Communications director jobs

Chair of the Education Committee
£3,000 pa honorarium, plus expenses
Part-time, 3 meetings per year plus 4 Governing Board meetings
Hybrid working with occasional travel to London

 
We’re seeking an experienced, visionary leader to chair our Education Committee, guiding a passionate professional community and shaping the impact of acupuncture education.

This is a unique opportunity to foster collaboration, and champion the educational aims of an influential complementary health profession recognised by the WHO. We are looking for someone who values the profession, understands its potential, and is committed to supporting its educational development and visibility.

To ensure an independent perspective informed by broader sector insight (across higher education and health), this role is open to senior education leaders from other UK healthcare professions outside acupuncture.

What you’ll do

· Support the development of the educational strategy and decision-making that ensures the committee’s work is both forward-looking and fit-for-purpose.

· Lead and chair meetings effectively, balancing strong voices and diverse perspectives.

· Uphold the principles of Public life (NOLAN principles)  build collaboration and trust across committee members, staff leading on education, and external stakeholders.

· Bring an external perspective to shape the committee’s work, policies, and outputs so they are credible, impactful, and positively perceived by external audiences (e.g., public, students, other professions).

· Navigate the balance between autonomy in your committee’s work and alignment with the wider membership body’s vision, working closely with the Governing Board, CEO, and Deputy CEO/Education Manager.

· Working with the Chair of the Accreditation committee, support the accreditation and activity of the BAcC.

What the committee does

· Ensure excellence in acupuncture education within the UK and influence acupuncture’s educational standards globally​.

· Encourage institutional self-improvement by valuing diversity, creativity and innovation​.

· Promote the standards of education and with these curricula standards, celebrate the unique and diverse traditions of the profession.

Who we’re looking for

Someone with significant senior leadership experience in UK healthcare higher education, from a profession other than acupuncture, with a strong understanding of professional education, governance, and academic standards.

You will have:

· a collaborative, inclusive style and excellent facilitation skills

· the ability to manage vocal and engaged members effectively while maintaining focus on outcomes

· strategic thinking with the ability to bring external insight to influence committee outputs and alignment with wider organisational goals

· the capacity to balance independent judgment and delegated authority alongside understanding education’s role within the organisational vision and priorities

· a passion for supporting and championing acupuncture education and standards while offering an independent perspective informed by broader sector insight

Time commitment:

· 3 meetings per year plus 4 Governing Board meetings

· Regular touchpoints with Chair of the Governing Board, Chair of Accreditation Committee, CEO and Education manager.

· Undertake preparatory work in advance of meetings.

If you are interested in this role and would like to discuss it informally before applying, contact details can be found via the application link.

Closing date: 12pm on Monday 20 October.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 29 October via MS Teams.

About us

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect planet and people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

What you’ll do

Since 2019, we have been building a cross-cutting thematic programme using our investor accountability, corporate engagement and public policy toolkit to build a movement to harness the power of the investment system to address commercial determinants of health.

In 2022, we launched Long-term Investors in People’s Health (LIPH), a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy. It is one of ShareAction’s largest programmes. Since the launch of LIPH, we have run high-profile campaigns to get large food manufacturers and retailers to improve their health disclosures and sell healthier products via our Healthy Markets Initiative (HMI); recently set up a Clean Air Initiative (CAI); mobilised investors to engage with corporates, the UK government, and standard-setting bodies on issues such as clean air and sick leave policies; and partnered with academics to grow the evidence base on the financial materiality of health. We have ambitious plans to take this work forward and are looking for a new Head of the team to help us do so.

In this role, you will:

• Oversee and contribute to the successful implementation of ShareAction’s strategy to tackle poor health via its LIPH programme, a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy.
• Lead and motivate a team of 10 staff members and directly line manage at least three of them.
• Ensure adequate risk management and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) processes are in place.
• Together with the Fundraising team and Co-Director of Corporate Engagement, be responsible for securing funding for the LIPH programme, including writing funding bids, supporting with relationship management, supporting the coordination of our Funders’ Governance Group, and helping produce update reports.
• Plan, manage and report on budget for the LIPH programme, delegating workstream and campaign budgets where there are appropriate leads.
• Develop and nurture strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders, including funders, journalists, investors, and civil society organisations.
• Act as one of ShareAction’s subject matter experts on commercial determinants of health, keeping your knowledge up to date with developments across academia, civil society, and public policy.
• Act as a media spokesperson for the team and represent it in internal and external forums.
• Work with peers at the “Head of” level to play a leadership role across ShareAction.

