Policy communications manager jobs

The National Safeguarding Policy and Development Manager will provide strategic leadership and manage a team focused on developing and implementing safeguarding policies for the Church of England Central Services.

We are looking for a part-time Operations Manager to support our Executive Director and wider team by taking an operational lead, keeping a birds eye view over all of our activities and our infrastructure - and ensuring the principles and processes we’ve collectively agreed to are working optimally. 

You will provide essential operational, administrative, financial and IT support. Lead in the day to day operations of the organisation, including office tasks, diary management and systemic thinking for our internal communications.

TERMS AND BENEFITS

• Fixed term contract for 12 months (with the possibility of extension depending on future grants), £38,000 pro rata (equivalent to £22,800 per year), with a September or October 2026 start.

• 25 days of paid annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays. In addition, the MDP office closes for two paid weeks over Christmas and New Year.

• 4% pension (3% employer and 5% employee contributions)

• Access to training and mentoring opportunities to develop in the role, if needed.

• Flexibility in working hours and TOIL.

• Central London office space. MDP’s office is in Vauxhall, London. Staff have daily access to the office and the team works from the office together at least once a week.

OUR VALUES

Migrant Democracy Project (MDP) is building migrant power in the UK. We build political power by getting migrants registered to vote, we organise for votes for all residents, and we support the leadership development of migrant leaders. We want to build a society where migrants’ interests and needs are heard, included and represented in all levels of UK politics. 

We work in solidarity. We recognise that our struggles, liberation, identities, and oppressions are interconnected. We do not exist in isolation to other communities.

Our fight for migrant justice is tied to queer and trans liberation, racial and disability justice, reproductive freedoms, freedom for Palestine and all oppressed people, anti-capitalism, and beyond.

KEY DUTIES  - Please read the Operations Manager job specification attached document before applying for a full list of duties.

• Office & Team Support: managing the MDP office, keeping it stocked, ensuring the compliance of the office environment and support the Executive Director with diary and meetings.

• Project Management: support the team with resources, templates and systems for them to do their work effectively, implementing and managing MDP's project management platform and ensure the team are supported through their work.

• Operations & Compliance: ensure MDP is compliant with relevant policies and ensure their timely implementation, keeping track of compliance and training needs and be the point of contact in the team for safeguarding matters.

• Security of the team and community: staying up to date with best practice on digital and physical security and ensure the wider community that interacts with MDP is safeguarded. 

• People Management and recruitment: maintaining records of staff leave, expenses and training needs, support the Executive Director with recruitment processes and ensure the team has access to the processes allowing them to grow and flourish.

• Online systems: manage MDP's Google Workspace, internal communications and staff shared drives, accounts and onboarding.

• Finance Support: pay small invoices and process staff expense forms, submitting relevant invoices and manage MDP's expense card system.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS - Please read the Operations Manager job specification attached document before applying for a full list of qualifications.

• At least three years of experience in an administrative, operations, or office management role, ideally within a small NGO or human rights organisation.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines.

• Excellent organisation skills, with extensive experience in project and program management, a proven ability to plan, organise, and lead the implementation of plans and processes.

• Excellent digital skills including on platforms such as Excel, Airtable, Google Workspace, or general software.

• Good knowledge of policies relevant to the operations of an organisation.

• Experience using Xero, Soldo or similar software for processing invoices and expenses.

• Experience maintaining accurate records and systems, with excellent attention to detail.

• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding or volunteer coordination.

• Understanding of data protection principles (e.g. GDPR), general policy compliance, and experience handling confidential information.

• Experience in diary management.

• Excellent knowledge using Google Suite.

• Comfortable in a start-up environment and experience working in a small team, where flexibility is required to meet emerging tasks and deadlines.

• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV with the Subject Line “FIRST NAME LAST NAME OPERATIONS MANAGER” by 31 August 2026 and complete the online form following the guidance in the application pack.

MDP is dedicated to the kind of diversity and inclusion that makes our organisation thrive. We highly encourage people to apply who identify as migrants and refugees; women, trans or nonbinary; LGBTQIA+; Black or BIPOC; and disabled.

