Every breakthrough in dementia research starts as an idea. But ideas only change lives when they are understood, shared and championed.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we are funding over £50 million in pioneering research and supporting more than 400 researchers across the UK. Behind every project is a story. Your role will be to help bring those stories to life in ways that are clear, engaging and accessible.
As a Research Communications Assistant, you will join our Research Communications team within the Research and Innovation department, reporting to the Research Information Manager. You will work across teams to make sure our research is understood, valued and impactful.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in research and communications. If this role interests you but you are unsure you meet every requirement, we would still love to hear from you. We are happy to discuss flexible working and can support adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
What you’ll do
You will play a key role in helping our research reach the right people in the right way. This means not only creating and supporting engaging content, but also helping the team stay organised, connected and forward looking.
You will work closely with colleagues across research, media and engagement, building strong relationships and ensuring our communications are joined up and effective. Some days will be creative, others more operational, but all will contribute to helping people better understand dementia research and why it matters.
You will also help us stay responsive. Whether it is tracking new developments, answering enquiries or preparing for upcoming activity, your work will help the team plan ahead while staying flexible in a fast moving environment.
You can expect to:
- Monitor developments in dementia research and share insights with colleagues
- Turn complex information into clear, engaging content across web, social media, press and events
- Respond to enquiries from internal teams, external partners and media
- Support the planning and delivery of events, including conferences and research talks
- Work with researchers and colleagues to gather quotes, images and other materials
- Prepare briefings, presentations and reports
- Maintain workload trackers and support team planning
- Collaborate across teams to deliver joined up communications and maximise impact
This role may involve occasional travel, including overnight stays, with support provided.
About you
You are organised, curious and motivated by meaningful work. You enjoy making complex ideas easier to understand and working with a wide range of people.
You do not need to meet every point below to apply.
- Strong organisation skills and excellent attention to detail
- Interest in or experience of science, health or policy, with curiosity about dementia research
- Ability to work with a range of stakeholders to deliver shared goals
- Experience in a fast paced environment, ideally in communications, though not essential
- Ability to communicate complex information in clear, accessible ways
You will also bring a collaborative, inclusive mindset and a willingness to learn.
This is an opportunity to help shape how research is shared and understood, and to play a part in improving the lives of people affected by dementia.
Interviews are currently planned to take place during the week commencing 11th May via MS Teams.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.
Programme Lead - Maternity Cover (London and South East)
Salary: £34,237-£36,853 depending on experience, skills and qualifications* (see below for more details on remuneration)
Contract: Temporary position linked to maternity leave cover
About Voice 21
Voice 21 is the national oracy education charity. We exist to empower every child to use their voice for success in school and life. Our work transforms learning and life chances through talk by increasing access to a high-quality oracy education for those that need it most. Follow the links to find out more about why oracy is so vital and the impact Voice 21 has.
Your purpose
To lead professional development and school improvement programmes facilitating the Voice 21 approach in our Voice 21 Oracy Schools by delivering our high impact learning experiences and materials for teachers and school leaders. To be part of the team, designing and reviewing programme content.
Your opportunity
Tackle a vital challenge, with great people. Voice 21 exists to transform children' s learning and life chances through talk and we are currently working with 1100 schools. To reach this goal we recruit great people and give them real responsibility, training and support.
Output focused culture, with flexible working opportunities. We have an agile and flexible approach – our team can work when and wherever works best to deliver the requirements of their role. For staff working at home, we support them to create a workspace and provide technology that enables them to work effectively.
Real development opportunities. We believe in supporting people to develop the skills they need to be excellent – whether this means funding external training, finding a mentor to support them or giving them the time to learn from others in the organisations through our regular CPD sessions. We also offer paid study leave for team members taking part in formal studies outside of work.
Great benefits. 36 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays and Christmas closure period). Holiday entitlement increases linked to length of service, 5% employer contribution to pension, interest-free season ticket, cycle and technology loans, employee assistance scheme.
Remuneration. Our pay is a band and spine point approach where there is up to 7 years progression available (depending on starting point)
Your responsibilities
Quality programme delivery
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Lead high quality professional development and school improvement programmes in our Pathway programmes and Open Learning for groups of teachers. These may be delivered in person, online or in school.
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Deliver transformative consultancy support, working with teachers and school leaders to design and implement bespoke improvement plans for their oracy provision, including through in school and online consultancy support, and one-to-one advice.
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Build credibility and purposeful relationships with programme participants, both at programme days and touchpoints, and on an on-going basis to drive impact in our schools.
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Be responsible for participant learning and experience on your programmes, upholding high standards for all elements such as preparation, adapting to participant needs, content and rigour, on-going interactions and support, and participant feedback.
Learning content & programme development
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Proactively share insights and learning from the programmes you deliver, proposing and shaping solutions to enable Voice 21 to continually improve its programme offer.
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Apply and share expertise through varied outputs such as teaching materials, online learning content, resources, written or video outputs. Proactively identify and respond to opportunities or gaps and fulfil briefs or commissions.
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Contribute to the continual improvement of Voice 21’s programmes, through development and review cycles, based on first-hand learning from our schools, content expertise, programme insights and external research and evidence.
Team and organisational contribution
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Act as an ambassador for Voice 21’s national oracy expertise, communicating the value and impact of our approach at conferences, events and through publications.
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Embody and communicate oracy teaching and learning expertise within the organisation, acting as a resource for the wider team and making contributions to organisational priorities, projects, campaigns and events, outputs and publications etc.
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Continually and proactively develop your own and others’ expertise in Voice 21’s approach to a high quality oracy education, and use this to leverage impact for our schools through tangible learning outputs.
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Identify and carry out other tasks commensurate to the level and spirit of the role as required.
Your experience
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You are an excellent teacher (primary or secondary)
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You are passionate about teaching and learning, and the role of talk in learning. You have used talk to support learning in your classroom.
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You have experience leading whole-school change and inspiring teachers to embrace new approaches and ideas.
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You have a knowledge of a range of speaking and listening techniques and contexts for oracy, these could include: debate, dialogic teaching, storytelling, public speaking or communication and language development.
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You are a strong communicator both when working in a small team and when facilitating learning for large groups of adults.
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You are flexible, can think on your feet and can bring your own experiences to the work we do.
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You are highly-organised, look for solutions and can prioritise and manage a varied workload.
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You are enthusiastic, willing to learn and feel you would be energised by our mission. If you do not fully meet all the above criteria, but are happy to work towards developing into the role, we would be happy to consider your application.
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You are willing to travel nationally on a frequent basis (3 days a week) during term time; this will include regular overnight stays.
Further details
Start date: September 1st 2026
Terms: Temporary, linked to maternity cover and subject to successful probation review.
Contract: This is a full time post
Location: Home-based with frequent national travel, including overnight stays, to work with schools and attend meetings. Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car they can use for work.
Application details
To apply:
Please submit your most recent CV and a document answering the questions below:
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Tell us why you want to work at Voice 21. What is it about us and our mission that excites you? (Max. 400 words)
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Making direct reference to the job description, please tell us the three main reasons why you would make an excellent Programme Lead (Max. 400 words).
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Tell us about something you have achieved recently that you are proud of? (Max 200 words)
Please do not apply for this position if you are not based in this area of the UK
Closing date: Wednesday 22nd April
Interview date: Provisional dates for initial phone interviews week commencing Tuesday 5 May, with second round interviews on Zoom week commencing 11th May.
Questions: If you have any questions before applying for the role, please contact Catherine Pass
Valuing every voice
Voice 21 believes that every voice should be heard and valued. We are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Voice 21.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.