Head of development and communications jobs

St Andrew’s is a Church of England parish church in lively Earlsfield in South West London. Earlsfield is situated between Wandsworth and Tooting Broadway, and is well-served by bus and rail links.

We are a thriving and dynamic church with an ever-evolving spectrum of faith expressions, and innovative responses to what it means to be rooted in, and serve, our wider community. Our church building is in use at least six days week.

Head of Parish Operations is a new role created to:

· Provide executive support to our newly recruited vicar and associate vicar

· Ensure the smooth and effective running of the Parish and help put our vision into practice

· Oversee internal and external communications

· Take a leading role in financial record keeping

· Foster a collaborative and supportive culture.

We are looking for someone who has:

· The ability to support the ministry team, and to design and implement administrative systems

· Excellent written and verbal communications skills and ability to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders

· Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications (especially Word, Excel, Outlook), and the ability to use other IT resources

· Financial literacy and the ability to update and produce reports from our accounting software (after training in our specific system)

· Ability to line manage and support other staff member(s) as required

· An understanding of proper management of health and safety matters

· While being of any faith or none, sympathy with the values and guiding principles of a Church of England parish, and with key principles of community development and support.

· A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in all aspects of the Parish’s work.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification which accompany this advert. Application is by providing a full CV, and a supporting statement of up to 600 words.

Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?

The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.

The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.

You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.

CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.

Key information

• Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
• Location - remote contract with occasional travel
• £40 – 45K depending on experience
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

Applications

Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.

Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.

Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on the frontline of policy advocacy and development in child health. As Head of Policy and Research you'll be responsible for overseeing the development of our policy positions and all related outputs, as well as the research that underpins our campaigns and advocacy, across England, Scotland and abroad. You will be an integral thought partner to the Director of Strategy & Delivery and wider leadership team on the development of pioneering research concepts that will drive the child health agenda forward. You will be our internal technical expert on food policy, ensuring all of our work is evidence-based and impactful, as well as being our external representative, liaising with leading policy and research experts across academia, civil society, and government agencies. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research

• Work with the Director of Strategy & Delivery and Research Manager to plan research projects and support their delivery, ensuring they support policy calls and reflect young peoples’ experiences.

• Lead the translation of  Bite Back’s research into high quality outputs including reports, briefings and submissions.

• Work with campaigns, communications and content teams to turn research findings into high impact creative communications for a range of audiences.

• Serve as a primary spokesperson for our research including in media placements, speaking slots and government evidence sessions. 

Policy development

• Lead on the development of Bite Back’s policy positions in key and emerging areas, ensuring young peoples’ views and experiences are fed in at every stage.

• Lead the development of all policy outputs including submissions, consultation responses and briefings, ensuring they are evidence-based and reflect young peoples’ voices. 

• Lead the technical policy liaison with stakeholders and experts in the field to gather evidence and critically assess the Bite Back’s positions. 

Evidence

• Keep abreast of new evidence on key areas relating to nutrition, climate and health and consider the implications for Bite Back’s policy and relevant activity.

• Collaborate internally to provide knowledge and advice on policy and evidence issues with colleagues and the youth board.

• Review and sign off key outputs to ensure they reflect the latest evidence and data.

Stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with a range of external stakeholders to support Bite Back’s influencing agenda, including with senior government policymakers, academia, WHO and other charities in England, Scotland, and abroad.

• Represent Bite Back on a range of alliances, coalitions and partnerships.

• Deputise for the Director of Strategy & Delivery when needed.

Leadership

• Line management of Research Manager and Impact & Evaluation manager, with a dotted line to the Policy & Engagement Executive and Senior Programmes & Policy Manager for Scotland.

• Operate as a member of the extended leadership team, collaborating with other Heads and the Directors to ensure research and policy considerations are embedded seamlessly into campaigns, communications and programmes.

• Lead the policy and research strategy development for Bite Back in new geographies, providing visionary technical leadership in how we expand to new countries across the UK and abroad.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

We will be looking for applications that demonstrate experience in at least some of these areas, and evidence of capacity to build skills in others. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

Required: 

• Significant experience  of managing food policy work, which has informed and influenced national and local food policy in England. 

• In depth knowledge of the breadth of the food, nutrition and obesity public health landscape and the key challenges faced in the policy environment.

• Deep technical expertise in food policy research, development, and communication - with a strong focus on commercial determinants of health.