Please let us know if you have any access needs or requirements. We will work with you to help you achieve your best.

DECISION-MAKING TIMELINE

We are looking for the Operations Manager to start in September or October 2026. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled accordingly.

Interview process

● Stage 1: shortlisted candidates will be invited for a 20 minute interview online with the Executive Director.

● Stage 2: if successful after Stage 1, shortlisted candidates will be invited for a 75 minute interview in-person. This will include a practical exercise and questions about your experience. You will have an opportunity to ask us questions as well.

Please download and refer to the full application pack for the job description and follow the application process outlined there.

Communications & Engagement Officer

Huddersfield Mission Huddersfield, West Yorkshire 25 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 2:00pm) Salary: £28,968 pro rata

Help tell stories that change lives.

For over 100 years, Huddersfield Mission has been supporting people facing homelessness, poverty, poor mental health, addiction and other complex challenges. We provide practical advice, support and a welcoming community space for those who need us most.

We're now looking for a Communications & Engagement Officer to lead how we connect with supporters, donors, room hirers, café customers and the wider community.

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines communications, marketing, fundraising support, community engagement and administration. You'll have the opportunity to shape how we tell our story, showcase our impact and help generate the support that enables our work to continue.

If you're a skilled communicator who enjoys building relationships, creating engaging content and making a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll do

· Lead our social media, website and digital communications activity

· Create compelling content that showcases the impact of our work

· Develop supporter and donor communications, including newsletters and campaigns

· Support fundraising activities and community events

· Help grow awareness of our advice services, café and room hire facilities

· Manage room hire enquiries, bookings and customer communications

· Produce reports and insights using our CRM and database systems

· Provide administrative support, including meeting minutes and office duties

· Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation

About You

We're looking for someone who can combine creativity with organisation and enjoys working with a wide range of people.

You'll bring:

· Experience delivering successful communications and engagement activities

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Experience creating content for websites, social media and email marketing

· Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills

· Experience using CRM systems and digital platforms

· Good organisational and project management skills

· The ability to work independently and manage competing priorities

· A commitment to treating people with dignity, empathy and respect

Experience within the charity, community or voluntary sector would be beneficial but is not essential.

Why Join Huddersfield Mission?

· Be part of a respected local charity making a real difference in people's lives

· Fixed daytime working hours with no evening or weekend requirement

· Opportunity to shape and develop a newly reconfigured role

· Employee Support Scheme

· Stakeholder pension and life insurance

· Ongoing training and professional development

· Potential for additional hours in the future

Working Environment

Huddersfield Mission supports people experiencing a range of complex challenges, including homelessness, poor mental health, addiction and financial hardship. As a frontline community organisation, there may occasionally be times when people accessing our services are distressed, frustrated or upset.

We provide training, support, clear procedures and a collaborative team environment to help colleagues manage challenging situations safely, confidently and professionally. Experience in customer-facing, community-facing or support-focused environments would be advantageous.

Closing Statement

If you're passionate about using communications to create positive change and want your work to have a direct impact on people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us in helping to serve people and change lives.

We are looking for a policy adviser to work primarily in our resource stewardship theme to help deliver ambitious leadership for the environment. You will also have opportunities to work on projects in our Legislation & Governance unit.

Using your strong research and strong communication skills, you will contribute to work that shapes the future of circular economy policy and environmental legislation in the UK. Collaborating with colleagues across the organization, including in comms and politics, you will help identify compelling evidence, stories, and projects to drive better use of resources in the UK and will secure support for projects and policy proposals by building relationships with politicians and policymakers, environmental NGOs and community groups, business partners and other stakeholders.

This is a varied role that will also include project management to ensure effective delivery, including ensuring outputs and events are effectively planned and executed to deadline and to a high quality.

You will need to understand, or be willing to learn about, the political and environmental policy contexts we work in and the state of resources policy and wider environmental legislation in the UK.

