Regional campaigns and public affairs officer jobs

Head of Communications and Engagement
The Diocese of Winchester is seeking an exceptional communications leader to help shape how we tell the story of God's work across our Diocese. This is a strategic senior leadership role, responsible for leading our Communications & Engagement Team and developing a clear, engaging and effective communications strategy that supports our mission, vision and priorities.

Serving a population of over 1.2 million people across more than 230 parishes, the Diocese of Winchester is a diverse and vibrant community. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence how we communicate with clergy, parishes, schools, partners, media and the wider public, ensuring that people feel informed, connected and inspired by our shared mission.

About the Communications and Engagement Team
The Communications & Engagement Team supports the Diocese in sharing its vision, celebrating local stories, engaging stakeholders and managing communications across a wide range of activities. The team works collaboratively with colleagues across mission and ministry, safeguarding, schools, vocations, creation care and governance, ensuring that communications effectively support diocesan priorities and objectives.

What you’ll do

• Lead the development and delivery of the Diocese's communications and engagement strategy
• Shape and communicate key diocesan messages alongside senior leaders
• Build strong relationships with clergy, parish officers, Winchester Cathedral and external stakeholders
• Oversee media relations, press releases and crisis communications activity
• Lead communications campaigns around major church seasons, diocesan initiatives and strategic priorities
• Ensure the Diocese embraces best practice in digital communications, social media and emerging technologies, including AI
• Manage the Communications & Engagement Team, supporting and developing staff to achieve their full potential
• Build collaborative relationships with Church of England communications colleagues regionally and nationally

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience of developing and delivering communications and engagement strategies within a complex organisation
• Strong leadership and people management experience
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, media and influencing skills
• Experience of leading change and managing organisational risk
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of budget management and strategic planning
• A collaborative and resilient approach, with the confidence to challenge constructively and build strong relationships
• A practising Christian who is committed to the mission and ministry of the Church and able to support the vision of the Diocese of Winchester

CVs are not accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 31st July 2026.

Initial interviews for the role will take place on the 26th August 2026. If you are successful in the first interview, you will be invited to a second interview on the 7th September 2026. Both interviews will be held at the Diocesan Offices, Old Alresford Place SO24 9DH

The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking 2 x Public Affairs Officers to join our Media and Public Affairs team in the Communications and Engagement Directorate, providing key support in the delivery of our public affairs function.

The role

The post-holder(s) will play a central role in the work of the Public Affairs team, at an exciting time for the British Academy as we seek to extend and deepen our reach and influence with parliamentarians, Government, policymakers and other key stakeholders.

You will own and deliver influencing activities - independently and in collaboration with colleagues - that will build the Academy’s profile and increase awareness of the value and importance of the Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts (SHAPE) amongst our audience. You will work with Public Affairs colleagues to monitor external developments, horizon-scanning and pursuing opportunities for the Academy to be bold and proactive in engaging stakeholders.

An experienced public affairs professional, you will have a good level of UK political knowledge, including of the Devolved Nations and local and regional structures. You understand the range of tactics that can be used to influence Parliament and Government and will apply this knowledge to develop and deliver public affairs strategies that engage parliamentarians and key stakeholders with the Academy’s work.

You will be able to communicate and work effectively with colleagues across the Academy and a range of external stakeholders, including parliamentarians and their staff. You will help to build and strengthen stakeholder relationships and deliver an effective public affairs function for the Academy.

You will be highly organised and able to plan and manage a varied workload. You will use your editorial and political judgement to produce high-quality outputs - from communications materials to events - that will showcase the Academy’s evidence base and policy insights to stakeholders, helping to turn engagement into influence.

About the Academy

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,700 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy.

The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team.

Working at the Academy

Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow.

Terms and conditions

The British Academy is based at 10-11, Carlton House Terrace, London SW1, a Grade 1 listed building. We offer a competitive benefits package including a 35-hour working week, with hours and location worked flexibly under our hybrid-working policy; 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays; a subsidised canteen and an excellent occupational pension.

