Communications Manager, Northern Ireland

The National Lottery Community Fund is recruiting for a Communications Manager, Northern Ireland to play a vital role in the newly restructured communications and engagement function to deliver on our strategy, It Starts With Community.  

The role is part of our ambitious transformation as we implement a significant pivot in our communications approach – building on our support for grant-making to demonstrate the powerful impact communities have in strengthening society and improving lives.

In this role, you’ll deliver integrated communications that bring our missions and the story of National Lottery funding to life. You’ll be the strategic voice behind the campaigns that highlight how communities are creating lasting social change.

You will focus on two key areas - your country, and one of the four core missions - creating powerful alignment between them and helping to showcase the impact of community-led projects across the UK.

You’ll work closely with Strategic Communications Leads and colleagues across the organisation to deliver communications plans that align with our corporate strategy and customer journey. Your work will help shape public understanding of the Fund, build trust with stakeholders, and inspire communities to engage with our funding.

We are looking for a creative and strategic communicator with a passion for storytelling. You’ll be experienced in developing integrated campaigns and working across teams to deliver high-impact communications.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop deep insight into at least one portfolio and mission, to enable you to implement effective communications plans for your mission and portfolio, aligned to the corporate plan, and the Fund’s customer journey, including supporting Strategic Communications Leads to build and manage matrix teams
• Provide communications support to portfolio and mission leads, including creating messaging, narrative and content, social and brand assets, working closely with colleagues in the wider team to deliver effective and impactful communications activities
• Build relationships with journalists and lead on devolved media relations activities in your country, working closely with colleagues in the media team to deliver integrated activities, monitoring media and advising on opportunities and risks. Ensure rapid response to emerging issues with processes and protocol on lines to take and spokespeople, including participating in the out of hours on call rota.
• Liaise with colleagues in funding teams to identify opportunities for storytelling, working with the content manager to bring these to life
• Liaise with internal communications colleagues to ensure external communications generate engagement within the Fund
• Project manage and deliver corporate communications assets, including the annual report and corporate strategy updates.

Interview Date: Monday 28th July - virtual

Location: Belfast, Hybrid

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Track record in planning and delivering integrated communications campaigns, with experience managing matrix teams
• Excellent content and copywriting skills, used to producing assets to tight deadlines. Able to adapt tone and style for different audiences and channels
• Experience in complex institutions, involving colleagues and stakeholders up to leadership level
• A sound understanding of devolution and the impact that has on communications and public affairs requirements.
• Project management skills; confident working in a matrixed organisation with competing deadlines
• Experience of strategic communications counsel and advising senior leaders and stakeholders, particularly in times of reputational risk and crisis management

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification
• Experience in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)