Research communications officer jobs
Research is at the heart of our charitable objectives at Sarcoma UK. The charity provides funding for research to understand sarcoma better, improve treatments and ultimately, make a difference to the lives of people affected by sarcoma. Since 2009, we’ve funded more than 100 projects, representing an investment of more than £10 million.
The Research Officer role enjoys a varied workload and brings the opportunity to work with autonomy and develop new skills within a friendly and dynamic team. You will work on a broad range of projects, including being involved with our grant management processes, working closely with the Research Manager and Director of Research, Policy and Support. The post-holder will also work closely with other departments across the charity, including producing engaging research communications content for print, online and social media, and will also have the opportunity to interact with senior researchers, clinicians and people affected by sarcoma.
This is an ideal role for someone with a scientific background and an active interest in research management, and it offers the opportunity to make a real impact for people affected by sarcoma and their families.
At Sarcoma UK, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities and experiences. We are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Benefits
- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- 25 days holiday entitlement per annum plus bank holidays and the working days between Christmas and New Year
- Additional day off for your birthday
- Health and wellbeing:
- Health Cash Plan
- Therapy sessions
- Wellbeing Group
Our Values
- Pioneering we are leading the way to a better future for the sarcoma community.
- Together we are creating a community to make a difference for all those affected by sarcoma.
- Expert we use our expertise in understanding sarcoma to deliver better outcomes.
Duties and Key Responsibilites
Sarcoma UK’s research programme
- To support Sarcoma UK’s grant application processes under guidance from the Research Manager. This will include calls for proposals, identifying expert peer reviewers, administering a high-quality peer and lay review process, communication with applicants and potential applicants, administration of grant awards and supporting patient involvement.
- To provide support to the Grant Review Panel and Research Strategy Committee, including organising meetings and preparing minutes.
- To manage Sarcoma UK’s portfolio of active research grants, under guidance from the Research Manager. This will include use of grant management software for administration of newly awarded grants, monitoring progress of current grants, oversight of grant finances and reporting on final outputs.
- To support opportunities for patient involvement within the research programme, including managing a network of lay reviewers and facilitating new opportunities, with support from the Involvement and Volunteering Coordinator.
- To support new developments in Sarcoma UK’s research programme, including organising and attending events, collaborative funding calls and initiatives to support early career researchers.
Research Impact and Communications
- To monitor and gather outputs and long-term impact of research grants funded by Sarcoma UK and support in ensuring these are shared with internal and external audiences.
- To plan and produce engaging and reactive and proactive communications about sarcoma research, including website, social media, written and video content, working with the Research Manager and Communications Team to ensure our research activities and outcomes are shared with the sarcoma community and wider public.
- To proactively engage with grant holders to gather impactful insights and to support engaging communication about sarcoma research.
- To regularly review and update Sarcoma UK’s website with progress updates on research grants and promote funding opportunities.
- To support work undertaken by the Fundraising Team where required, such as lab tours and supplying information about funded grants for donor reports.
External relationships
- To be a point of contact for Sarcoma UK grant holders and their host institutions.
- To maintain positive relationships with Sarcoma UK’s research panels, potential grant applications, researchers and clinicians, and the wider sarcoma research community.
- To work directly with a range of people personally affected by sarcoma to place the voice of lived experience at the heart of our research programme.
General
- To support the integration of the research programme across Sarcoma UK.
- Attend Sarcoma UK events and contribute to the wider work of Sarcoma UK.
- Travel occasionally to meetings and events. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required (time off in lieu will be given).
- Work flexibly and collaboratively in a dynamic environment, undertaking other duties as required to support the wider operations of Sarcoma UK.
Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research and offers information and support to anyone affected by sarcoma.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the more than 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.
As part of our safer recruitment and safeguarding responsibilities, this role requires a DBS check and professional/character references. We are committed to inclusion and will consider each application fairly.
About you:
This is a terrific opportunity to play a fundamental role as Research Communications Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK’s in developing and shaping our research communications ensuring the timely and proactive communication of our research impact.
- You will have a strong ability for explaining research and science to a lay audience.