How to apply

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with our commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. We will make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the minimum selection criteria.

To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please follow the apply link to visit our recruitment platform. 

Closing date: Midday on 24 July 2026.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 17/18 August 2026, but this may be subject to change.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. In such circumstances, we will provide 24 hours' notice of the revised closing date to those who have registered their interest.

Citizens UK

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting half a million people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most. 

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies. We are a non-partisan organisation and work with partners across the political spectrum to advance our mission.

Purpose

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.

Main Responsibilities

Contribute to CUK mission and its strategic objectives:

• Provide strategic oversight of the organisation’s media strategy, ensuring it aligns with broader organisational, communications, and campaign goals, and establish clear processes for evaluating its success.

• Work alongside other Senior Managers across Citizens UK on cross-organisational activity including through the Senior Management Group

• Support the Living Wage Foundation’s Political Engagement Strategy by building and sustaining cross-party support for the organisation’s mission and objectives.

Situational awareness and research:

• Lead regular updates on key audiences, tracking positions on issues of interest and ensuring the team is fully informed.

• Guide the team in proactive media monitoring, enabling timely responses to significant developments.

• Collaborate with the Senior Research Manager to conduct and commission impactful research, driving media campaigns that effectively reach and engage target audiences.

Strategy development:

• Work alongside other Senior Managers in the Communications Team to shape and guide the overall communications strategy.

Lead on all media and messaging outputs, including developing high-quality materials, coordinating media events, and delivering media training.

Reputational & risk management:

• Develop and manage the organisation’s risk register, offering strategic oversight and serving as a primary contact for crisis communications.

• Manage and respond to reactive media enquiries promptly, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s values and objectives.

• Draft key messages and FAQs for media interviews and public responses, and advise senior leadership on sensitive media or reputational issues.

• Represent the Living Wage Foundation effectively in senior stakeholder interactions and participate in out-of-hours press duties when needed.

Materials development and dissemination:

• Oversee the Media Team in producing engaging press releases, blogs, opinion pieces, and media briefings to elevate the Living Wage Foundation’s profile and the voices of workers and employers within the Living Wage movement.

• Ensure media outputs and communications reflect the organisation’s values and uphold a consistent voice.

• Create and refine key messaging for public communications, including FAQs and response guides.

Social media and website

• Ensure consistency in messaging and alignment across all media and digital platforms in collaboration with the wider communications team.

External relationships (including media and press)

• Lead employer case study development, identifying and preparing Living Wage employers to speak to media and champion a real Living Wage.

• Drive stakeholder engagement efforts, cultivating valuable relationships with Living Wage employers, campaign partners, and media contacts.

• Build and maintain relationships with journalists across print, digital, and broadcast media to secure quality coverage.

• Collaborate with the Public Engagement Team to draft emails, speeches, speaker notes, briefings, and press notices for political engagements.

• Strengthen and maintain broad cross-party support for the Living Wage agenda.

Campaign & events management

• Provide a link between Events team and Senior Leadership Team to ensure efficient decision-making around key events.

• Lead on media and messaging elements of agreed comms-led campaigns.

Internal comms & knowledge management

• Oversee the development and maintenance of a comprehensive press database, mapping key media contacts and publications in line with the Living Wage Foundation’s objectives.

Internal relationships

• Work closely with the Senior Digital and Communications Manager to guide and oversee team initiatives.

• Provide line management and development support to the Media Manager and Events Manager.

Learning, expertise & DEI

• Lead media training sessions for LWF staff and Living Wage employers, enhancing their confidence and effectiveness in media engagements.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the LWF and Citizens UK, including communications and DEI teams, to develop and implement ethical storytelling practices, ensuring lived experience is represented responsibly, inclusively, and in line with organisational guidance.