• Strong analytical skills, including a good understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including creative implementation research techniques. and experience with commissioning external research.

• Ability to synthesise and utilise evidence to support policy development and influencing. 

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate complex issues.

• Calmness under pressure, with ability to prioritise multiple projects to agreed objectives and deadlines. 

• Line management experience.

• A passion for our mission and a commitment to our values: Fresh, Resilient, Respectful, Energetic, Real.

Desired: 

• Strong policy and research networks in the UK across academic, civil society, and government agencies. A trusted technical voice.

• Post graduate experience in public health or nutrition and/or evidence of continuing professional development of relevant knowledge and skills in the field. 

• Experience in working with young people.

• Experience with designing creative, outside the box research with fresh ways of influencing food policy change.

• Understanding and some experiencing working on food policy across devolved nations (Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland), and within other global contexts.

This is a rare opportunity to join our dynamic and successful team as the Head of our Income Generation and Marketing teams. The key role for the Head of Income Generation is to maintain a sustainable level of fundraising and by increasing the income from paid placements through our relationships with Health Trusts and Councils in Merseyside and Cheshire in particular. The postholder will also play a key role in the branding transition to Little Lights Liverpool, managing and overseeing our marketing activities.

We are looking for someone with proven senior-level experience in income generation within the charity, health or care sector, and with a track record of growing income through commissioning or fundraising. You will need to be a strategic thinker with the confidence and compassion needed to build productive relationships and to manage our passionate and hard-working team.

Zoe's Place Baby Hospice was founded in Liverpool in 1995 as the first hospice in the UK specifically providing for the needs of babies and younger children. Our team of specialist nurses and healthcare assistants are supported by a wide range of other healthcare professionals to provide respite care, therapies and bereavement care to babies and children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families.

In late 2024 the people of Liverpool, the Northwest, and even further afield helped us to raise more than £7,000,000 to secure the future of our hospice, and the state-of-the-art new facility in West Derby is under construction.

As work begins on our new hospice facility, our dedicated team continues to deliver specialised care from our existing site, and our team of fundraising, marketing, finance, compliance and administration professionals work hard to keep the charity operating smoothly.

The postholder benefits from a competitive salary and benefits package, the opportunity to make a real difference to an incredible cause, and you will be joining the charity at a pivotal point in its development. 

We are looking for a proactive and creative Communications Coordinator to
support the delivery of our communications, events, and engagement strategy.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about access to justice and
enjoys combining storytelling, relationship-building, organisation, and delivery.
You will deliver content creation across channels, develop engaging mailouts
and communications that inspire and inform our audiences, and strengthen
stakeholder engagement across our supporter base. You will also contribute to a
programme of events that recognise and celebrate our supporters and pro bono
partners.

The Living Wage Foundation is seeking an experienced and driven Senior Media and Communications Manager to join our team for a 12-month contract. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised and proactive communications professional with a strong background in media relations, public messaging, and team leadership. The ideal candidate will be experienced and confident in working to tight deadlines, responding to last-minute changes, and prioritising competing demands in a high-profile environment. They will be motivated to amplify the Living Wage Foundation’s mission of tackling low pay and insecure work.

The postholder will lead all media, messaging, and external affairs work, developing and implementing a proactive media strategy that supports our mission and key campaigns, such as Living Wage Week and the annual Rates announcement. As a skilled media professional, you will oversee all communications outputs, ensuring consistency and strategic alignment, while delivering media training and refining key messaging to maximise reach and impact. 

In this role, you will be instrumental in advancing our political engagement efforts, building cross-party support and working with political leaders, mayoral teams, and other key stakeholders to promote our initiatives. You’ll manage two direct reports (Events Manager and Media Manager) who each hold line management responsibilities, and you will play a critical role within our Senior Management Team, collaborating closely with the Head of Communications to shape the overall direction of our communications work. This role will work closely with Citizens UK colleagues, including the Citizens UK communications team on cross-organisational priorities.  You will report to the Head of Communications.

As a senior leader, you will be responsible for managing and allocating part of the communications team budget, expanding team capacity, and driving the team’s effectiveness. In collaboration with other senior managers, you will help foster a culture that values creativity, innovation, and strategic impact.

Are you an experienced relationship fundraiser who wants to help secure transformational gifts that change the lives of dogs in the UK?
We’re looking for a Major Gifts Development Manager to build a pipeline of new and existing donors across the North of England and Midlands. This ambitious new position will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Dogs Trust’s work in the region.