- You will also proactively identify communication opportunities and ideas for engaging content to promote and publicise our research projects.
- You will work closely with teams across the organisation providing them with information about our research activity to support their work.
- You will manage the charity’s research information service, our Research Line.
- You will work with the Director of Research and Innovation and Director of Marketing and Communications to lead the development of our research communications plan.
Your Cover Letter Guidance
When submitting your application, please ensure your cover letter provides clear evidence of the following:
• Experience of communicating scientific and clinical information to a range of target audiences
• Proven experience in communicating complex research topics to a lay audience
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective relationships internally and externally
•Proactive and able to identify communication opportunities and ideas for content in a range of formats
• Excellent copywriting, editing and proof-reading skills with ability to write copy for a range of audiences
Your cover letter should demonstrate how your background aligns with these criteria, using specific examples where possible.
About us:
Muscular Dystrophy UK is a charity that connects a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting conditions, and all the people around them. So everyone can get the healthcare, support and treatments needed to feel good, mentally and physically.
This is an exciting time to join Muscular Dystrophy UK. We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.
Values and behaviours:
- A positive attitude and approach that reflect the charity’s values.
- Seek opportunities to contribute to the development of the charity.
- A commitment to and an understanding of disability issues, equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Always demonstrate role model behaviour.
Benefits:
We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We believe in supporting our people both professionally and personally.
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote wellbeing, work–life balance, and career development. Our offerrange of benefits includes great pension contributions, life insurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, employee assistance programme, instant retail and events discounts, and much more...
Location: We operate a hybrid model (home and office, London SE1).
Closing date: Sunday, 11th January 2026
NB Interviews likely to be held on Wednesday, 21st January 2026
Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities
We connect a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions and people around them.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Hybrid working - Part London office-based and part home working. The post holder will work a minimum of one day a week in the office.
Salary: £31,800 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week
Closing date: Tuesday 13 January 2026 at 10.00am
Interview date: Thursday 22 January 2026
This is a permanent role.
Who we are looking for
Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Research and Involvement Officer to help us build on this momentum.
As a Research and Involvement Officer you will provide administrative support to the Head of Research Operations in managing our UK research portfolio, Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge funding and other UK-based funding programmes. This includes providing vital support in the pre- and post-award processes, working closely with research teams, internal colleagues and external stakeholders, as well as ensuring that information about Breakthrough T1D funding opportunities is communicated clearly through our website.
You will also play a key role in delivering our Patient and Public Involvement activities, including ensuring that opportunities to engage people who live with T1D in research are communicated clearly to people affected by T1D and the research community alike.
Experience required
You’ll have previous experience of:
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Supporting project management processes
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Use of project management software such grant management platforms or equivalent
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Providing support to committees/panels
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Awareness of Patient and Public Involvement and Participation
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Biomedical Sciences and research (Undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences or equivalent)
About Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia.
You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1.
Employee benefits
As an employer we offer:
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Hybrid working arrangements
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Flexible working and will consider compressed hours
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Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service
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Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment
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Season ticket and cycle loan
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Pension scheme
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Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates
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Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development
Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age.
At Breakthrough T1D we do understand that AI (Artificial Intelligence platforms like ChatGPT) can be a useful tool for candidates to assist in applying for our roles. We ask that applicants do ensure their authentic voice is present, and we look forward to seeing examples of your specific experience.
Improving lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent, and, ultimately, cure T1D and its complications
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are seeking a proactive, organised digital communicator who enjoys variety and thrives in a dynamic environment. You’ll own our social media, lead and deliver digital and community fundraising campaigns, and help grow and engage audiences with bold, positive and emotive content. You’ll keep projects moving, uphold brand standards, and collaborate confidently across teams.
About Spinal Research
Every two hours, someone in the UK becomes paralysed. Globally, more than 15 million people live with paralysis. At Spinal Research, our vision is a world where paralysis can be cured. We fund groundbreaking research to deliver life-changing treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. By backing the brightest minds and fostering innovation, we are driving progress towards what could be the medical breakthrough of the 21st century: curing paralysis. We will not stop until that future is achieved.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead social media strategy and engagement across Meta, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube; manage calendar, publishing, housekeeping and audience engagement.
