WORKING WITH US
The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.
ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY
A rare opportunity to lead communications and brand for one of the UK’s leading education trusts.
As Head of Communications and Brand at the Harris Federation, you will shape and protect our public profile, leading strategic communications, marketing and media activity across a network of 55 academies.
Reporting to the CEO, you will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, driving brand consistency, overseeing high impact campaigns, and leading digital, PR and internal communications to support pupil recruitment, staff attraction and organisational growth. You will also build and lead a high performing MarComms function and manage external agency partnerships.
This is a pivotal leadership role where you’ll bring the Harris story to life - showcasing our impact, strengthening our reputation, and helping us navigate sector challenges with clarity and credibility.
If you are a senior communications leader with a strong track record in brand, digital and stakeholder engagement, and are passionate about making a difference to young people’s futures - we’d love to hear from you.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Your responsibilities will include:
Strategic Leadership & Executive Advisory
- Develop and lead the Federation’s external communications and brand strategy at the highest level, ensuring coherence across all academies and central services.
- Act as an adviser to the CEO and executive team on internal and external communications.
Brand Leadership
- Own and embed the Federation’s brand identity, values, and visual standards across all academies and external channels.
- Own and embed brand guidelines, tone of voice, and messaging across all channels to ensure consistency.
External Campaigns & Growth Marketing
- Create comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that align with the Federations aims and increase brand awareness.
- Own and develop high impact external campaigns to support pupil recruitment, reputation and trust building, staff recruitment (in collaboration with Talent Acquisition), and new academy expansions.
MarComms Directorate Leadership
- Build and lead a high performing Marketing & Communications Directorate.
- Set long-term capability requirements and lead workforce planning as the function scales.
For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media or related field.
- Professional Marketing qualification (CIM or equivalent)
- Evidence of CPD in digital marketing, SEO, or communications.
- Significant experience in marketing, communications, or digital strategy.
- Experience managing brand identity and external communications
- Experience in education, charity or public sector.
- Strong understanding of digital marketing, SEO, Analytics, and social media best practice.
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Strong design awareness and understanding of visual identity.
- Proficiency with CMS platforms, social media tools, and analytics software.
For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.
APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION
If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.
A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.
OUR VISION & VALUES
Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.
We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:
- Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
- Annual performance and loyalty bonus
- Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
- 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
- Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
- Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
- Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
- 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
- Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans
For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you ready for a new challenge?
Do you have a passion for working with young people, helping them grow in confidence, discover their strengths, and explore new opportunities? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
Location
This is a hybrid role, combining work from home with work in the community. You'll also have access to our Barnardo's office in Taunton if you'd like to use this space.
Working Hours
Negotiable, up to 37 hours per week, including some evening work (fixed term until 31st March 2027)
About the Role
The Barnardo's Co-op Partnership is an exciting and innovative programme aiming to support more than one million young people to build positive futures.
Our Sedgemoor for our Future service is co-designed with young people and centred around a welcoming, inclusive youth space where young people can feel safe, connected, and empowered to take part in meaningful experiences.
Using a youth work approach, we support young people to:
- Build positive relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging
- Grow in confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
- Take part in a wide range of activities, including creative, practical, and food-based sessions
- Explore issues that matter to them and have their voices heard
- Develop teamwork, communication, and essential life skills for the future
Session Details
You must be available to lead the following weekly sessions:
- Tuesdays – Highbridge, 4:30pm–6:00pm
- Wednesdays – Bridgwater, 4:30pm–6:00pm
As part of your role, you will plan and deliver engaging, youth-led sessions in a variety of settings, including community venues and schools. You will build trusted relationships with young people, create inclusive spaces that meet diverse needs, and support them to achieve positive outcomes.
You will also contribute to community engagement, develop creative approaches to reaching young people across Sedgemoor, and support ongoing evaluation through reflective practice and outcome recording.
What We're Looking For
- Experience working with children, young people, and families
- Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures, with experience applying this in practice
- Excellent listening and communication skills with a diverse range of children, young people and families
- Creativity and confidence in designing inclusive workshops and group sessions
- Good written and IT skills to accurately record case notes
- Flexibility to adapt to the needs and interests of young people
When applying, please refer specifically to the Person Specification and Job Description, explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Benefits
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)
- Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
- Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
- A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
- Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
- 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
- Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
- Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
- Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's apply based on contract
About Barnardo's
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.