What does this role do?
As Major Gift Development Manager, you will:

• build a pipeline of prospective supporters in the region, proactively arranging meetings and approaches with potential donors, identifying individuals who are passionate about animal welfare and may support our work,
• create memorable experiences that bring supporters closer to Dogs Trust by delivering bespoke, creative stewardship plans, underpinned by a deep understanding of donor motivations,
• be a key representative of Dogs Trust with high‑value supporters and senior volunteers and work closely with internal colleagues to create close relationships with donors, providing them with a compelling and fulfilling supporter journey,
• identify opportunities to develop relationships with senior volunteers and influential individuals to strengthening relationships in the region.

This is a hybrid role that will combine working from home and visiting local rehoming centres for meetings with donors across the region. The role will be contractually based at one of the following rehoming centres: Darlington, Leeds, Manchester, Merseyside, Shrewsbury, Kenilworth, Loughborough or Snetterton.

Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May and will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you’ll be a natural connector who thrives on meeting new people and building trust. You’ll have experience of fundraising and working with High Net Worth Individuals and making five-figure asks and above, or supporting senior colleagues with making those asks. You’ll need excellent communication skills, with the ability to write compelling proposals and build strong 1-1 relationships. While you’d ideally have experience in Major Gifts, we’d welcome applications from candidates who have fundraising or relationship management experience in other disciplines and are keen to develop their skills in this area. A commitment to the work we do at Dogs Trust is essential, as this must shine through while interacting with supporters.

About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

As Research Communications Manager, you will set the direction for research communications, developing new ways to creatively showcase the breadth and impact of the research we fund to inform and engage diverse audiences.

You will lead how research is communicated beyond the Motor Neurone Disease Association, using owned and earned platforms, ensuring it is accurate, accessible and relevant. As Research Communications Manager, you will identify opportunities and develop new ways to strengthen understanding of MND research among stakeholders and the public. This is a new role which will rely on collaboration and building strong relationships particularly with research, communications and digital engagement colleagues.

Your work as Research Communications Manager will help people understand motor neurone disease research updates and initiatives, deepening engagement across communities and supporters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of external research communications across owned and earned channels
• Develop research messages, content and use of channels based on audience needs
• Champion the involvement of people affected by MND in how we communicate about research
• Create engaging content that highlights the impact of MND research funded by the MND Association and others
• Work with press and research colleagues on media enquiries and proactive coverage
• Build strong partnerships with the Research and Innovation Directorate
• Develop clear processes to support consistent, high quality and inspiring research content
• Support media training and briefing of research spokespeople
• Line manage a Communications Officer (Research) and support ongoing development

About You

• Experience translating complex scientific or research information for non-specialist audiences
• Professional writing or journalism with understanding of media and public relations processes
• Degree-level knowledge or equivalent experience in a scientific field
• Experience managing a Communications function and delivering research communications, ideally within a health charity or similar setting
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and relationship building experience across internal and external teams
• Excellent organisation skills and confidence managing priorities

Hybrid working expectations: Attend Northampton office one day per week

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Hybrid working

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

Join our Marketing & Communications team and help churches reveal Jesus to the next generation. We’re growing, and looking to build on the progress already under way and take our impact up a gear. This role sits right at the heart of how Scripture Union communicates: sharing stories of impact, creating connection and helping more people engage, pray and take their next step with us. If you enjoy producing great work and making it matter, you’ll love the mix – strengthening the relationships we already have, while helping us connect with new audiences across England and Wales.

About Scripture Union

Scripture Union is a national mission-movement, helping churches reveal Jesus to the next generation. We equip churches to reach children and young people – especially those outside the church – wherever they are, and in ways that truly connect. Because every young person should have the opportunity to discover Jesus, and too many never will. Through Bible-based resources, practical training and our Revealing Jesus mission framework, we help churches build relationships that lead to faith. Our team of Mission Enablers supports a growing network of Faith Guides – local people, rooted in their communities, revealing Jesus in everyday life.

About the role
This role is all about helping Scripture Union communicate with clarity, creativity and purpose. Bringing our story to life through events and communications that help people connect with what God is doing through SU. If you like work that’s practical, people-focused and makes a real difference, you’ll feel right at home.

Events and Communications Officer

(Salary £21,460 - £22,700 - Part Time 25 Hours a week)

- What you’ll do:

· Coordinate and deliver Scripture Union’s presence at key exhibitions, festivals and conferences across the year.