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Stay abreast of developments in social media channels, trends and tools, and proactively explore new platforms and features for audience growth and engagement.
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Produce clear social media performance reports with actionable insights.
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Build and optimise paid social campaigns for awareness, acquisition and income.
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Create digital assets: infographics, graphics, and short-form video (Reels/Shorts).
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Source, shape and publish supporter stories and web news items.
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Ensure brand consistency and tone of voice across all outputs; support brand sign-off and content request workflows.
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Identify, test, and fully implement new digital and community fundraising opportunities; lead discovery and delivery for audience targeted products (e.g., motorsport fundraising).
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Collaborate confidently across teams to align priorities, timelines and standards.
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Assist with in-house training (social best practice, content creation, platform processes, ad creation).
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Future scope: The role may expand to include additional communications activities.
The kind of person we are looking for:
Essential criteria
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At least a year’s proven experience in a relevant role within a charity setting.
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In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of social media platforms and campaigns, including planning, processes and scheduling tools (e.g., content calendars, workflow management, and best practice for engagement).
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Experience creating and managing paid ad campaigns on social media (e.g., Meta Ads Manager; audience targeting, creative testing, optimisation, reporting).
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Proficiency in creating digital content, including video and image editing (e.g., Canva, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro).
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Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills across messaging, grammar, punctuation,tone and style.
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Understanding of supporter/donor care.
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High motivation skills and the ability to manage multiple projects confidently and keep momentum.
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Able to attend the London office one day per week (can be more if preferred) and to attend key events throughout the year.
Desirable
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Experience in community and or digital fundraising.
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Experience sourcing and presenting supporter stories.
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Experience using a website CMS (e.g., WordPress or equivalent).
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Basic web page creation/maintenance.
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Experience of working within a medical research charity setting.
Personal Attributes
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Proactive, resilient, and adaptable, with a growth mindset.
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Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
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Passionate about making a positive impact for people affected by spinal cord injury.
Working Arrangements
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Hybrid role split between home and our London Bridge office.
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Spinal Research is a four-day week employer.
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Part of a supportive, values-driven team (commitment, integrity, collaboration, innovation).
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Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support organisational priorities.
Ready to help us deliver life-changing impact?
Apply now to join Spinal Research and play a key role in our mission to cure paralysis.Please send your CV and a supporting letter outlining why you would be a good fit for the role. Where possible, please include links to any social media campaigns or content that you have created.
Please send your CV and a supporting letter outlining why you would be a good fit for the role. Where possible, please include links to any social media campaigns or content that you have created.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Transparency International (UK) are looking for a Research Officer
This role is responsible for delivery of tasks to support our research and advocacy efforts around corruption in the defence and security sector, including quality control of data, liaison with expert researchers, and consolidation of research inputs.
The role contributes both practically and intellectually to the successful delivery of high-end research and advocacy with a focus on effecting change.
The Research Officer will report to Head of Research and perform this within the (Defence and Security Programme).
Main responsibilities
- Contribute to the delivery of TI-DS’s research agenda by undertaking qualitative and mixed-methods research projects under the guidance of the Head of Research
- Produce and facilitate literature reviews, synthesis studies and case-based studies on the key topics set-out to contribute to support the development of our expertise on defence and security sector corruption and the overall achievement of our strategic objectives
- Collect and analyse secondary data, and produce primary data as needed, to provide new insights into corruption risks in the defence and security sectors
- Contribute to high quality research tasks across the work conducted through the Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI)
- Undertake detailed rigorous review and fact-checking of GDI country assessments and sources from a variety of experts, including assessors, peer reviewers, government reviewers, and institutional partners
- Review GDI assessment process and provide suggestions for improvements in methodology
Who we are looking for:
- Educated to Masters’ level in a relevant field of the social sciences, such as security studies, political science, or governance; or of business studies with an interest in defence and corruption
- First rate research skills and familiarity with a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies;
- Demonstrated self-starter with ability to successfully undertake and complete a project, while working across teams and making a positive contribution to collective outcomes.
- Strong written communication and verbal presentation skills with ability to deliver high quality briefings, reports and presentations with minimal supervision.
