journey is clear, intuitive, and aligned with HOST’s empowering, expert, and empathetic values.
Working closely with the Partnerships and Engagement teams, along with our development contractors, you’ll translate user needs into product strategy, coordinate with the external development team, and deliver tools that make life easier for changemakers, funders, and the HOST team.
This is a strategic, high-impact role for someone who can think systemically, act decisively, and balance big-picture design with hands-on delivery.
Core Responsibilities
1. Product Vision and Strategy
Lead on the design, roadmap, and vision of HOSTHub as HOST’s flagship digital platform.
Translate HOST’s organisational goals into a clear, scalable, and user-focused product strategy.
Define and own product milestones, prioritising features that improve efficiency, visibility, and impact.
Ensure HOSTHub reflects HOST’s values secure, transparent, intuitive, and empowering.
Reporting cadence: Monthly progress and roadmap update to Operations Director and Leadership Team.
2. User Journey and Experience Design
Lead on designing the end-to-end user experience for hosted partners, funders, and staff.
Map user journeys across onboarding, finance, compliance, and reporting workflows, identifying pain points and opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with the Partnerships and Community Support teams to align HOSTHub with the Hosted Partner and Funder Journeys.
Work with the Communications Team to ensure all user-facing content is accessible, clear, and on-brand.
Reporting cadence: Quarterly user feedback and UX improvement report.
3. Development Oversight
Oversee product design and development process, in coordination with the development team.
Attend demo and planning sessions each sprint, provide clear prioritisation of activities and ensure that development is rolled out as required.
Ensure that all Hosted Partner and HOST team voices are included and prioritised into the platform development, acting as central focal point for all HOSThub needs.
Reporting cadence: Bi-weekly sprint updates; monthly development report.
4. Data, Systems, and Integration
Work with the Data Analyst to ensure HOSTHub captures accurate, useful data for reporting and impact measurement.
Integrate Data and Impact measurement needs into the Product Roadmap prioritisation
Support automation of key workflows across the Delivery and Partnerships Circles, improving speed and reducing manual processes.
Maintain robust documentation of system architecture and data flows.
Reporting cadence: Monthly systems performance and data accuracy review.
5. Security, Compliance, and Risk
Lead on platform security and data protection in collaboration with the Legal Lead.
Ensure HOSTHub adheres to global data privacy and security standards (GDPR, AML/CTF, etc.). Prioritise required actions within roadmap.
Conduct regular digital risk assessments and prioritise required actions within roadmap mitigation strategies.
Lead the incident response process for digital issues or breaches, maintaining transparent communication with leadership.
Reporting cadence: Quarterly security and compliance review.
6. Cross-Team Collaboration and Capacity Building
Work across HOST’s teams to ensure HOSTHub serves all service areas - Project Hosting, Hosted Grantmaking, and Capacity Building.
Develop and deliver internal training sessions to build staff confidence and skills in using HOSTHub.
Create and maintain onboarding resources, FAQs, and user guides.
Partner with the Training Lead to embed digital literacy across the organisation and hosted partner community.
Reporting cadence: Quarterly internal training and adoption report.
7. Continuous Improvement and Innovation
Monitor emerging technologies and sector best practices to inform HOSTHub’s evolution.
Evaluate and test new features, integrations, and user needs to maintain product relevance.
Lead user feedback sessions and platform reviews to ensure HOSTHub grows with HOST’s global operations.
Drive HOSTHub’s role in enabling a distributed, digital-first delivery model.
Reporting cadence: Annual product review and roadmap refresh.
Key Relationships
Internal: Operations Director, Finance Team, Legal Lead, Partnerships Director, Community Support Team, Data Analyst, and Training Lead.
External: Developers, technical service providers, hosted partners, funders, and contractors.
Performance Indicators
HOSTHub roadmap milestones delivered on time and within scope.
90%+ user satisfaction in feedback surveys.
All major integrations operational and maintained.
Demonstrated improvements in efficiency and automation across service areas.
100% compliance with digital security and privacy standards.
Required Experience
5–8 years’ experience in product management, digital platform delivery, or systems development - ideally within SaaS, fintech, social enterprise, or digital infrastructure contexts.
Proven track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder digital products from concept to launch and iteration.
Strong understanding of user experience (UX) and user journey design, with practical experience mapping and optimising workflows for multiple user groups.
Experience managing or coordinating external developers, digital agencies, or tech contractors in remote environments.
Demonstrated ability to translate user needs into technical requirements, prioritising effectively across competing demands.
Familiarity with API integrations, database systems, and workflow automation tools (e.g. Zapier, Airtable, or custom integrations).
Proven success integrating digital tools with finance, CRM, or data systems (e.g. Sage, Salesforce, ClickUp, Zendesk).
Strong data skills, including experience designing or using dashboards and analytics for performance and reporting.
Knowledge of security, privacy, and compliance frameworks (e.g. GDPR, ISO, AML/CTF) as they apply to digital systems.
Excellent project management, prioritisation, and communication skills - able to bridge technical and non-technical audiences.
We believe in the power of people to do extraordinary things. Our mission is to host the world's change-makers, enabling climate and social action.