· Plan logistics, budgets, materials and timelines –and recruit, support and encourage staff and volunteers involved in events.

· Gather, shape and share people-focused stories of mission and impact across website, email, social media, audio and print.

· Support the planning and delivery of the Mission Sparks podcast, helping audiences connect with what God is doing through Scripture Union.

· Monitor, evaluate and report on event effectiveness, using insight to improve future activity and engagement.

Why Scripture Union

· Hybrid working (minimum 1 day/week in Milton Keynes HQ)

· Flexible hours

· Generous benefits: 23 days holiday + bank holidays + 5 volunteering days, up to 12% pension contribution, life insurance, and enhanced family leave

· Free Bible Reading Guides

· A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact

Important things to note before you apply

• We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.
• The Movement takes Safeguarding seriously. This role will require a Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies.  
• Please note we do not provide visa sponsorship; applicants will need the right to live and work in the UK.

Who We're Looking For: Our Ideal Candidate
We’re looking for strong a candidate who can blend creativity with strategy – a confident specialist who brings experience, initiative and craft. But just as importantly, we want a team-player: the sort who will happily roll up their sleeves, jump in where needed, and strengthen others, so we move further, faster, together – across the Marketing & Communications team and the wider SU movement. If you love using your skills to build something that matters, you’ll thrive here: helping us sharpen our story, widen our reach with churches across England and Wales, and ultimately create more opportunities for children and young people to discover Jesus.

Events and Communications Officer

· Experience planning, coordinating and delivering events or exhibitions with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

· Proven ability to identify, gather and develop authentic, people-focused stories.

· Strong writing skills and experience creating content across web, social media and email (and ideally audio/print too).

· Highly organised, proactive and relational — able to balance long-term planning with responsive storytelling.

· A committed Christian in sympathy with Scripture Union’s aims and ethos, actively involved in the mission of a local church.

Head of Operations
Salary: Up to £61,600 (dependent on experience)
Location: Home-based or hybrid London-based co-working
Contract: Full-time (flexible working requests welcome)

Suicide is preventable. That’s why we are working to create a safer online world and to connect young people with the help and support they need to stay safe and well.

We’re Molly Rose Foundation, founded following the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell. At Molly’s inquest, a coroner ruled harmful online content contributed to her death. In her name, we’ve now got big plans to create change and save young lives.

We’re looking for a Head of Operations who can ensure we grow effectively and focus our energies on helping young people live long and stay strong. You’ll lead and develop our finance, governance, HR, and IT operations, ensuring we can deliver with impact and grow and scale smoothly.

You’ll play a leading role in shaping and delivering our organisational strategy, monitoring our progress and budgets, and leading the process to design and develop our next Strategy to 2030. You’ll be adept at designing effective and robust policies and committed to developing a high functioning, high-impact organisation.

As a member of our Leadership Team, you’ll have the vision, strategy, and entrepreneurial zeal to help us thrive.

But you’ll also relish the opportunity to build a small organisation from scratch with the drive and passion to really get stuck in and help us to fulfil our potential.

We offer a comprehensive package that includes:

- 27 days annual leave plus 1 volunteering day, rising to 30 days holiday after three years’ service;

- annual leave buyback scheme, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days;

- employee pension scheme;

- £500 employee wellbeing budget;

- we welcome applications from diverse range of applicants in circumstances, and actively welcome flexible working requests.
 

Application Process
To apply, please send a CV (maximum 2 sides of A4) and cover letter (maximum 2 sides of A4) via the Charity Jobs website.

Application closing date: Friday 22 May 2026

There will be a 2-stage interview process with first interviews held online between 11 - 12 June 2026.
Second interviews will be held in-person in London.

Leeds Playhouse is looking for an innovative and creative individual to join us in the role of Head of Marketing.

You will have a passion for arts, marketing and audience development, and the ability to lead an outstanding marketing team to provide excellent creative content and data-led marketing campaigns, ensuring everyone in Leeds knows what’s happening at the Playhouse and feels welcome.

You will have a proven track record of setting and meeting ambitious marketing objectives and targets, being able to plan and manage numerous simultaneous and varied projects, and ensuring they are delivered on brand within agreed timescales.

You will use data to analyse what works well and be a creative thinker with fresh ideas, as well as a great communicator, with great listening skills.