Job Description

Main duties and responsibilities

Manage the DUK project portfolio

• Become a subject matter expert in applied and translational research in DMD, allowing informed decision making and effective communication with key stakeholders
• Support identification of new project and collaborative opportunities, including the ongoing management and delivery of our applicant-led funding call
• Support the Director of Research and Development in project scientific review, working with the Scientific Advisory Board, Patient Advisory Board, Senior Leadership Team and DUK Board of Trustees
• Manage project development and initiation, including contracting, the development of detailed project plans, including go/no-go milestones, and budgets
• Manage and oversee project delivery, including monitoring of progress, according to agreed timelines and deliverables (including written updates and formal reports), and managing project finances, including reviewing and approval of invoices and monitoring project expenditure
• Support research budget forecasting in liaison with the finance team and the Director of Research and Development, and ensure compliance across the project portfolio
• Build and manage relationships with external partners and maintain regular communication through the project life cycle
• Support the Director of Research and Development to identify areas of strategic focus to inform the development of new research programmes
• Contribute to and support the development of DUK led research proposals for external funding and work with the income generation team to identify opportunities for research funding

Research governance and processes

• Maintain and improve, as relevant, internal processes for research management and governance
• Act as system owner for the research functions within DUK’s CRM (Salesforce), maintaining records and driving process improvements for grant workflows and monitoring
• Support the Director of Research and Development in research governance activities
• Support the Director of Research and Development to ensure compliance with the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) requirements, such as - contributing to annual data collection and surveys; implementation of AMRC processes and reviews recommendations, as relevant; keep up to date with relevant news and opportunities for training, collaboration and networking

Support the Director of Research and Development on the following external engagement activities

• Development and implementation of outreach and engagement activities in the DMD patient and research community to inform areas for research focus and prioritisation
• Scoping and development of formal and informal strategic partnerships and relationships with key stakeholder organisations (e.g. membership societies, other charities, consortia etc)

Support delivery of DUK flagship strategic programmes

DUK has strategic programmes in clinical research access and capacity, care standards and care access, assistive technologies and patient data. Under the oversight of the Director of Research and Development and working closely with the relevant programme team:

• Coordinate key programme updates and discussions between the DUK team and the programme teams
• Working with DUK comms team, support the development of external comms and marketing
• Working with the Director of Research and Development and the programme teams, support development of new initiatives and external funding opportunities

Other key responsibilities

• Provide general research admin support (e.g. arrange research meetings, both internal and external, prepare agendas and take minutes)
• Work with DUK comms team to identify case studies and success stories and support the development of the research comms strategy
• Coordinate research comms and work with the Director of Research and Development and comms team to ensure all research content is accurate and appropriate
• Work with the income generation and comms teams to provide updates to our key co-funding partners
• Support the collection of portfolio data across all programmes for DUK KPIs and to support DUK impact report development
• Coordinate and deliver research led events and support the Director of Research and Development in the agenda and content development for the annual Duchenne UK New Horizons conference
• Travel across the UK to attend meetings with partners

 ID:  1853 Service Manager

Service: Cumberland Young Carers and Parent Carer Support Service

Hours: 29.6 hours – Part time  

Location: Family Hubs around Cumberland

Salary: £37,211 - £41,518 FTE per annum + £2,000 additional allowance FTE (£29,768.80 - £33,214.40 + £1,600 additional allowance per annum)

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the

importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

Family Action offer support for carers – along with their families – living in Cumberland. We aim to provide support for young carers (aged 18 and below) and parent carers (a parent or other primary caregiver who provides ongoing, substantial support and care to a child or young person with additional needs).

Using a whole family approach, the service is designed to ensure that young carers and parent carers are identified well, given the support they need – when they need it – and are enabled to thrive.

The successful applicant will manage and lead the work of Cumberland Young Carer and Parent Carer Service. You will ensure that the services are delivered in accordance with the service level agreements and grant funding requirements.  As Service Manager, you will ensure all policy and practice issues are maintained to the highest standards.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· Qualified to a level 5 or above with a recognised professional qualification in social work, health, education or equivalent and have excellent communication skills.  

· You will need proven supervisory and experience or competence of managing others, as well as experience of management of resources including finance, planning and evaluation at a project level.

