Jobs for the Disability sector

Reports to: Head of Media and PR. 

Direct reports: PR & Media Executive.

Hours: Full time, Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours a week.

Location: Harlow Essex. We offer blended working within this role – with a minimum of two days a week in the office or at key stakeholder meetings externally required.

About the role

This is a pivotal role for an experienced Communications and PR professional to significantly enhance the visibility and understanding of the Motability Foundation's vital work. You will be instrumental in devising and leading our proactive and reactive media work, shaping our narrative, engaging key stakeholders, increasing understanding and ultimately driving greater impact for disabled people across the UK.

This a really exciting time to be joining the Foundation. With our newly launched five-year strategy, our vision is clear - we want to build transport equity for disabled people in the UK so that they can make the journeys they choose. You will manage and lead a programme of work to navigate complex policy landscapes, champion the stories of our beneficiaries, and work to demystify disability and mobility issues for a broad audience.

This role requires a strategic thinker who can not only execute but also advise senior leadership and Trustees on communication best practices and opportunities. The role holder is responsible for continuously developing and leading on all media and PR activities. With a strong news sense, you will help develop and execute forward-thinking PR plans and strategies for the organisation, manage our external profile and raise awareness of the work we do, aligned to our vision, and manage our press office, including building strong relationships with journalists.

If you are a proactive and motivated media and PR individual looking for an exciting new challenge within a friendly, flexible, and supportive team, then this could be the role for you! 

What you will be doing

• Develop and deliver integrated communications and PR strategies that elevate the Foundation's profile and impact.
• Lead proactive media relations, cultivating strong relationships with journalists across national, regional, and specialist media to secure impactful coverage.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on all communications matters, providing expert counsel and crisis communications support.
• Oversee the creation of compelling content across all channels, ensuring consistent messaging and brand voice.
• Alongside colleagues in the digital team, drive digital engagement strategies, leveraging social media and digital platforms to complement press work to reach, engage and amplify diverse audiences.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of PR and communications activities, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Lead all media and press activity. You will manage the day-to-day running of the Motability Foundation press office, providing an efficient service that makes the most of reactive and proactive media opportunities and builds our reputation with the media.
• Scan effectively for breaking news stories relevant to our areas of work, as well as horizon scanning for potential areas of future coverage.
• Working with colleagues in Public Affairs, Policy, Insight and Evaluation and our Transport Solutions Team, take a lead on proactive media activity around our policy, campaigns and research activity.
• Scan for areas of reputational risk and support the Head of Media and PR with preparing for and handling reputational risk.
• Lead on crisis, media enquiries and messaging, implementing the necessary checks and actions to protect the Foundation’s reputation and brand.
• Develop and deliver a briefing and training programme for key spokespeople, developing key messaging and Q&As.
• Manage the press and PR budget.
• Manage the continuous development of our PR & Media Executive using a mixture of external, internal and on the job training.

What will make you great in this role?

You will have a strong track record of securing high profile media coverage, ideally for a national charity dealing in disability, health or social issues. You will have a great news sense and the ability to develop strong relationships with journalists to confidently identify stories and make them work for different media outlets. You will have a flair for writing engaging copy, an eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to meeting deadlines. You can work at pace where needed and identify priorities and manage multiple projects. You will be used to briefing and supporting spokespeople to do media interviews and speaking opportunities.

You will be proactive and a strong team player as this role will need to work closely with colleagues across the communications team and wider organisation. You will be able to take the lead in some areas and lend a hand in others. You will have great people skills and will be comfortable working with people from all walks of life, from your communications colleagues to our case studies to Directors and Board Members.

Your experience

• Proven track record of success in a dedicated PR role, ideally within a charity, public sector, or purpose-driven organisation.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and executing successful media relations strategies, securing high-profile coverage.
• Expertise in crisis communications and issues management, with the ability to respond effectively under pressure.
• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape and established relationships with key journalists.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding in managing and optimising digital communication channels, including social media strategy and content.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple projects, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with or for disabled people's organisations or charities.
• Understanding of public affairs or policy influencing.
• Experience partnering with and managing external agencies or consultants.
• Experience of line management.

Online Community Coordinator

REQ004573

Permanent, part time (28 hours a week, will include some evenings and weekends)

£26,225. a year full time equivalent) £20,980.00 a year pro rata

Remote worker - ideally based near one of office locations (Cardiff, Leeds, London or Manchester) but the role will primarily involve working at home.

1 in 4 of us in the UK are disabled and we are a diverse, proud, and vibrant community. We’re here to create an equal future with all disabled people. We campaign to transform attitudes to disability, tackle injustice and inspire action. We are creating a powerful movement of disabled people, allies, organisations and businesses.