- Great interpersonal skills being able to build relationships internally and externally.
- Ability to communicate clearly and collaborate effectively across teams
- Strong critical-thinking skills being able to apply sound judgement, problem solve, identify risks and suggest improvements.
- Strong analytical skills with experience in qualitative and mixed-methods research. Experience in quantitative analysis and applying rigorous fact-checking and source validation.
- Ability to produce clear concise literature reviews supported by good understanding of governance and corruption risks
- High standard of written communications and able to tailor writing to the audience
- Expertise in developing qualitative and mixed-methods research frameworks and structuring case studies.
Why TI-UK?
Transparency International is a global movement sharing one vision: a world in which government politics, business and the daily lives of people are free of corruption. Transparency International UK is the UK national chapter of this movement. We work with the UK and devolved governments, parliamentarians, civil society and the private sector to tackle corruption at home, addressing the UK’s global corruption footprint and helping multinational companies prevent corruption by operating with integrity. We are also home to two major global programmes tackling corruption in the Defence and Security and the Global Health sectors on behalf of the wider Transparency International movement.
What can you expect from us?
- A collaborative, flexible and friendly working environment where you will be provided with:
- A competitive salary for our sector
- Up to 6% contributory pension
- A 35-hour working week for full-time roles with flexibility to support your work/life balance. Our approach to blended working (full details on our website) allows you to benefit from regular connection and collaboration. You can also request a formal change to your working pattern and work location.
- Generous annual leave: 28 days plus statutory public / bank holidays as well as discretionary a gifted winter holiday break of three to four days each December between Christmas and New Year
- Enhanced leave beyond statutory requirements to support your parental or caring responsibilities
- Family friendly policies
- Additional leave to support your volunteering or community service
- Employee Assistance Programme (Aviva) to support your physical, mental & financial health.
- Training and Development related to your role
- Season ticket loan/ Cycle to work scheme
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
High Trees are seeking a new team member to provide full administrative and programme support to the Research & Impact team. You will be joining us at an exciting time as High Trees continues to grow the reach and scale of our research and impact. This is an exciting opportunity for a thoughtful and proactive individual to work within a small, collaborative and dynamic team in a varied role. You will be passionate about ensuring that the voices of the communities that we work with remain at the heart of what we do and how we do it.
This role is central to supporting the team in the day-to-day running of our service. You will be responsible for producing dynamic and impactful marketing and communications content, and providing administrative support for our research, evaluation and partnership activities and events. You will also be proactive, keeping abreast of developments and opportunities in the sector to raise the profile of our work. You will be highly organised and details-focused, a compelling communicator, and confident to take initiative.
Collaboration with colleagues is an essential part of this role and you will enjoy working with others and be a valued partner, peer and colleague. Supporting the Head of Community Research and Impact and the wider team, you will actively contribute to delivering and shaping our service. You will need to be highly responsive to the needs of colleagues, service users, partners, and be able to provide practical solutions for a range of situations. This is an entry-level post, and you will be encouraged and supported to grow and develop your skills and expertise across a range of areas.
Connecting with people and communities to strengthen skills and build stronger voices.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
As our Digital Communications Officer, you will help us bring our work to life across our digital channels. You will be responsible for growing our engagement and sharing our impact around the world. You will lead day-to-day delivery of our website and social media channels, create compelling multimedia content, and use insight and analytics to continuously improve performance.
We are determined that every baby should experience the best start in life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Flexible
Join our small but mighty team and help transform the future for people affected by primary bone cancer.
We’re looking for a motivated and detail-driven Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Officer to support a growing and strategic income stream. You’ll work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Manager to research prospects, write compelling applications, manage reporting, and build warm, meaningful relationships with funders who want to make a real impact.
In this role, you’ll contribute to raising around £500,000 a year to fund life-saving research and vital support services for patients and families. You’ll collaborate with colleagues across the charity, turning insight, data, and stories into persuasive cases for support that inspire funders to give.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong writing skills, excellent relationship-building abilities, and a proactive approach. Whether you already have experience in trust fundraising or are looking to develop in this area, we’ll support you every step of the way.