What you’ll bring to the team

Essential

• Passionate about harnessing the power of the financial system to address poor health across the commercial determinants of health.
• Excellent organisation and project management skills, with demonstrable experience leading ambitious programmes of work.
• Great team player with experience of building, managing and leading a high-performing team based on mutual trust, respect and inclusion and providing mentoring support to more junior members of staff.
• A strategic mindset.
• Comfortable with working autonomously, setting priorities, managing workload and driving delivery against objectives for yourself and your team.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to flex style according to your audience.
• Experience building relationships at a senior level with stakeholders across the private and public sectors, with the ability to understand a range of perspectives and to influence with respect and diplomacy.
• Either a strong professional knowledge and understanding of the commercial determinants of health and/or of responsible investment.

Desirable

• Substantial experience leading and/or feeding into an advocacy campaign.
• Previous experience securing philanthropic funding for programmes of work.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Experience speaking directly to the media and representing an organisational position.
• Proficiency with common office software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Cascade, and Salesforce.

If this role sounds like something that would build on your current skill set and engage you, we’d love to hear from you!

ShareAction is currently developing its strategy for the next five years, so it might be that we need to make a few tweaks to your list of responsibilities.

We have a formal hybrid working policy in place. As Head of the team, we expect that you will work from the office at least every Tuesday if you are based in London and at least two Tuesdays a month if you are based outside of London. The team holds its weekly meetings on Tuesday morning.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide an environment for our colleagues to thrive.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place, well above the average for UK workplaces.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension invested with NEST, who make a range of options available.
• A healthcare cash plan that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and a cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9am on 20 October 2025.
First-round interviews: 28, 29 & 30 October 2025.
Second-round interviews: 10 & 11 November 2025. An informal meet with the team will follow.

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and families affected by domestic abuse?
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced leader to manage our Child and Family Domestic Abuse Support Services across Southend and Essex.

In this vital role, you will lead a dedicated team delivering trauma-informed support to children, young people, and families impacted by domestic abuse, promoting their safety, resilience and recovery. You’ll play a key role in service development, multi-agency partnership working, and ensuring high-quality, impactful service delivery.

About the Role

• Lead and manage the delivery of child and family domestic abuse services.

• Supervise and support a skilled team of practitioners.

• Ensure services meet safeguarding and quality standards.

• Collaborate with external partners and represent the organisation at strategic forums.

• Monitor outcomes, report on impact, and contribute to future service development.

About You

We’re seeking someone with:

• Proven experience of managing services within domestic abuse, safeguarding, or children and family settings.

• A strong understanding of the effects of domestic abuse on children and families.

• Excellent leadership, organisational and interpersonal skills.

• Confidence working within a multi-agency framework.

• A relevant professional qualification (e.g., social work, youth work, or equivalent) is desirable.

What We Offer

• A supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

• Opportunities for ongoing professional development.

• The chance to make a real impact in the lives of vulnerable families.

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Due to the nature of the role, this vacancy is open to women only.

Occupational requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies

�� Closing date: Monday 3rd November 2025

*Please note, this opportunity is a Fixed-Term contract (14 Months)*

We are looking for a collaborative and strategically minded Finance Business Partner to join our finance team and support the delivery of our charitable mission.

This role will be integral in ensuring that financial resources are used effectively and transparently to maximise our social impact. You will partner with operational teams, programme delivery teams and senior management to provide insightful analysis, robust financial planning, and evidence-based recommendations that drive informed decision-making across the organisation.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 17th October 2025
Interview date(s): w/c 27th October 2025

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Description:

Job Purpose:
Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. 

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.

Key Responsibility Areas:
1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.
3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Purpose:

The Family Advocate will provide trauma-informed specialist support to women in the community and in prison who are at risk of losing custody of their children/have already experienced child removal. This role will also upskill colleagues, and work with Children’s Social Care teams to improve the response to women impacted by the criminal justice system.

Key Responsibility Areas 

1.      Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive support to women in contact with the criminal justice system, who are at risk of experiencing/have experienced child removal. 

2.      Provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including upskilling through information and training sessions on Children’s Social Care and family court processes, and increase Children's Social Care teams' knowledge and understanding on women in the criminal justice system.   

3.      Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as Children’s Social Care, probation, prison, to ensure a collaborative approach to women’s needs. 

4.      Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies.

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Purpose:

Women in Prison’s Project Workers deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women in the community of Greater Manchester.

Key Responsibility Areas:

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive support to women in contact with, or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies.
3. Develop and maintain effective partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector services to ensure coordinated, multi-agency support for women.
4. Contribute to organisational development and personal growth through innovation, self-care, and professional learning.

​For the full job description, please download the recruitment pack.