Grade: 2
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (flexible working considered)
Position type: Permanent
Responsible to: Head of Global Communications & PR
Direct reports: Communications & PR Officer
Location: Truro, Cornwall (Hybrid) or Remote (UK based) with some travel to Truro
ROLE PURPOSE:
This role works to raise awareness of the issues faced by people around the world who have lost their homes to disaster. It generates positive media coverage for ShelterBox, positioning us as experts in emergency shelter, as well as supporting fundraising with media engagement and PR activities. The role also works to ensure colleagues across the organisation can talk about our work accurately and consistently by producing key messaging about our international programmes.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
ShelterBox is seeking an experienced, motivated and proactive communications professional with excellent attention to detail and line-management experience.
You will be skilled in writing a variety of materials - including press releases, statements, and Q&As, and in simplifying complex information. You will also understand the nuance of language, ensuring messaging reflects dignity, avoids harmful narratives and upholds humanitarian neutrality in sensitive contexts.
You will enjoy finding strong stories and ensuring they are told ethically. You will be experienced in creating news, working with the media and contributing to multiple projects at pace.
We are looking for someone with experience in crisis communications who can help protect and enhance our reputation by identifying potential issues early. You will also have experience delivering media interview training, building confidence in spokespeople, and supporting them through briefings and interviews.
You will have experience of line management. You will have experience of working with a direct report to develop their abilities and support them to be motivated and produce great work.
This is a great opportunity to be part of a dynamic fundraising and communications department, working together to achieve our mission of no one without shelter after disaster.
The role requires someone who can pivot priorities quickly when needed. When major disasters happen, our teams need to be able to flex very quickly to that focus.
MAIN ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This role works as part of a small and dynamic Communications & Digital team and has direct line management of our Comms & PR Officer. You will focus on gaining media coverage for our international programmes, understanding the issues and opportunities of our work and securing impactful media interviews. You will support our fundraising campaigns and events with media engagement.
You will work closely with the Head of Global Communications & Digital and colleagues across the Fundraising & Communications department to develop and deliver communications and media engagement activities supporting campaigns and driving awareness.
The role line-manages a Communications & PR Officer. You will work with them to extend the output and reach of our comms and media work and support them to feel motivated and produce high-quality work.
This role also supports wider departments by producing centralised messaging to ensure colleagues talk about our work consistently and are aligned with our brand.
You'll work with the wider communications and fundraising teams on integrated campaigns, ensuring key messaging is aligned and PR angles and risks are considered.
There may be occasional opportunities to travel to countries where ShelterBox works for media purposes. This travel is not mandatory. There will be regular travel to the Truro head office to support media interviews, deliver training, and participate in organisational collaboration days.
Flexibility with working hours sometimes required, especially during sudden-onset emergencies (TOIL available for additional hours).
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
PR & Comms Lead
- Manage a variety of communications and PR activities to raise awareness of the needs of people who have lost their homes to disaster.
- Produce a range of high-quality written materials for different audiences.
- Develop strong working relationships with people across the organisation, including in our international programmes and fundraising teams.
- Take a proactive approach to media engagement and communications as our PR and communications subject-matter expert.
- Line manage the Comms & PR Officer, supporting them to prioritise their workload, ensuring they have clear goals, and are performing well.
Media Engagement
- Maximise media opportunities for ShelterBox across national and regional, print, digital, and broadcast media.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the media landscape and keep across relevant stories and trends.
- Work with colleagues to identify strong stories and create news angles.
- Prepare and use a variety of effective PR tools, including press releases, quotes, features, blogs and photo opportunities.
- Sell-in stories, respond to media enquiries, and secure interviews.
- Deliver interview training for colleagues.
- Prepare messaging and briefings for spokespeople for interviews and events.
- Ensure plans are ready to roll-out when major disasters happen - including comms plans, media lists, trained spokespeople, quotes and other resources.
- Identify, develop and maintain great relationships with external stakeholders, including journalists, PR agencies, and freelancers.
Communications
- Produce high-quality written materials, including messaging, Q&As, and reports, ensuring consistency with brand and tone of voice.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across social media, website, celebrity, brand, content, and fundraising) to deliver integrated campaigns.
- Support reputation management, lead crisis communications activities, and play an active role in the Crisis Management Team.
- Offer creative ideas and planning for communications campaigns.
- Coordinate and, when required, manage external agencies and consultants.
- Evaluate PR and communications activity to measure success and improve future performance.
- Manage subscriptions and licences for communications tools, including media monitoring platforms, and liaise with procurement on tender processes when required.
Other Responsibilities
- Work as a member of our EDI team, ensuring EDI principles are included within our comms and media work.
- Undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post.
- Carry out the duties of post in accordance with the ShelterBox's policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
- Work flexibility, prioritise workload and work effectively as part of a team.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
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Thank you!
