Communications and Programmes Officer

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch is looking for a Communications and Programmes Officer to join our small, collaborative London team.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is an independent charitable foundation established in Portugal in 1956. It is one of the largest European foundations, with headquarters in Lisbon and offices in London (the UK Branch) and Paris. The Foundation's mission is to promote the development of individuals and organisations, through art, science, education, and charity, for a more equitable and sustainable society.

The Communications and Programmes Officer will work with colleagues to support the delivery of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch's strategy. This post will help deliver the UK Branch's communications activity and support the UK programme's grant-making and projects.

The UK Branch aims to strengthen arts and civil society ecosystems and emphasises transnational collaboration between Portugal (where the Foundation is headquartered) and the UK. Our grantmaking programme has three focus areas: arts opportunities, NGO capacity-building and climate-health. We fund and support partner organisations working in these areas and directly deliver projects in-line with our programme goals. The UK Branch also collaborates on flagship international initiatives of the Foundation, including the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity and the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts.

The appointed person is likely to spend around 50% of time working on communications projects, and 50% on general programmatic work (including research, events, project management, and administration).

This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with around two years of relevant experience looking to extend their skills and responsibilities and develop professionally.

About you

We do not expect candidates to evidence that they meet every point listed below. Instead, we encourage applications from candidates who meet the majority of the specification and are excited by the role.

• Excellent writing skills for a variety of audiences
• Experience developing content for social media and digital platforms
• Experience using communications software, ideally Mailchimp and WordPress (or equivalent)
• Strong research skills
• Experience managing projects and/or delivering events
• Awareness of, and an interest in, arts, environmental sustainability and the charity sector
• Prior employment in communications and/or a related field (ideally around two years of experience), or experience producing written and other communications in a formal context

What we offer

• Salary of £29,850 to £33,000, depending on the experience of the candidate
• Stakeholder pension scheme, which new employees are eligible to join after a successful probation period, to which the Foundation makes a matched contribution
• Leave entitlement at the rate of 28 days per annum in addition to UK statutory holidays
• Health and dental insurance coverage for all employees
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which includes mental health support services
• A generous budget for employee training
• Hybrid working, with equipment provided by the Foundation to support effective home working

How to apply

Download the full job pack and submit your CV and a cover letter, following the instructions provided, by 23:59 on Sunday 20 September 2026. The postholder must be eligible to work in the UK. 

Equal Opportunities

The Foundation has an equal opportunity policy and implements to make this policy fully effective by ensuring that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability or race. The principle applies to recruitment, pay, terms and conditions of employment and promotion.