What we offer:
• 30 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexible working and home-working support
• 6% employer pension
• Private Health Insurance (after probation)
• Generous training and development opportunities
• Supportive, collaborative culture where you can genuinely make an impact
If you’d love to use your skills to support a passionate community and help drive positive change, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Our mission is to save lives and improve outcomes for people affected by primary bone cancer through research, information, awareness and support.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £33,765 - £37,000 per annum depending on experience.
Hours: Full-time and permanent. 35 hours per week
Place of work: Hybrid with a minimum requirement of 12 in-person days per annum. In addition, there will be a requirement to attend site visits, conferences and events as required.
Join Our Team!
We’re looking for someone to join us on a permanent basis in the New Year to support the delivery of the charity’s research aims in accordance with the research strategy. This includes our programme of grants, working with networks and partners to drive increased investment in research for people with Crohn’s and Colitis and our work to support increased patient and public involvement in research.
About Us
We're the UK's leading charity for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Right now, an estimated 500,000 people in the UK are living with a lifelong disease many people have never heard of and for which there is no known cure. Because of the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding these diseases, thousands of people are suffering in silence. But we’re here to support and champion their cause and our ambitious plans will help to make a real difference.
About You
You’ll have experience of research administration or management at a University, Research Institute or funding organisation and of supporting patient and public involvement in research or as part of quality improvement projects in a UK-wide healthcare context. You’ll have proven communication and team-working skills and can evidence your ability to horizon scan and network to keep up to date with research and quality improvement developments. We’re looking for candidates who ideally have experience of working in health/science research environments and a knowledge of project management methodology. A knowledge of the needs of people affected by Crohn’s and Colitis would also be an advantage.
If you like the sound of our role then this could be an opportunity to join a leading charity as we enter the next stage of growth and expansion.
Please see our Recruitment Pack for details of our full Job Description and Person Specification.
Our Location
We are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, so we are easily accessible by road and rail. In this role, there is plenty of scope for a hybrid approach working from home, although there will be times when you will need to be at face-to-face meetings in Hatfield or across the UK. There is a requirement for you to attend a minimum of 12 in person days a year, including two Directorate meetings and the charity’s mandatory ‘All Staff Together’ days which take place four times a year at our offices in Hatfield or a location in London. In addition, there will be a requirement to attend site visits, conferences and events as required.
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing one day per year up to 30 days
- Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
- Flexible working options
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Wellbeing programme
- Interest free loan for season tickets
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking and secure bike locks at the Hatfield office
- Training and development financial support and/or study leave
- Performance review and development scheme
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to the applicant residing in the UK and a valid right to work in the UK being provided.
We will not be accepting any contact from Recruitment Agencies or Media Sales
If you have any queries about this role, would like to have a conversation before formally applying, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Cristina Lujan Barroso, Research Manager. Please see recruitment pack for her contact details.
Please note the charity will be closed over the period 25/12/2025 to 1/1/2026 inclusive, but we will be returning on 2 January 2026 should you have any queries
Please submit a CV and supporting statement outlining why you’d like to apply, how you fulfil the person specification, and what you feel you will bring to the role, so you’ll need to refer to the Recruitment Pack found on our website.
We break taboos, drive pioneering research, bring people together & campaign to improve lives. We are leading the fight against Crohn's & Colitis
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Science Communications Officer - FTC
The Officer is part of the Science Communications Team, which inspires and informs the public, donors and researchers about dementia research, the progress being made, wider developments in the field and the impact of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) funding.
The postholder plays a vital role in helping tell the story and scientific narrative of ARUK to a variety of audiences, cementing the charity’s role as a leading authority on dementia research in the UK and globally. They also help to create a clear, creative, and compelling case for the need for research and the progress being made towards finding a cure. This means the postholder will be an effective and inspiring communicator, creating and landing content covering ARUK research, impact and commentary across multiple communications channels and audiences.
Key responsibilities include finding and developing stories around ARUK research and helping to create and deliver communications plans around our research initiatives. This includes: pitching stories to media, creating social media and digital content, such as blogs and website summaries and help creating content for supporter newsletters. The officer will also be part of our press operations which involves handling media calls. This includes some out of hours cover.
