Senior policy and public affairs manager jobs

Head of Communications & Influencing (Maternity Cover)

Salary: circa £60,000

London / Birmingham - hybrid  (primarily homebased with some travel to London, Birmingham and external meetings)

12month fixed term contract

Closing date: 7th April 2026

We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Communications & Influencing to lead our high impact PR, media and influencing work during a period of maternity cover.

As our Head of Communications & Influencing, you’ll drive national media coverage for National Debtline and Business Debtline, act as a senior spokesperson, and lead campaigns that shape policy and support people in financial difficulty.

You’ll oversee our communications, public affairs and policy activity line managing a talented team and contributing to organisational strategy.

About us

We’re a national charity working to prevent financial difficulty and remove problem debt from people’s lives. Through our frontline debt advice services, National Debtline and Business Debtline, plus our campaigns, research and policy work, we support hundreds of thousands of people each year.

What you’ll do

This is a wide ranging and influential leadership role where you will:

Lead our external communications strategy

· Shape impactful PR and media campaigns that boost awareness of our services

· Act as a senior media spokesperson, including on TV and radio

· Drive high impact consumer facing media coverage

· Oversee a proactive press office and strengthen relationships with key journalists

Drive our influencing and policy agenda

· Lead our influencing strategy and high profile campaigns

· Oversee policy development and public affairs engagement

· Represent the Trust at senior external meetings, including with politicians, regulators and partners

· Ensure the voices of people in debt sit at the heart of our campaigns

Lead and inspire

· Manage and develop a talented team of communications and policy professionals

· Contribute to our wider organisational strategy as part of the Leadership Group

· Foster a creative, collaborative and forward-thinking department

About you

You’ll bring:

· Significant experience in communications, PR and/or influencing

· An ability to think strategically to develop and deliver effective communications, stakeholder engagement and influencing activity

· A track record of leading impactful campaigns and securing high profile media coverage

· Strong public affairs and policy skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders

· Excellent leadership abilities and a passion for developing people

· Confidence acting as a media spokesperson

· A passion for making a difference to people facing debt and financial difficulty

Why this role matters

Financial difficulty can affect anyone. The work you lead will raise awareness of vital national services, influence policy change, and help create a more supportive system for people in, or at risk of, problem debt.

We believe in taking care of our people, and we offer a great range of benefits, including:

· 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays

· A contributory pension scheme

· Flexible hybrid working arrangement

· Generous Life Insurance

· Wellbeing days to support your mental health

· A healthcare cashback scheme

· Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

· Enhanced maternity pay

· Working outside the UK (up to 30 days per 12-month period)

Ready to make a difference?

We’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us drive real change for people facing financial challenges across the UK.

*Please note that the contract may end earlier (with suitable notice provided) if the substantive post‑holder returns sooner than expected

We are looking for talented individuals and therefore, we value authentic applications and prefer to see your own words and experiences reflected in your application. Please refrain from using AI-generated content, as we want to understand your genuine interest in this role and your own unique perspective.

If you need any adjustments to help you perform at your best during the recruitment process, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to discuss them with you.

We reserve the right to close the role early should we receive high numbers of applications. To avoid disappointment, please apply as soon as possible.   

We will only use the data you supply to us in CVs or application forms for recruitment purposes. This data will be held for twelve months. For further information please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applicants, available on the vacancies page of our website. 

We take diversity seriously and are committed to making diversity and inclusion a part of everything we do. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Our vision, underpinned by our values, be balanced, be supportive, be innovative, is to be a place where everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and to make us an employer of choice. 

We are committed to working in an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We use a blind recruitment system which hides your personal details such as name, address, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, educational institution to ensure all candidates are on a level playing field. Personal details will only be revealed once the application has been shortlisted. 

This is an exceptional opportunity at one of the world's most prestigious universities at a time of extraordinary ambition and philanthropic momentum. 

Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts
Employer: University of Oxford
Salary: £65,336 - £82,255 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record
Location: Oxford (Hybrid)

Here at the University of Oxford, we are recruiting three Associate Directors of Development – Principal Gifts to join our incredible team. These are new positions, part of an expansion of our friendly, collaborative and successful Principal Gifts team.

As Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts, you will operate at the highest levels of the University to secure transformational gifts at the eight-figure-plus level, advancing Oxford’s mission and global impact.  Your work will help ensure that Oxford continues to attract the brightest minds, pursue world-leading research, and address the most urgent challenges facing humanity.

You will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, Director of Development – Principal Gifts, and other senior leaders to align principal gift opportunities with institutional priorities and articulate a compelling case for support to some of the world’s most significant philanthropists.

Your impact will be enduring – enabling breakthrough discoveries, expanding opportunity for students, and strengthening Oxford’s position as a global leader in education and research.  The Associate Director of Development role offers the chance not only to secure transformational gifts, but also to shape the future of Oxford’s philanthropic culture and leave a legacy at an institution that has been changing the world for over nine centuries.

This is a chance to join a dedicated, professional and ambitious team at a time when Oxford’s fundraising is at unprecedented levels. With strong support from the Vice-Chancellor, a proven track record of principal gift success, and an unparalleled global reputation, you will have every opportunity to make your mark, both at Oxford and in your career.

You will be passionate about what we do here, not phased by complexity and ambiguity, and comfortable orchestrating a myriad of stakeholders.  We hope to hear from you!

The University of Oxford is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

Closing date: midnight on Monday, 6 April 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Diversity and Inclusivity

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

No agencies please

Job title: Head of Global Development, Asia
Employer: Imperial College London
Salary: £69,365 to £79,257 per annum
Location: White City, London W12 (Hybrid)

About the role:

Here at Imperial College, we are recruiting a Head of Global Development, Asia to join our brilliant team. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Development: Principal Gifts and Global, this is a new position which will help deliver our first university-wide fundraising and alumni engagement campaign.

What you will be doing:

As Head of Global Development, Asia, you will lead our development efforts across Asia, helping to shape and deliver the College’s philanthropic strategy in the region. The role will be central to cultivating major philanthropic relationships, supporting regional engagement for Imperial’s President and senior representatives, and contributing to the wider success of our global campaign.

What we are looking for:

This position is an opportunity for either an experienced fundraiser or an individual with business or relationship development experience in the region. The role will require diplomacy, strategic insight, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex global institution. Experience working across Asia would be advantageous.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead our engagement with high-net-worth individuals and stakeholders across Asia – one of the most exciting regions for philanthropic fundraising - connecting them to Imperial’s world-leading research and innovation ecosystem.  We hope to hear from you!

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 39 days’ annual leave and generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial.

Our culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination and creating an inclusive working environment. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity and innovation.

Further Information

This is one of two exceptional opportunities to join our dynamic team. As we continue to expand our international presence, we are recruiting for the following role:

• Head of Principal Gifts

Each of these roles offers a unique opportunity to shape our strategic direction and build impactful partnerships.

Closing date: Midnight on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Imperial is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

No agencies please.