· You will also understand practice standards in relation to case work and understand the importance of quality assurance activity.

· A sound knowledge of the needs of young carers and parent carers.

· Excellent communication skills.

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Benefits:

· an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays

· up to 6% matched-pension contributions

· flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment

· enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

· eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

· cycle to work scheme

· investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

To Apply:

• Click the “Apply Now” link below and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: 9am Monday 7th September 2026

Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place the week commencing 14th September.

For direct queries or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or flexible working requests, please email: kirsty.treen (full email on advert doc)

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role, and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

We are looking for a full time Campaign and Advocacy Manager with experience in running campaigns for a political cause, managing coalitions, who is able to demonstrate policy-change impact. 

You would be running Migrant Democracy Project’s cornerstone Votes for All campaign which wishes to see the right to vote extended to all residents in the UK, no matter where they are from. The Campaign and Advocacy Manager will have a strategic and creative mindset for the campaign, will be able to plan well into the future as well as capture opportunities in the moment. You will engage with politicians at every level to gather their support, identify ways for these politicians to take action for the progress of the campaign, engineer moments to bring awareness to the issue such as stunts and mass lobbies, liaise with a network of organisations campaigning on democracy and migrant justice, and hold comprehensive policy information about voting rights. You will liaise with the media, politicians, residents without the right to vote, and other stakeholders to make votes for all inevitable.

TERMS AND BENEFITS

• Fixed term contract for 12 months (with the possibility of extension depending on future grants), £38,000 per year, with a September or October 2026 start.

• 25 days of paid annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays. In addition, the MDP office closes for two paid weeks over Christmas and New Year.

• 4% pension (3% employer and 5% employee contributions)

• Access to training and mentoring opportunities to develop in the role, if needed.

• Flexibility in working hours and TOIL.

• Central London office space. MDP’s office is in Vauxhall, London. Staff have daily access to the office and the team works from the office together at least once a week.

ABOUT MDP

Migrant Democracy Project (MDP) is building migrant power in the UK. We believe in leveraging the power of democratic participation to create a just society for all residents. We build political power by getting migrants registered to vote, we organise for votes for all residents, and we support the leadership development of migrant leaders. We want to build a society where migrants’ interests and needs are heard, included and represented in all levels of UK politics. 

We work in solidarity. We recognise that our struggles, liberation, identities, and oppressions are interconnected. We do not exist in isolation to other communities.

Our fight for migrant justice is tied to queer and trans liberation, racial and disability justice, reproductive freedoms, freedom for Palestine and all oppressed people, anti-capitalism, and beyond.

KEY DUTIES  - Please read the job specification attached document before applying for a full list of duties.

• Campaigning: Develop and implement strategies for promoting votes for all as a policy change the Government needs to adopt, influencing decision-makers, organising proactice events and working with our community of lived-experience spokespersons. 

• Media work: Work with our Communications Manager to create and cultivate opportunities to promote the campaign, being a spokesperson for the campaign, and supporting the wider community.

• Movement Building: Work with existing partners and grow our coalition of supporters taking collective action for votes for all

• Policy, Parliamentary and Research: Identify and manage strategic research projects, work with policy makers, respond to consultations and identify parliamentary opportunities for the campaign.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS - Please read the job specification attached document before applying for a full list of qualifications.

• At least two years of experience in a role where engaging with politicians for a specific campaign was central to your work.

• Experience in the development and implementation of an advocacy or campaign strategy.

• Experience managing projects and people such as for research purposes, delegating strategic tasks to other members of the team, and partners.

• A strong insight and understanding of the diverse experiences & needs of people with migrant experience in the UK.

• Experience of writing policy briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions.

• Experience managing a coalition of partners towards a campaign action.

• Knowledge and demonstrable experience influencing local and national decision-makers, councils, parliamentarians and other campaign targets.

• Excellent oral communication skills including ability to deliver presentations and talks to a variety of audiences.

• Ability to engage with the media to communicate campaign aims and key moments.

• Excellent knowledge of the UK political system, in particular of voter eligibility and the roles and responsibilities of elected representatives.