Together we will be unstoppable.

Help make our online community a safe and supportive place by moderating forum discussions, connecting users, facilitating conversations, producing content, leading community programs and supporting our volunteers.

Permanent, part time (28 hours a week, will include some evenings and weekends)

Location: Ideally based near one of office locations (Cardiff, Leeds, London or Manchester) but the role will primarily involve working at home.

The Role

You will form a key part of the wider online community team by:

· Moderating discussions

· Welcoming, engaging and supporting members

· Signposting members to useful resources

· Sourcing and creating new conversations and content

· Recruiting, training, managing and supporting volunteers

· Leading community programs and projects

· Escalating safeguarding concerns

For more information about the role’s responsibilities and the skills and experience required, please visit our website.

Please include examples in your application that show how your skills, experience, and values match the person specification in the job description.

About You

You will have:

· Broad experience of forum or social media communities

· High level of computer literacy

· Direct experience of the barriers that society creates for disabled people

· The importance of Plain English

· Experience of creating different forms of content

· Experience of supporting and growing a community project

· Excellent written English

· Excellent reading comprehension

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of disability and from all backgrounds.

We also ask you to share how you support Scope’s values and contribute to our goal of creating a fair and equal future for disabled people.

Our values are being pioneering, courageous, connected, open and fair

By living our values and trusting each other, we give our colleagues freedom and space to be creative, push boundaries and change minds.

Disabled candidates

We are a disability equality charity and encourage applications from disabled people. We are dedicated to creating a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve. If you are disabled, have the skills, and or the experience to do the job, then we would love to meet you for an interview. Just let us know in your application that you are applying under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. We want to seize every opportunity to build a truly diverse and inclusive workplace.

We work hard to ensure that we are making exciting opportunities available to all, and everyone feels valued, heard and respected so that we continue to build a high performance, high engagement culture.

Scope benefits

We believe hard work deserves reward and recognition. We offer a wide range of benefits including:

· 35 days annual leave in Retail

· 27 days plus Bank Holidays in other roles

· flexible working (where we can)

· company pension

· excellent training and career development

· strong colleague networks across disability, race and LGBTQ+

· discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme and much more.

How to apply

Click the apply button to create an account and complete your application form.

Are you a self-starting and strategic PR professional who has delivered ambitious media campaigns from scratch? Are you able to spot external opportunities and guide organisational narratives?

Mencap is looking for a Senior Media Manager to join our Media team on a full time (37.5 hours per week) fixed term basis (until end January 2027) 

We are challenging the way the UK understands learning disability and are paving the way for even more impactful change to the way learning disability is portrayed in the media.

Do you have the skills and experience to be a Senior Media Manager? 

*This is not an exhaustive list of the role and its requirements, please look at the full job description for further information. 

This vacancy closes on Tuesday 9th December, with interviews to be held soon after.

Here at Mencap we operate a blinded recruitment process for a lot of our roles, please ensure you apply with a full application and covering statement. 

• You will have experience of leading national media campaigns, from design to delivery, preferably to influence policy change

• You will be able to turn complex issues and information into campaign ideas, stories and media materials

• You will be an outstanding communicator    

• You will have good judgement when it comes to managing reputation and be great at spotting opportunities to enhance understanding of a brand

• You will be able to work constructively at a senior level with colleagues across the organisation, as well as external stakeholders

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings. For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in. At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere. · Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation. · Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes · Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Are you a dynamic and creative PR professional with experience working in a fast-paced press office? Do you have experience of using media to campaign for change? Are you confident with spotting a great story and delivering high-impact PR campaigns across a range of media? If yes, then keep reading!

Mencap is looking for a Senior Media Officer to join our Media team on a full time (37.5 hours per week) fixed term basis (until end March 2027)

We are challenging the way the UK understands learning disability and are paving the way for even more impactful change to the way learning disability is portrayed in the media.

Do you have the skills and experience to be a Senior Media Officer?

*This is not an exhaustive list of the role and its requirements, please look at the full job description for further information. 

This vacancy closes on Monday 8th December, with interviews to be held soon after.

Here at Mencap we operate a blinded recruitment process for a lot of our roles, please ensure you apply with a full application and covering statement. 

• You will have experience of working in a busy national press office
• You will have outstanding communication skills
• You will have worked on campaigning issues
• You will work well with different stakeholders and have experience of advising others on media opportunities and sensitivities

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings. For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in. At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere. · Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation. · Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes · Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.