Digital Communications and Marketing Officer

Tell the stories that change how Newham sees its communities

Every day at the Renewal Programme, people rebuild their lives. A refugee finds her feet. A carer gets the support he’s been missing. Someone who was homeless gets the keys to a room of their own. We want the world to hear these stories, and we’re looking for someone to help tell them.

This is a new, hands-on role at a key moment for us. We’ve just reviewed our communications and are moving to a blended model, working with a specialist external agency on strategy, PR, social media and individual giving. You’ll be our in-house communications lead. You’ll be the agency’s day-to-day contact, the keeper of our brand and voice, and the person who makes sure everything we put out reflects the real work happening on our frontline.

It’s a role with real autonomy. You’ll make day-to-day decisions about content, timing and channels yourself, with support and senior oversight from our Director of Operations.

What you’ll be doing

• Finding and telling our stories: gathering case studies, photos and short videos from across our services, then turning them into engaging content for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and beyond
• Working with our agency partner: briefing them, giving them the stories and insight they need, reviewing their work before it goes live and helping track how well the partnership is delivering
• Looking after our brand: making sure our new strapline, messaging and visual identity are used consistently everywhere, and that the templates and assets the agency creates stay with us
• Creating across channels: producing our monthly newsletter, keeping the website up to date, and designing posters, flyers and display boards
• Connecting the organisation: building relationships with colleagues in every team, keeping everyone informed through internal comms, and supporting fundraising campaigns, funder reports and media enquiries
• Telling stories ethically: making sure everyone featured has given informed consent and is protected, especially people whose immigration status or personal circumstances could put them at risk
• Measuring what works: tracking performance across our channels and reporting results and recommendations

About you

You’re a confident communicator with a gift for visual storytelling. You’ve worked in communications, marketing or digital, and you’re comfortable planning and delivering content across several channels without needing someone looking over your shoulder. You write well and can change your tone for different audiences. You design with confidence in Canva, can shoot and edit short-form video, and have updated websites using a CMS.

You’re organised, you take the initiative, and you know when to make a call yourself and when to escalate. You enjoy working with people at every level and you care about representing people with dignity.

It’s a bonus if you have experience in the charity sector, know Newham, speak a community language, or have used Mailchimp or worked with agencies or freelancers. Please don’t worry if you don’t tick every box. If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Renewal Programme

For more than 50 years, we’ve stood alongside people in Newham facing multiple challenges, including carers, migrants and refugees with no recourse to public funds, people experiencing homelessness or poverty, and those with limited English. Through advocacy, education, temporary accommodation and a wide range of positive activities, we support over 3,000 people every year.

Our vision is of vibrant, integrated Newham communities where everyone has access to suitable jobs, homes, health and education. Our values guide everything we do: Dignity, Inclusion, Collaboration and Empowerment.

What we offer

• A small, friendly and supportive team
• 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, plus an extra wellbeing day (pro rata)
• Plenty of training and development opportunities
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Work that makes a visible difference in your local community

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and value the lived experience and cultural understanding they bring.

How to apply

Send us your CV and a cover letter. Your letter should show how you meet each point in the person specification (see the attached job description). We can’t consider applications without a cover letter.

We will be interviewing on a rolling basis and may close the advert early if we appoint, so we encourage you to apply soon.

Selection will involve shortlisting against the person specification, followed by a competency-based interview and a work-based task. Offers depend on satisfactory references (including one from your current or most recent employer) and a DBS check.