We believe that change for people affected by ME won't just happen; it must be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.
As Communications Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, impactful communications that advance Action for ME’s work, improve understanding and recognition of ME and support fundraising efforts
The Communications Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the communications strategy, leading a team of two other communications staff. You will work closely with colleagues across the fundraising, policy, research and services departments, delivering clear and compelling storytelling, and maximising visibility across media, digital platforms and key stakeholder networks.
Key duties
Leadership and Management
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Work to ensure that people with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of communications and marketing.
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Contribute to the development of, and then lead implementation of, the Communications Strategy, ensuring the appropriate involvement of key stakeholders, scoping, evaluating, and improving our practice.
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Maintain a data-insight led approach to the communications work providing regular management information and key performance indicator reports.
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Work as a member of the Extended Leadership Team.
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Line manage Communications Team members, supporting them to set and achieve performance objectives through regular one-to-ones and 12-monthly appraisals.
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Be responsible for Communications budget and the relationship with services providers required for the production of the charity’s digital and printed information and support resources.
Communications and Marketing
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Raise the profile of the impact of ME, and of Action for ME and its work, to enable the organisation to reach more people and better support need, by establishing a regular cadence of appropriate but innovative product across all main social media channels.
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Ensure fundraising is supported by embedding clear calls to action around donations and membership growth as a matter of course.
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Under the direction of the Director of Fundraising, develop all website, press and social media content for charity appeals.
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Market the charity’s Support and Healthcare services, including key digital and printed information and support resources, to the ME community and the professionals working with them, working closely with respective service leads.
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Contribute to income generation by working closely with the Director of Fundraising to develop the communication and marketing materials needed to implement the organisation’s Fundraising Strategy.
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Coordinate the charity’s response to any crisis communications, including developing appropriate crisis management plans and working outside of office hours as required.
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Establish effective systems/processes for gathering, supporting, maintaining, and managing case studies for a range of purposes (including press and media opportunities, public affairs and policy work, and fundraising).
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Draft and issue press releases and media statements and ensure appropriate follow-up by telephoning journalists, contacting picture desks etc. as appropriate.
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Alongside the CEO and any commissioned agency, develop relationships with key press, media and communications stakeholders to enhance the charity’s work.
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Oversee the production of the annual report, on budget, to schedule, taking overall editorial responsibility for content.
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Oversee the ongoing development of our digital engagement including our website and social media and being the point of contact on website issues.
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Fulfil the role of brand gateway keeper, ensuring all digital and printed communications, including information and support resources, adhere to brand guidelines, house style and organisational tone.
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Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and oversight of how ME and related key issues (e.g. Long Covid) are discussed in the media and wider ME community.
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Build networks to enhance the charity’s strategic communications and marketing work.
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Build and maintain an effective social media monitoring regime, ensuring fit for purpose rules of engagement are in place and applied consistently.
Other Key Accountabilities
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Ensure that all relevant service standards are met including compliance with best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal standards.
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Ensure best value in all our work.
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Undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required, from time-to-time, at the discretion of your line manager.
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On occasions, provide management support and cover within the organisation, as needed.
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Act as an advocate for the charity and its work.
Person specification
Experience, Knowledge and Understanding
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A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a communications management role
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Experience of developing integrated, insight and audience-led communications plans including social media
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Experience of website and brand management
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Experience of delivering successful campaigns
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Experience of engaging with press and/or media including writing press releases and media briefings
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Experience of working collaboratively with different teams/departments
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Experience of working in charity communications (desirable)
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An understanding of ME and the impact on people affected by it (desirable)
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Experience of integrating fundraising with communications (desirable)
Skills, Behaviours and Values
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Adaptable and highly organised with an ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload, use your own initiative, work independently, and work well in a team.
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Strong MS Office skills including the ability to use Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Member Relationship Manager
Location: Home or hybrid option
Hours: 4 or 5 days a week
Salary: £36,791 (full time equivalent)
Accountable to: Head of Strategic Communications
Responsible for: Membership Officer X1
DBS Eligibility: Basic DBS check
Closing Date: 28th June 2026
Interview Date: 7th July
About the role
Join a charity that’s passionate about safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. If you want your work to have a real-world impact, this is the role for you.
What You’ll Do:
You'll head up our Membership team, responsible for new and existing members. This is a front-line role where you’ll:
- Grow and develop membership by identifying, engaging and converting new member organisations, building a strong pipeline of opportunities and increasing membership income.
- Manage and strengthen member relationships to maximise engagement, retention and progression across Thirtyone:eight's tiered membership offering.
- Lead membership operations and performance through effective use of CRM data, reporting, budgeting, process improvement and line management of the Membership Officer.
- Champion the membership proposition by collaborating with internal teams, developing strategic partnerships and representing Thirtyone:eight at events, conferences and networking opportunities.