• Contribute to a positive and inclusive team culture.

• Ensure accessibility is embedded across communications and events, working with relevant teams to implement best practice and organisational guidance.

Person Specification

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Experience

· Proven experience and a strong understanding of the UK media landscape, with experience building relationships with journalists and securing high-quality media coverage. (E)

· Experience in line managing and leading a team. (E)

· Demonstrated experience in managing sensitive reputational issues, including risk assessment and crisis communications. (E)

· Skilled in leveraging real-life stories and case studies to drive engagement, including experience in leading media training for spokespeople. (E)

· Strong track record in designing and executing high-impact communications strategies that achieve measurable results. (E)

· Experience of working collaboratively across teams and influencing senior stakeholders to achieve shared objectives. (E)

· Experience of working with a range of voices and perspectives, including community, worker or lived experience storytelling. (D)

Key skills and knowledge

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce and edit clear, engaging content suitable for media, digital and public audiences. (E)

• Competence in using social media platforms to engage audiences effectively, understanding their role in broader media strategies. (D)

• Proficiency in evaluating campaigns and media outputs, with the ability to derive insights that inform future strategies. (E)

• Strong interpersonal skills for building effective relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders, including political audiences. (E)

• Solid understanding of the political landscape and public affairs, with experience engaging cross-party stakeholders (E).

Personal qualities & values

• An enthusiasm for media and communications, coupled with a strong commitment to the mission of the Living Wage Foundation. (E)

• Ability to lead, support and develop high-performing teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive working environment. (E)

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an understanding of how to communicate responsibly and ethically about lived experience. (E)

About the application process

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Interviews will be held 17th and 18th August.

Founded in 1681 by King Charles II, the Royal Hospital Chelsea has stood for centuries as a national symbol of gratitude to the soldiers who have served our country, and is home to the iconic Chelsea Pensioners. Today, the Hospital’s role remains to ensure that those who have served are always supported.

We are now looking for a proactive and creative Press Officer to support the delivery of our press and media, helping bring the stories of the Chelsea Pensioners to life and ensuring they reach audiences across local, regional and national media.

If you’re an excellent writer with a strong news instinct, some experience in PR or journalism, and a desire to work with meaningful, human stories – this could be the role for you.

Where you fit in

You’ll join an ambitious Development, Marketing and Communications team focused on raising the Royal Hospital’s profile, increasing fundraising income, and building new audiences through compelling, emotive storytelling.

Supporting the Communications and PR Manager, you’ll play a key role in delivering an ‘always-on’ press office, ensuring our stories land where they matter and contribute to organisational objectives.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll support the delivery of proactive and reactive PR activity, helping to generate consistent coverage and maintain strong media relationships.

You will:

• Support the delivery of ‘always-on’ PR, securing regular local and national coverage
• Manage the observance calendar to identify opportunities around key dates such as Founder’s Day and Remembrance
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists and media contacts
• Draft press releases, media briefings and Chelsea Pensioner case studies
• Play a key role in the day-to-day running of a busy press office, handling media enquiries quickly and effectively
• Coordinate media visits, facilitating interviews with Chelsea Pensioners and spokespeople
• Monitor and evaluate coverage, maintaining tracking and reporting tools

· Support the team with gathering of digital/social content to support the Royal Hospital’s press and wider marcomms objectives.

• Ensure records are accurate, up to date and GDPR compliant

We’re looking for someone who is:

• A strong writer, able to produce clear, compelling content tailored to different audiences
• Experienced in PR, communications or journalism (ideally within a charity or purpose-led organisation)
• Developing relationships with media and building a strong contacts base
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Confident working both independently and as part of a team
• Sensitive and empathetic when working with personal and beneficiary stories
• Calm under pressure, with a good understanding of reputational considerations
• IT literate, including Microsoft Office and media monitoring tools

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your career in PR within a national institution, working on stories that have real impact and meaning.