About GNDR
We are the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), the largest global network of organisations committed to working together to improve the lives of people affected by disasters worldwide. Since being established in 2007, we have grown into a network of over 2,000 member organisations across 130+ countries, representing millions of people on the frontlines of hazards, climate change and mass displacement. Through transformative, evidence-led programming and powerful advocacy, we are driving climate action and disaster resilience alongside our members across the globe.
About the role
GNDR is seeking a motivated and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as our new Head of Operations.
With the launch of our 2026–2030 Global Strategy, this is a defining moment to shape how GNDR functions and ensure our global network is equipped to deliver real impact.
In this role, you will set the operational vision that underpins our strategy, ensuring our systems, people, and resources are aligned, sustainable, and future‑ready. You will lead all core operational functions, building the strong operational foundation that enables GNDR to thrive. Working closely with teams across regions, you will ensure our operations are coherent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of our members and the communities we serve.
If you’re driven by the opportunity to shape organisational excellence, strengthen global operations, and create the conditions for meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you.
Overall scope of the role
The remit of this post will cover the following core responsibilities:
- Strategic financial oversight
- Funding, grants and partnerships
- People, culture and organisational development
- Systems, logistics and IT
- Legal, risk and compliance
- Governance and board support
- Strategic leadership
- Line management and team development
Candidate requirements
We are ideally seeking candidates with:
- Expert financial stewardship, including management of grant‑funded budgets, financial controls, reporting, procurement, and supplier partnerships
- Operational and governance leadership spanning finance, HR, IT, compliance, risk, and organisational systems
- Inclusive people and culture leadership, with HR expertise and experience supporting cross‑cultural, geographically dispersed teams
- Strong digital capability, from driving digital transformation to confidently using finance, HR, and IT systems
- Strategic and organisational development skills, including planning, project oversight, risk management, and guiding teams through change
- Senior‑level strategic leadership, contributing to organisational direction and fostering effective cross‑team collaboration
- A deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and alignment with GNDR’s mission and values
Eligibility
Eligible candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Candidates will need to be able to travel internationally when necessary.
This role is primarily remote. We’ll ensure you have a safe and appropriate remote working setup, and we’re open to discussing flexible working arrangements as part of the recruitment process. Our hybrid working approach is currently under review, so there may be occasional in‑person meetups in London in the future, subject to ongoing consultation.
Please note that all offers of employment at GNDR are conditional and subject to satisfactory background checks.
We encourage applications from people who meet most of the essential criteria listed in the job description below. You don’t need to tick every single box to be considered. We recognise that strong candidates may bring relevant strengths and experience in different ways, and we don’t want this to deter you from applying. If you can demonstrate a solid overall match with the role, we’d love to hear from you.
For a full job description and person specification please follow the link below.
Start date
We are ideally looking for candidates who are available to start as early as possible. However, we recognise that availability may vary due to individual notice periods, and we are happy to accommodate some flexibility where possible.
How to apply
Please submit an up to date copy of your CV (max. two A4 pages) and a cover letter (max. one A4 page) outlining skills and experience relevant to the role by email to our HR team. Please include in the subject of the email, the following: “Application for the Head of Operations role”.
Please note: we are unable to accept incomplete applications.
Contact information of our HR team are availble on our website, please follow the application link below.
Closing date
11 March 2026 at 12pm (GMT)
Due to the high volume of applications we expect to receive for this role, we may not be able to provide individual feedback. However, we will endeavour to contact all applicants to update them on the outcome of their application.
Interview
Week commencing 16 March 2026
Please note: The interview process usually consists of two online stages, which may include a role‑specific task. Candidates who are successful at the shortlisting stage will be invited to a first online interview. If you progress from there, you’ll be invited to a second‑stage interview, where we may also ask you to complete a task assessment. Interviews are typically conducted by a panel of two to three people, including the hiring manager. We encourage applicants to let us know about any adjustments needed to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible and equitable.
Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
We are dedicated to creating a team that embodies the rich diversity of the society and communities we serve. Our commitment lies in cultivating an inclusive environment, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic circumstances, LGBTQIA+ and individuals with disabilities. We celebrate the unique experiences and perspectives that every candidate brings and are dedicated to ensuring fair and equitable opportunities for all.
We’re committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible for individuals of all needs and abilities. If you require any adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please contact us. Contact information are available on our website, please visit our jobs pages.
Our benefits and wellbeing
At GNDR, we are committed to cultivating a happy and healthy working environment for all our staff. We provide a competitive salary and benefits package across all of our locations. Find out more about our approach to wellbeing and our benefits on our website.
Flexible working
In order to support and encourage a healthy work-life balance for our staff, we are happy to consider flexible working requests as part of our recruitment process. As a global organisation, most staff work remotely depending on their role and location.
If you have any questions on any of the above information or if you have any specific requirements that would enable you to participate more fully in the recruitment process, please contact our recruitment team.
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