Interim Head of Engagement (mat cover)

Contract length: Temporary  - up to 12 months

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35

Salary:  Circa £60k pa depending on experience and knowledge

Closing date for applications: Sunday 15 June 2025 at midnight, interested applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Interview dates: We will be conducting Teams interviews w/c 23 June, followed by an in person interview for successful candidates w/c 30 June 2025.

Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.  

We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c200 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

We are recruiting a Interim Head of Engagement who will share our compassion and commitment for animal welfare, to provide inspirational leadership and strategic direction to the Engagement team and for staff and volunteers across the charity.

Our Interim Head of Engagement is integral to our ambition to broaden our reach and deepen our impact by shaping and leading the delivery of our engagement strategies and working on integrated campaigns with Fundraising. This is a highly visible and hugely important role for Mayhew, both internally and externally.

There are four key aspects to the role – collaboratively leading the charity as part of our Senior Management Team, development and implementation of all our internal and external engagement (including content and comms architecture), management and development of the Engagement team, and influencing and stakeholder management.

As a Senior Management Team, we feel the urgency of soaring demand for our vital work and feel relentless in our commitment to rise to meet it. We work in a contemporary and flexible way, always supporting one another to take opportunities and to manage competing priorities so we can achieve our objectives. We are looking for someone who is as committed to dogs and cats in need as we are, and who thrives in this working style. We are determined to achieve a collaborative, integrated working approach for the organisation and to move the charity forward at pace.

As a manager, we are looking for an inspiring and engaging coaching approach to the team, focusing on empowerment and development of the team and individuals. Our Head of Engagement must be an experienced and effective communicator who can inspire loyalty, trust and enthusiasm in their team and across the organisation.

Generally, you will:

• Communicate our work, internally and externally, in ways that cultivate a shared understanding about the difference we make - and why it matters now more than ever
• Deliver innovative integrated campaigns across all our channels to convert recognition into active support and build a thriving Mayhew community
• Increase brand awareness and brand attribution including by leading our brand, external communication and press and PR activities
• Embed engagement and collaboration across the organisation, ensuring everyone who works and volunteers for the charity feels engaged in growing our profile, reach and income
• Be a positive, empathetic leader within the organisation, inspiring your team and leading by example.

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:

• A senior marketing and communications role in an organisation of comparable breadth and scope
• Developing and leading delivery of strategies across marketing, content and digital engagement that support organisational priorities
• Stakeholder management across a range of internal and external audiences, including building long term relationships and partnerships
• Being a great networker and ambassador, confident and comfortable inspiring support for the charity
• Successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team

Please note that the successful candidate will be asked for evidence of their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.