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At Kids, we believe in creating a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities. We are looking for an experienced and influential communications leader to join our team as Head of Communications and External Affairs.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and elevate the profile of a national charity, leading our communications, media relations, public affairs, policy influencing and youth voice activity. You'll play a key role in ensuring that Kids is recognised as a trusted and influential voice on disability and SEND issues, while helping to drive engagement with families, supporters, partners and decision-makers.

Head of Communications and External Affairs

Salary: £50,000 per annum
Hours: 36 hours per week
Location: Home-based (UK) with travel across the UK as required

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Advocacy, you will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning communications, policy and influencing, and youth voice. You will be responsible for developing and delivering an integrated communications and external affairs strategy that strengthens Kids' reputation, amplifies our impact and supports the achievement of our organisational goals.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of Kids' communications and external affairs strategy.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government stakeholders, decision-makers, media and sector partners.
• Ensure Kids is recognised as a leading voice on children's disability and SEND issues.
• Advise senior leaders on reputation management, external communications and emerging risks.
• Drive brand awareness, profile and engagement through compelling campaigns, media activity and digital communications.
• Oversee content creation across multiple channels, including website, social media, email marketing, campaigns and publications.
• Lead the organisation's approach to youth voice positioning and engagement.
• Manage media enquiries, crisis communications and spokesperson preparation.
• Work closely with fundraising and operational teams to deliver integrated campaigns and supporter engagement activity.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team while managing budgets and external suppliers.

About you

We're looking for a strategic and innovative communications professional who can combine big-picture thinking with hands-on delivery.

You will have:

• Significant experience leading multi-channel communications within a charity or values-driven organisation.
• Experience translating policy and influencing priorities into engaging public-facing messages.
• A strong understanding of the political and public affairs landscape.
• Expertise in digital communications, brand management and storytelling.
• A proven track record of securing impactful media coverage and building relationships with journalists.
• Experience managing sensitive, high-profile or crisis communications.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing and motivating teams.
• The ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders with confidence and credibility.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Experience of working with beneficiaries or communities, fundraising communications, safeguarding and ethical storytelling, or within the charity sector would be advantageous.

Working for Kids

This is a UK-based remote role. The successful candidate must be based in the UK and undertake their work from within the UK throughout their employment. Regular travel within the UK will be required for meetings, events and other activities.

Kids has office locations in London, Sutton Coldfield and Hull. While there is no fixed office attendance requirement, you'll be expected to spend time with colleagues and partners in person, helping to role-model our values and strengthen relationships across the organisation.

Recruitment Process

• First-stage interviews (online): Week commencing 23rd November
• Second-stage interviews (in person): Week commencing 30th November

If you're passionate about using communications, media and influencing to create positive change for disabled children, young people and their families, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities.

Safeguarding: Kids is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Appointment will be subject to the safer recruitment checks and training required for the role.

For full details about the role, responsibilities and person specification, please refer to the Job Description.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to submit their application as soon as possible.