This role offers an exciting opportunity to combine relationship management, business development and strategic leadership to grow Thirtyone:eight’s membership community, strengthen engagement across churches and Christian organisations, and support the charity’s mission of creating safer environments for vulnerable people.
Why You’ll Love Working Here:
- Purpose-driven work: Everything you do helps protect children and vulnerable adults.
- Flexible working options: Balance your life and work with hybrid arrangements.
- Professional growth: Opportunities to learn, innovate, and lead.
- Supportive culture: Join a friendly, collaborative team that values your ideas.
If you enjoy delivering excellent customer service, handling detailed processes, and contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Main Responsibilities
1. Lead the active recruitment of new members with a particular focus on decision-makers and leaders.
2. Build, manage and progress a membership pipeline, using proactive activity, referrals, events, partner networks and existing organisational data.
3. Use Thirtyone:eight’s membership database to identify prospective organisations, map trends and growth opportunities aligned with our tiered membership model.
4. Initiate and lead conversations with prospective members, articulating the value of membership clearly and confidently, responding to questions and handling objections appropriately.
5. Manage relationships with existing member organisations, ensuring they understand and experience the value of their membership.
6. Identify opportunities to grow value within existing accounts, including movement between membership tiers or increased engagement with services.
7. Work with the Head of Membership and Finance & Business Manager to develop systems and processes that support effective relationship management and growth.
8. Contribute to the ongoing review and development of Thirtyone:eight’s membership offer, ensuring it remains relevant, clearly articulated and aligned with member need.
9. Collaborate with internal teams to ensure a joined-up member journey from first contact through to ongoing engagement.
10. Ensure staff and volunteers across the organisation are well equipped and confident to promote the benefits of membership.
11. Represent Thirtyone:eight, its Christian ethos and safeguarding mission at external events, exhibitions, networks and conferences.
Specific Responsibilities
- Line manage the Membership Officer, providing supervision, support and clear objectives aligned to recruitment and relationship management priorities.
- Work with the Membership Officer to embed an effective membership account management structure that develops member relationships at the appropriate level with key clients.
- Work closely with the Communications Manager to shape and deliver member communications that support recruitment, retention and progression across membership tiers.
- Produce regular, insightful reporting on member recruitment,retention and churn, pipeline health and activity, and performance against agreed targets.
- Ensure staff and volunteers across the organisation are properly equipped to promote the benefits of membership.
- Work collaboratively as part of Thirtyone:eight’s management team to support the delivery of the organisation’s strategic objectives.
- Identify and develop opportunities to work with partners and networks that can support membership growth and visibility.
- With the head of department and finance team to set the annual membership budget and ensure all spend is within budget, appropriately accounted for, and that maximum return on investment is achieved.
Person Specification
A) Essential Personal Characteristics and Qualities:
- Humility - Having a modest view of your own importance.
- Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
- Openness - Acceptance of, or receptiveness to change or new ideas.
- Collaborative - Involving two or more parties working together.
- Solution-focused - Concentration in problem solving or dealing with a difficult situation.
- Learning - Knowledge acquired through study, experience, or being taught.
- Creative - Having good imagination, thinking differently, or having original ideas.
- Fair - Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination.
- Committed - Dedicated to a certain course, cause or policy.
- Passionate - Having or showing strong feelings or beliefs.
B) Essential Experience:
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Sales and marketing experience with good relationship/account management experience.
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Experience of using a CRM system to manage and analyses data and record activities. (Knowledge of MS Dynamics desirable).
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Relevant experience of managing and developing relationships with churches, Christian faith-based organisations, or charities, to increase engagement.
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Experience in developing and embedding of processes and procedures to ensure high levels of customer service are monitored and maintained across an organisation.
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Experience of line managing a team of staff and volunteers as well as working with external agencies.
- Comfortable working to targets and being accountable for outcomes.
C) Essential Abilities, Knowledge & Motivation:
These are the skills we regard as essential for the role:
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A strong working knowledge of churches, Christian faith organisations and charities.
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Ability to communicate professionally and effectively at all levels of an organisation.
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Motivated to continually improve on past success and to challenge the status quo.
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Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage an audience.
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Self-motivated, resilient and outward-looking
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Ability to build strong, professional relationships with contacts of the charity.
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Ability to work as a team member with colleagues and across departments.
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Good IT skills (MS Office applications as a minimum) with analytical capability.
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An ability to travel independently; both regionally and nationally as required.
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Knowledge and understanding of Equal Opportunity and Anti-discriminatory practice.
- Willingness to promote and participate in relevant training and CPD.
- Ability to identify with and accept the aims and objectives of the charity and statutory and other professional guidance as appropriate.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Independent and thought-leading, we equip organisations, churches, other faith groups, individuals and government with safeguarding tools they need