• Knowledge of the UK parliamentary system and electoral law.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV with the Subject Line “FIRST NAME LAST NAME CAMPAIGN MANAGER” by 31 August 2026 and complete the online form linked on the next page, which lists the email address.

MDP is dedicated to the kind of diversity and inclusion that makes our organisation thrive. We highly encourage people to apply who identify as migrants and refugees; women, trans or nonbinary; LGBTQIA+; Black or BIPOC; and disabled.

Please let us know if you have any access needs or requirements. We will work with you to help you achieve your best.

DECISION-MAKING TIMELINE

We are looking for the Campaign and Advocacy Affairs Manager to start latest in October 2026. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled accordingly.

Interview process

● Stage 1: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a 20 minute interview with the Executive Director online

● Stage 2: if successful after Stage 1, shortlisted candidates will be invited for a 75

minute interview in-person. This will include a practical exercise and questions about your experience. You will have an opportunity to ask us questions as well.

Please download and refer to the full application pack for the job description and follow the application process outlined there.

The Head of Communications role is an exciting opportunity to lead on maximising the credibility, visibility and impact of Runnymede Trust’s esteemed research and policy portfolio. You will be responsible for leading Runnymede’s small communications team, developing our traditional, new and digital media strategy and supporting the development of our campaigns identity.

The role will involve providing effective leadership and oversight of all our communications activities. The working environment is often reactive and fast paced whilst also managing a steady stream of longer term project related outputs. This is a key role with the potential to shape the UK’s research and policy narratives on race and inequalities with one of the country’s leading think tanks on race and social justice. You will bring extensive experience in leading a diversely skilled communications team, a track record of dealing with politically sensitive communications issues, and a deep understanding and passion for our work in furthering racial justice.

About The Job
 

Contract: Fixed-term, 2.5 years.

Hours: 28 Hours per week (0.6 FTE).

Salary: £25,000 - £28,000 (pro rata from £31,250 - £35,000)

Location: Hybrid, anchored to Cardiff Carers Trust office 1 day a week. Flexibility to work from other Carers Trust’s offices around the UK when needed.

Other: The postholder will need to be able to travel in a time and cost-effective manner to meetings across Wales and occasionally across the UK for relevant Carers Trust meetings. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to attend events or consultations.

The Policy and Practice Officer will work collaboratively with public and third sector stakeholders and the Carers Trust team to lead the delivery of a three-year programme focused on improving support for older carers of people living with dementia. This includes engaging with regional Dementia Strategy Groups, influencing national policy, and facilitating knowledge exchange across health, social care, and third sector organisations.

This role is central to advancing our mission by amplifying the voices of unpaid carers, ensuring their experiences shape policy and practice, and strengthening the visibility and accessibility of carer support services across Wales. By embedding Carers Trust Wales in strategic conversations and promoting good practice, the postholder will help drive meaningful change for carers of people with dementia—many of whom are older, isolated, and under-recognised. The work will contribute directly to the development of the Welsh Government’s Dementia Strategy and ensure that carers’ needs are reflected in service design and delivery.

As the postholder you will:

• Plan and deliver two in-person events in year three to showcase good practice and elevate carers’ voices.
• Produce a final written report capturing programme outcomes, learning, and recommendations.
• Launch the report via an online webinar and share findings with national and regional dementia groups.

Please download the attached recruitment pack to find out more. 

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Are you interested in improving the lives of people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence health reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of people with a learning disability and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a 4-day a week position (30 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will: 

You will bring to this role:

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. Applications close on Tuesday 1st September, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 7th September 2026.

• Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
• Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
• Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the health needs and experiences of people with a learning disability and their families.
• Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
• Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
• Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Experience of working on health policy issues.
• Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
• Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
• The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
•  Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
• Knowledge of the health issues facing people with a learning disability, as well as the health and wider parliamentary system. 
• Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability. 

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated. 

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings. 

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team! 

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. 

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in. 

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. 

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere. 

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation. 

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes 

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. 

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. 

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. 