The postholder will also be expected to engage in broader communications and events work both within the team and beyond it. This is a challenging, creative and busy role, but one that oversees a function that is critical to ARUK and its mission.
This is a 12-month Fixed Term Contract
Key Responsibilities:
· Support in the development and implementation of communications plans for ARUK launches and major initiatives, as well as responding to other stories in the news.
· Ensure that ARUK’s research portfolio, strategy and ambition is communicated to the public through digital channels including our website, blog and social media.
· Develop and maintain a first-rate working knowledge of the dementia research field, including ARUK’s portfolio, strategy, impact and history.
· Develop and maintain high-level playbooks that make the case for research and the work of ARUK, and devise and develop innovative and creative communications products and campaigns based on this narrative.
· Work with teams across the charity, including Research, Fundraising and Marketing to find and communicate suitable projects, success stories and researcher case studies for inclusion in public and supporter-facing communications.
· Contribute to ARUK’s proactive and reactive media communications by being part of the news desk, including out-of-hours queries (organised through an on-call rota, and occasional ad hoc) and finding ARUK-related newsworthy stories to pitch to the media.
· Help monitor and showcase the impact of our media activity and contribute to media training ARUK employees.
· Help manage multiple short- and long-term projects, working with teams within the charity and key external stakeholders.
· Deliver presentations about dementia and our communications around dementia and research as part of employee and external events.
· Maintain a watching brief of the dementia research sector to identify emerging technologies and trends that might benefit ARUK’s work.
· Develop and maintain relationships with a wide network of experts from across the dementia research field, including through attending research conferences and representing ARUK.
· Ensure communications activities comply with ARUK’s tone, branding and style guide.
· Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the team manager in line with the responsibilities of the post.
What we are looking for:
· Educated to degree level in life sciences or demonstrable relative work experience.
· Experience in translating complex science for a lay audience.
· Experience in creating compelling content for digital channels, including web and social media.
· Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills: can work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders within and outside the organisation.
· Strong planning and organisational skills and working to tight deadlines
· Excellent organisational skills; the ability to manage a large number of tasks to multiple deadlines.
· A confident communicator and friendly manner; would feel at ease representing the charity to a range of audiences to a high level.
· Willingness and ability to travel in the UK and beyond, to work outside of regular office hours when needed.
· Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders and build strong relationships at all levels, both within and outside the charity.
· Confident in using a range of IT systems
· Ability to write compelling and engaging content
Additional Information:
Ways of working:
As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £34,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 11th January 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Senior Marketing Planning Manager in an exciting new role to Alzheimer’s Research UK. Sitting in the Marketing Planning team within Strategic Marketing, this role is accountable for making ARUK’s marketing system work end-to-end for bigger and better impact.
This role is responsible for the practical application of the overall marketing strategy into clear, prioritised and sequenced plans across the top of the marketing funnel, working closely with colleagues across Fundraising, Comms, Digital, Policy and Brand.
Operating with significant autonomy, the role embeds planning discipline, governance and rhythm across the organisation — ensuring the right activity happens at the right time, with the right level of investment, to deliver audience and income growth.
This is a senior management role, judged not by activity but by the clarity, efficiency and effectiveness of the marketing system.
Key Responsibilities:
Marketing Planning & Operating Model Leadership
· Own and embed ARUK’s Marketing Operating Model, ensuring planning principles, cycles, governance and tools are understood and consistently applied.
· Translate organisational priorities into an integrated annual and quarterly marketing plan.
· Ensure planning supports growth of our defined target audience and long-term fundraising outcomes.
Master Marketing Calendar Planning & Management
· Own and maintain the single Master Marketing Calendar to ensure a clear and complete view of what ARUK is communicating externally and when.
· Sequence campaigns to avoid clashes, duplication and audience fatigue.
· Enable informed trade-offs between activity based on capacity, impact and strategic priority.
Strategic Marketing & Communications Board Programme Management
· Act as Programme Manager for the Strategic Marketing & Communications Board.
· Ensure meetings are decision-focused, well-structured and supported by clear papers.