To apply: please submit your CV and a covering letter of up to 500 words.

Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing applications and interviewing candidates throughout the recruitment process.

Why this role matters
Good ideas, strong evidence and inspiring stories only create change if the right people understand and act on them. This role exists to ensure that the case for physical activity reaches the right people, in the right way, at the right time, and that it moves them to act. You’ll develop compelling narratives grounded in insight, evidence, and behavioural science, helping partners across the system create greater impact and supporting Yorkshire  Sport Foundation in leading and influencing far beyond its own boundaries.

Responsibilities
Strategic comms leadership
• Develop and lead a long-term strategic marketing andcommunications approach aligned to our Active Partnership role
and Sport England priorities
• Use behavioural science, audience insight and evidence to shapehow the system understands physical activity and inequality
• Identify the beliefs, motivations and barriers of key audiences anddesign communications that influence action
• Ensure all communications activities support YSF to influencestrategic stakeholders
• Advise the organisation on how messaging can support policy, investment and system change
• Develop Yorkshire Sport Foundation’s reputation as a trusted strategic voice

Influence & stakeholder engagement
• Shape communications that influence policy, investment and practice across local authorities, health and education systems
• Support senior leaders to land key messages with senior stakeholders
• Equip partners with messaging that helps them to demonstrate and amplify the impact they make
• Translate complex insight and evaluation into clear narratives and messages
Insight-led communications
• Embed audience insight and behavioural science into messaging
• Combine data, evaluation and lived experience to demonstrate impact whilst ensuring communications reflect communities
authentically
• Build a learning approach to testing, adapting and improving messaging effectiveness

Organisational leadership
• Lead and develop the strategic marketing and communications function
• Set standards for when communications activity should, and should not, happen
• Maintain humility while strengthening clarity of impact and purpose

Channels & delivery
• Plan and deliver integrated marketing and communications campaigns across digital, media, content and internal channels, ensuring activity aligns with organisational objectives and brand standards
• Produce and oversee high-quality content (copy, press materials, web, social, email and collateral) while coordinating agencies, suppliers and internal stakeholders to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Monitor performance using analytics and insight, report on outcomes and continuously optimise campaigns and messaging to improve engagement and reach.
Other
• To lead on YSF public affairs and policy work in partnership with the CEO
• Strategic comms planning with the Active Partnership National Organisation and other leading Active Partnerships ensuring consistency of messaging across England
• To support the marketing of events across Yorkshire
• To work flexibly to respond to changing organisational requirements and carry out any other duties which may arise from
time to time
• To follow policies and procedures in relation to other matters, e.g.Health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR, financial procedures, etc.

What we’re looking for
We know great candidates rarely tick every box. If you have strongskills across most of the areas below and believe you can add value, we’d love to hear from you.
• Skills in both operational and strategic marketing and communications
• Ability to influence policy, investment or organisational behaviours
• Ability to design and deliver communications strategies that change decisions
• Skills in translating evidence and insight into persuasive narratives
• Understanding of behavioural science and audience-centred communications
• Able to operate with credibility and humility in partnership environments
• Comfortable working where success means others receive recognition
• Strategic thinker who challenges activities that lack purpose
• Commitment to reducing inequalities
• Strategic narrative and messaging development skills
• Senior stakeholder influencing and facilitation skills
• Ability to simplify complex evidence and communicate in engaging ways
• Leadership and team development skills

Other
• Ability to travel independently around West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.
• Ability and willingness to work to our organisational values

Please make sure you demonstrate your ability to meet therequirements of the job by giving clear, concise examples of how you meet each of the requirements in the What We’re Looking For section of the job description.

We recognise and welcome our responsibility to remove any barriers in our Recruitment and Selection process for disabled people. We have tried to do this, but if you have a disability and identify any barriers in the job description or employee specification, please tell us of these in your application. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments
to the job wherever possible and it would help us to know your needs to do this.