The Communications Manager provides operational leadership for CLAPA's communications delivery, ensuring communications and marketing activity is effectively planned, prioritised and delivered in support of the charity's strategic objectives. 

Reporting to the Head of Communications and Marketing, the postholder is responsible for translating the communications strategy into coordinated day-to-day delivery. They will oversee the planning, scheduling and operational management of communications activity across the organisation, ensuring work is appropriately prioritised, resources are allocated effectively and projects are delivered to a consistently high standard. 

The role directly manages CLAPA's Communications Officers, embedding effective planning, briefing and workflow processes that enable the team to deliver proactive, creative and high-quality communications.

Acting as the primary operational lead for communications delivery, the postholder will ensure colleagues across CLAPA receive responsive, well-planned communications support while maintaining clear priorities and protecting the team's capacity to deliver its best work. 

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

Marketing & PR Manager

About the role

This is a senior role working across the whole Charity, tasked with growing public awareness and support for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. Leading on marketing, PR, brand and design, this role will manage relations with media, stakeholders, supporters and the wider public, creating and delivering engaging campaigns, generating support for the Charity, demonstrating impact and increasing income generation.

This is an exciting time to join the Charity as it moves to the next stage in its growth. As part of a busy and ambitious team, this role would suit an experienced, proactive and creative individual with a talent for storytelling and a knowledge of data-driven marketing.

You’ll have strong commercial knowledge, with the ability to apply this to the charity sector; adding value to our existing fundraising activities and impact reporting.   

Key responsibilities include:

· Create and deliver a comprehensive marketing & public relations strategy for the Charity to increase levels of awareness, reaching and engaging audiences.

· Build brand awareness, promote income generation and communicate activities and impact.

· Identify, create and maximise media, PR and marketing opportunities for the Charity to achieve strong positive coverage in print, broadcast and online media.

· Utilise the full mix of communications and marketing tools, including media and public relations, internal communications, brand marketing, advertising, campaigns, direct marketing, digital and social media and production of materials.

· Lead and give strategic marketing direction to the Charity team, taking responsibility for all marketing activities within the Charity to ensure consistent messaging.

· Identify and develop key relationships with journalists and influencers across a broad

range of media.

· Lead, manage and plan key Charity marketing and communications initiatives such as the annual Glow Green Night Walk and annual ball.

· Be responsible for brand management, ensuring consistency across all internal and external communications and adherence to brand and corporate identity guidelines.

· Oversee the design, production and dissemination of marketing and communications collateral as required, including annual reports and impact statements.

· Oversee the design and production of all printed materials for Charity events to ensure consistency of brand and messaging.

· Identify and manage outside agencies where necessary to add value to the role and produce, for example, video and photographic content.

· Report to the Chief Executive on impact and coverage.

· Manage crisis communications if necessary.

· Liaise with the Communications team of The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity NHS Foundation Trust to provide a joined-up comms and PR strategy for joint ventures.

· Manage staff within the Marketing and Individual Giving team.

About the Charity

Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is an independent charity, dedicated to supporting patients and research at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - one of the UK’s leading cancer hospitals.

It’s thanks to our supporters that we can achieve so much for people with cancer across Merseyside and Cheshire, which may not be possible through NHS funding alone.

This includes funding life-saving research to shape cancer care for generations to come, investing in leading technology that drives better outcomes for people with cancer, enhancing the patient environment to support health and wellbeing and enabling innovations in care for every patient, every day.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid working with base office at The Spine Building, Paddington Village, Liverpool L7 3FA

Closing Date: 11 September 2026

Interview Date: 24 September 2026
Flexible / hybrid working available

Communications Manager

This is a hands-on communications role at an important time for GBSS. You will help us plan, write and deliver clear, compassionate communications that make a real difference for babies and families.

Later this year, the results of the GBS3 trial are expected, with a likely UK NSC review to follow. This represents a significant opportunity to influence policy, improve care, and help prevent group B Strep infection in babies.

We are looking for an excellent communicator who can bring people and plans together, write well, keep work moving, and turn complex information into communications people can understand and use.

You do not need to arrive as a group B Strep expert. You will work with colleagues who bring expertise in policy, clinical evidence, fundraising, support services and digital content.