Working alongside Communications and Sales Heads, and the Director of Audiences, as well as with a diverse range of communities and partner organisations, you will help the theatre to reach new and existing audiences in Leeds in its new chapter with a new Chief Executive and Artistic Director, and following a brand refresh and recent extensive redevelopment.

We want all employees to feel fully supported, and candidates from diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities are warmly encouraged to apply.

This is a full-time, permanent contract of 35 hours per week. Pay for this role is £35,000-£40,000 per year, depending on experience.

Benefits at Leeds Playhouse include 5 weeks holiday entitlement (plus 1.6 weeks of bank holidays), that increases with length of continuous employment; 2 wellbeing days a year; and discounts across our food and drinks, free show tickets and a local gym and swimming discount. Please see our job pack for more benefits we offer.

Before applying for the role, please read the job pack on our website. This includes the full list of responsibilities, person specification and information about Leeds Playhouse.

To apply, please fill in both forms linked on our website before the application deadline.

The closing date for applications is 12pm noon Wednesday 06 May 2026.

Interviews are currently to be scheduled for the 15 May 2026.

Do you want your work to influence Parliament, shape public debate and make a tangible difference to people’s lives? 

We are looking for a driven, curious and politically savvy External Affairs Specialist to join an excellent team that delivers for our members every day. This role offers a genuine opportunity to help build and strengthen our parliamentary engagement and deliver high quality communication with our members at a pivotal time for social care. 

You will join a supportive, intelligent and ambitious team that values evidence, collaboration and impact. We invest in our people, encourage professional development and give you real responsibility and exposure from day one. Your work will help shape national conversations and support a sector that matters. 

About us 

We are the UK’s leading membership body for over 2,200 homecare providers. Together, we work to ensure society values and invests in homecare so people can live well at home and flourish in their communities. We support our members with practical tools, trusted insight and strong representation, and we speak with authority to government, Parliament, the media and the wider public. 

About the role 

As External Affairs Specialist, you will play a central role in two of our most important priorities: strengthening our parliamentary engagement and delivering clear, timely and high-quality communication with our members. 

You will ensure members feel informed, heard and represented, while helping to build our presence and influence in Parliament. A core part of the role involves translating what our members experience on the ground into clear, persuasive messages that resonate with policymakers and parliamentarians. 

This role suits someone who enjoys joining the dots, spots opportunities quickly and wants to continue building a career in public affairs, parliamentary engagement and communications within a respected, mission driven organisation. 

What you will do 

Parliamentary engagement 

• Lead day to day parliamentary monitoring and identify opportunities to influence debates, questions and policy development 

• Draft high quality briefings, parliamentary questions and stakeholder communications 

• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff 

• Support delivery of our parliamentary engagement activity, including events and party conferences 

Member communication 

• Draft clear, timely and engaging communications for members, including briefings, updates and campaigns 

• Work directly with members to capture insights, case studies and evidence 

• Ensure member voice sits at the centre of our external messaging 

• Translate complex policy and political developments into practical, accessible information for members 

Wider external affairs 

• Monitor media coverage and support proactive and reactive media activity 

• Contribute to social media and wider communications output 

• Support campaigns, publications, events and stakeholder engagement 

• Support team coordination, reporting and continuous improvement 

About you 

You are bright, motivated and organised, with a strong interest in politics, policy and communications. You enjoy writing, relationship-building and working at pace. You take initiative, think critically and care about delivering high-quality work. 

You will bring: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to different audiences 

• Experience in public affairs, media, communications or campaigning, or a closely related field 

• An understanding of UK parliamentary processes and political engagement 

• Confidence using social media to inform, engage and influence 

• Strong planning skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities 

• An interest in social care, health or public services, or a desire to build expertise in this area 

Why join us 

If you want a role where your ideas count and your work makes a difference, we would love to hear from you. 

The Talent Set are delighted to be partnering with Our Future to recruit their new Head of Scaling (Maternity Cover)

Our Future is a growing organisation working to put communities in control of their town’s future. We support local people to shape a shared vision, drive change from the ground up, and unlock long-term funding while influencing national policy to better support community-led change.

Having started in Grimsby and expanded to Rochdale, we’re now building a national movement.

The Role
As Head of Scaling (maternity cover), you’ll lead delivery of our plans to scale impact, including the growth of the Our Future model nationally, supporting towns to adopt via diverse scaling delivery models, and the delivery of tools and products to support this work.

