Head of veterans employment jobs

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Head of Area to work as part of our Operations Team, working across Swindon, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

The successful candidate must be able to travel regularly to locations across the region and occasional national travel throughout England

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

The Services Division leads the delivery and growth of our care and support services and NHS and Local Authority partnership working, aligned with our corporate strategy.  The team are responsible for ensuring services meet quality standards, contractual requirements and provide great outcomes for people we support. They ensure that in areas where we are leading or delivering partnership working that we meet any contractual requirements and develop effective governance and oversight of this area of activity, including maintaining appropriate separation between our operational service delivery and that of the Strategic Partnership & Alliances Division. The Services Division is a large and constantly growing team being commissioned to deliver care and support services through funding by Local Authorities, the NHS (local and national) and other central government initiatives.

How you will make a difference

As a Head Of Area for Rethink Mental Illness, you will work as part of the London and South East Regional Services team. You’ll engage NHS Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Local Authorities, as well as engaging with government level strategic programmes, developing partnerships that align with our corporate strategy ‘working together to build communities that care’ You will ensure that we utilise the experience, expertise, and reputation of Rethink Mental Illness to help shape care and support services, change the way in which services are delivered through new partnerships and grow our service offer to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness in places we operate, and beyond.

The release of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England in 2025, titled ‘Fit For The Future,’ presents new opportunities to influence the government’s three major initiatives: transitioning care from hospitals to community settings, incorporating digital technology, and focusing on prevention rather than treatment. These objectives align with our Corporate Strategy and are pursued through our internal Mission Delivery Boards.

You’ll work with other people and agencies, in a joined-up way, so that people living with severe mental illness receive coordinated support. The improved outcomes we expect to see through the delivery of Communities that Care are focussed on:

• Access to health and social care.
• Housing.
• Employment, education, training, and volunteering.
• Physical health.
• Social connectedness.
• Money.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

About the role

We’re seeking an experienced Marketing Manager to drive the promotion and growth of our Homes and services.

In this strategic, hands-on role, you will lead marketing campaigns, manage the customer journey from awareness to enquiry, and ensure every touchpoint delivers a high-quality experience. You’ll also use your creativity to produce marketing materials and manage community engagement initiatives, such as open days, to showcase our services and strengthen local relationships.

Using insight and analysis, you’ll provide recommendations to support the growth of our care services and help keep our Homes thriving.

We’re looking for someone who shares our values, collaborates well across teams, and can work independently to deliver agreed outcomes. We operate a hybrid working model — while much of the role can be home-based, regular visits to our Homes and our Twickenham office are expected to deepen understanding of our work and foster strong internal relationships.

You will be joining a values-led organisation working within our dedicated Fundraising & Marketing department. We value our team and provide excellent training and benefits.

Purpose of the role

• To lead and shape the marketing strategy for our services delivered to veterans and their families through our Homes and out into the local community ensuring strong positioning, visibility, and engagement.
• To take ownership of the marketing required to deliver successful customer journeys across all service areas, driving growth in enquiries, conversions, and service uptake.
• To provide strategic insights through effective reporting and analysis, influencing decision-making at senior level.

Key responsibilities

Marketing & Communications

• Develop, lead, and implement integrated marketing strategies that promote the full range of services provided by our Homes (including but not limited to: Lunch Club, Day Care, Short Breaks, and full-time care), ensuring these remain responsive to changing needs and market trends.
• Lead the development and delivery of marketing strategies for wider services delivered into the local community positioning these as trusted and accessible options for families and carers.
• Use data and insights via Found and other reporting tools to provide regular analysis on enquiries and service performance, producing recommendations that shape future planning.
• Ensure a consistently excellent customer journey, from initial enquiry through to service uptake, identifying opportunities to enhance engagement and improve experience
• Oversee the creation and delivery of engaging content across digital channels, website, and print, ensuring services are presented clearly and compellingly.
• Use your creative flair to design and produce a wide range of marketing assets from brochures to promotional items, to showcase individual Homes and services and strengthen the Royal Star & Garter brand across the group.
• Manage community engagement through service-focused events, such as open days, ensuring they are well-promoted, attended, and deliver a positive experience for visitors.
• Act as a key liaison with senior colleagues across Homes, services, fundraising, and partnerships, ensuring marketing activity supports organisational priorities and service growth.

Process

• Manage and monitor the marketing budget for our care services, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and deliver strong return on investment.
• Provide leadership in maintaining efficient systems and processes across the Marketing & Communications team, including project tracking, storage, and reporting.
• Champion best practice in customer journey mapping, identifying opportunities to enhance engagement and retention.
• Contribute to organisational strategy by providing senior-level insight on service marketing, audience trends, and sector developments.

Other

• To adhere to data protection legislation and to be fully conversant with relevant legislation and the guidelines.
• To understand and ensure we are compliant with Competition & Markets Authority guidance on care home
• To undertake other such duties as may be required and which are consistent with the nature of this role.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

• Proven experience in devising and delivering successful marketing plans with a strong focus on customer experience and engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced marketing environment, effectively planning, prioritising, and managing a varied workload to deliver projects on time and to a high standard.
• Strong knowledge and practical understanding of digital marketing, including social media, email marketing and analytics.
• Good understanding of relevant marketing and charitable legislation and guidelines.
• Experience of enquiry management and reporting systems (e.g., Found) is desirable.

Skills and abilities

• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and inspire diverse audiences at all levels.
• Proven copywriting and editing expertise, delivering clear, compelling, and accurate content across multiple channels.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and develop strong internal and external networks.
• Strong creative skills, with proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (or other design software) to support the development of high-quality marketing materials.
• Advanced IT literacy, including confident use of MS 365 and Teams to manage workflows and collaboration.
• Highly analytical, with the ability to interpret complex data, generate actionable insights, and apply them to enhance marketing performance.
• Experience of WordPress or other CMS platforms (desirable), with the ability to maintain and optimise digital content.
• A proactive and creative leader with energy and enthusiasm, demonstrating a strong commitment to the mission and values of Royal Star & Garter

Other

• The ability to travel and work remotely, including the location of our Homes in High Wycombe, Solihull, Surbiton, and Worthing. Travel to the Central Services office in Twickenham will also be required.
• Be willing to work flexibly including some evenings and weekends.

Personal characteristics

• Genuine enthusiasm and passion for our mission, with a strong commitment to living our organisational values.
• A proactive self-starter with energy and drive, who inspires and motivates others through a positive and collaborative approach.
• Sets and maintains high performance standards for both self and team, with a focus on excellence in delivery.
• Approaches work with a positive, solutions-focused mindset and resilience in the face of challenges.
• Reliable and professional, with the ability to remain flexible, calm, and composed under pressure.

We reserve the right to update and amend this job description to ensure it accurately reflects the role. This will be agreed in consultation with the job holder.