Key Information

Job title: Communications Manager

Reports to: CEO

Direct reports: Digital Content Specialist

Location: Hybrid (Haywards Heath) or remote within the UK

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)

Salary: £40,000–£45,000 depending on experience

Role Overview

The purpose of this role:

To help GBSS communicate clearly and confidently, through communications that are well planned, well written and delivered effectively.

· write and edit key communications

· hold communications plans for major campaigns and projects, working closely with the CEO and colleagues

· bring together communications across advocacy, fundraising, support services and digital

· line manage the Digital Content Specialist

· keep communications projects moving and delivered to a high standard

This role sits at the centre of a small team. It will suit someone who enjoys being hands-on and is happy to move between planning, writing, editing, coordinating and problem-solving as priorities change. The postholder will be expected to draft a significant proportion of GBSS's core communications content themselves.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning and coordination

· Hold communications plans for major campaigns and projects, working closely with the CEO and colleagues to agree priorities, timings and outputs.

· Translate organisational priorities into clear communications actions and timelines, working with subject leads where needed.

· Manage communications workflows, deadlines and approvals.

· Use trustee and external advisers’ expertise as a helpful sounding board where appropriate.

2. Writing and content development

· Act as the lead writer and editor for key communications, including blogs, newsletters, supporter communications, campaign materials, website content, organisational updates, briefings and stakeholder communications.

· Edit and improve content produced by colleagues.

· Make sure communications are clear, plain English, compassionate, inclusive, accessible and accurate.

· Help translate complex clinical, policy and research information into communications that non-specialists can understand.

· Work from agreed policy positions and specialist input when drafting briefings, consultation-related materials or stakeholder communications.

3. Campaign delivery

· Coordinate communications for major campaigns and projects, including GBS Awareness Week.

· Work with colleagues to agree objectives, audiences, messages, outputs and timelines.

· Work with the Fundraising Manager on supporter communications, helping with copy, timing and consistency.

· Help paid activity fit well with wider campaign messaging.

· Keep campaign delivery on track and support evaluation and learning.

4. Messaging and consistency

· Help develop and maintain clear organisational messages.

· Help communications across channels fit together.

· Support colleagues to communicate sensitive or complex issues clearly.

5. Digital content leadership and line management

· Work closely with the Digital Content Specialist to agree priorities, plan content and support high-quality delivery across digital channels.

· Line manage the role, including regular feedback, support and development.

· Look at what is working across digital channels and use that insight to improve future content.

6. Media support

This role will support media activity through practical communications planning, drafting and follow-up.

This includes:

· drafting briefing materials, background notes, key messages and approved lines

· coordinating communications around media activity

· helping make sure follow-up content is delivered across relevant channels

7. Insight and continuous improvement

· Work with information and support colleagues to understand what families and professionals are asking and where communications could be clearer.

· Use audience insight, communications data and campaign results to improve future activity.

· Identify practical ways to improve communications processes.

Person Specification

Essential

· Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail.

· Experience creating content across multiple communications channels.

· Experience planning and delivering communications projects or campaigns.

· Ability to explain complex, technical or evidence-based information clearly and accurately.

· Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.

· Good judgement and sensitivity when communicating about emotionally complex, potentially distressing or sensitive issues.

· Experience supporting, guiding or managing others, whether colleagues, freelancers or suppliers.

· Ability to work collaboratively in a small organisation, including with senior colleagues and subject matter experts.

Desirable

· Experience in charity, health, policy, public affairs or another setting where complex or evidence-based information needs to be communicated clearly.

· Experience communicating about maternity, newborn care, patient safety, bereavement or similarly sensitive issues.

· Experience working with websites, email marketing systems and social media platforms.

· Understanding of accessibility, plain English and inclusive communications.

What you’ll help us achieve

You’ll help GBSS communicate more clearly, plan further ahead and deliver key campaigns well.

Interviews

interviews will be held between 17 and 20 August 2026.

• First-stage interview – conducted via Microsoft Teams.

• Second-stage interview – held in person.