You’ll support the infrastructure, partnerships and programmes that help towns take control of their future. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategy and delivery. You’ll work alongside others to turn ambition into action and build something that lasts.

This role begins with a handover period working alongside the current Head of Scaling, with a focus on getting up to speed with Our Future's newly developed scaling strategy and preparing for its delivery. From May 2026, the organisation will be transitioning from strategy development into active delivery- and this will be the primary focus of the cover period. The incoming Head of Scaling will play a central role in driving that transition forward, turning plans into action across all areas of the scaling programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering Our Future’s scaling plans, including identifying new locations, developing pathways and offers for towns, and supporting pipeline activity
• Testing, iterating and piloting delivery models, including preparatory work for new approaches such as cohort delivery and capturing learning for replication
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with local authorities, national partners and funders
• Developing and sustaining a network of expert partners across civic participation, investment, community business and place?based change
• Lead the codification and scaling of Our Future’s model, ensuring tools, products and learning are embedded and shared effectively.
• Contribute to wider organisational priorities, supporting business development, collaborating with key internal stakeholders, and strengthening learning and impact across the organisation.

Experience & Skills
You will bring:

• A strong track record of delivering complex, multi?stakeholder programmes across multiple locations
• Experience turning strategies into practical tools, playbooks or learning models for diverse audiences
• Proven partnership?building experience across UK public, private and community sectors
• Strong communication skills across a range of audiences and channels
• A test?and?learn mindset, balanced with delivery focus

Knowledge & Understanding

• Understanding of social investment, grant funding or sustainable income models
• Experience in community development, civic engagement or place?based regeneration
• Familiarity with the UK policy and funding landscape
• A strong belief in the potential of people and places to drive change

Personal Qualities

• Proactive, delivery?focused and comfortable with complexity
• Self-starter with entrepreneurial energy
• Relational and grounded, with the ability to build trust and long term relationships on behalf of the organisation
• Strategic thinker who can also deliver operational detail
• Optimistic, pragmatic and adaptable
• Values?driven and aligned with Our Future’s joyful, generous and action?oriented culture

What We Offer
 

• We offer the ability to work compressed hours in a 4-day working week, with a focus on high quality delivery and outcomes not hours. We prioritise wellbeing and flexibility, but we’re also a small and agile team. When key moments or deadlines come around, we all pitch in and support each other
• 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays
• 10% employer pension contribution (3% employee)
• Flexible, values-driven working culture

How to Apply 
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button.

Please Note: All speculative/ direct CVs sent will be forwarded to The Talent Set for review. 

Commitment to Diversity 
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process. 

Head of Public Affairs

Over the past 2 years, GuildHE has been transforming into the voice for distinctive higher education providers, building our brand on the principle that diversity is necessary for a healthy and vibrant higher education sector.  We have a new look, a renewed energy, and a bold vision for the future of distinctive institutions. Now, we need the final piece of the puzzle: our first-ever Head of Public Affairs. 

This is a landmark appointment for us. As a newly-created role following our recent rebranding, you’ll be building our external presence, taking our fresh identity and the work we’ve undertaken so far to the next level as we seek to double-down on our high-impact advocacy and engagement work.

As our inaugural Head of Public Affairs, you will have a unique mandate to shape the way GuildHE interacts with the world, where you can:

• Own the Narrative: Take our new brand and shape the 'GuildHE voice' across Westminster, the media, and the wider HE sector.

• Build the Blueprint: You will have the autonomy to design our engagement frameworks from scratch—working with the Director of Policy and Strategy to decide how we influence policy and how we best champion the value of specialist education.

• Create a Legacy: Because this is a brand-new headcount, every success will be yours to claim. You are here to build a function that will help define our influence for the next decade.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who will champion diversity in higher education. From world-leading arts and agricultural institutions to large and distinctive HE providers who serve their students, industries and communities in innovative ways, you will find the common threads that bind our members and weave them into a compelling national story. You aren’t just representing institutions; you’re representing a vision of a more varied, vibrant educational landscape.

We’re looking for pioneers, who are energised by the phrase, “we haven’t done that before.” We’ve done the work on our look and feel—now we need you to provide the megaphone. If you’re a strategist who loves the 'start-up' energy of building and expanding functions within a respected, established body, we want to hear from you.

This this is the right job for you?  Please send a cover letter explaining that to us (max 2 pgs) and a CV by the deadline.

Application closing date: May 22

Interviews: June 3-4