· Track actions, outcomes and follow-through to ensure decisions translate into delivery.
Campaign Planning Quality & Governance
· Lead consistent campaign briefing, prioritisation and review processes.
· Ensure Gold and Silver tier campaigns are properly planned, resourced and evaluated.
· Improve planning quality across teams, reducing late-stage changes and rework.
Cross-Organisational Leadership
· Coordinate input from Fundraising, Comms, Brand, Digital, Policy and Insight.
· Build strong working relationships and act as a trusted planning partner to Heads and Directors.
· Enable teams to focus on delivery by providing clarity, structure and coordination.
· Collaboration and briefing of media agency, creative and external partners to ensure visibility and understanding of priorities
People management
· Accountable for team development and line management of Senior Marketing Effectiveness Officer, including career development, performance reviews.
· Ensure outputs from Senior Marketing Effectiveness Officer are translated into strategy and activated in delivery.
Key Outputs
· Respected ownership of a single, trusted marketing plan and calendar actively used across the organisation.
· Effective, well-timed campaigns and clearer prioritisation.
· Improved confidence from senior leaders in marketing decision-making.
· Proactive planning and increased scheduling of external activity that makes the most of brand halo effect.
· Cross organisational planning forums that enable decisions.
What we are looking for:
· Significant experience leading multi-channel marketing or communications planning across multiple teams or functions.
· Strong understanding and experience of marketing planning frameworks, campaign cycles, and processes that support integrated delivery.
· Experience developing and implementing planning tools such as calendars, tiering frameworks, briefing processes, and governance systems.
· Demonstrable project management and organisational skills, with proven ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
· Experience of facilitating cross-functional collaboration and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
· Experience managing complex workloads and bringing clarity and structure in fast-paced environments
· Highly organised, able to create systems and processes that others can easily adopt.
· Strong communication skills — able to translate strategic direction into clear, actionable plans.
· Able to build strong relationships across teams and foster a collaborative approach.
· Confident in leading meetings, workshops, and cross-team discussions.
· A proactive problem-solver who anticipates risks and identifies solutions early.
· Comfortable holding others to account for agreed ways of working, timelines, and processes.
· Attention to detail with the ability to step back and see the bigger picture.
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £53,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 11th January 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.
We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:
· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.
· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.
· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.
ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.
To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Events team sit within the wider Insight & Strategic Development team at Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK). The purpose of the Insight and Strategic Development team is to deliver both long term and tactical insight that is grounded in a deep understanding of our audiences. We objectively influence evidence-based decision making, to drive forward organisational priorities for a cure. We do this by inspiring and challenging through our own expertise, working collaboratively to shape actionable insights and champion an insight focused mindset.
The Events team lead on the development and delivery of a wide range of events that stretch across the whole organisation. The key aims of the team are to ensure a consistent, professional, and highly engaging supporter experience whether through direct delivery or through consultation with teams looking to deliver events on their own.
The Events Administrator will work closely with the Senior Events Officer and wider Events Team to develop and deliver a first-class events programme for Alzheimer’s Research UK. The team comprises two Event Officers, two Senior Event Officers and one Senior Event Manager.
This role involves working alongside other team members on the planning and delivery of in-person, hybrid and online events, as well as providing administrative support and recording and reporting on events.
This role will be known internally as Events Executive*.
Key Responsibilities:
Events
· To work alongside colleagues on the delivery of their events, including co-ordinating key tasks such as mailings, documentation and building event registration portals within EventsAIR, our events management software.
· To manage and monitor the Events and Conference inboxes, communicating with colleagues and supporters, as well as event participants and stakeholders. Responding to RSVPs and queries surrounding events.
· To source venues and suppliers for events that ensure best value for the charity and to ensure good record keeping of these contacts.
· To produce high quality support materials required for events, such as leaflets and merchandise, liaising with designers and suppliers and monitor the use of these across the charity.
· To prepare event documentation, including briefs, risk assessments and where applicable seating plans and supporting documentation if required.
· To attend some events; this may include some travel and work outside of ordinary working hours.
Team administration
· To maintain the events calendars, liaising with different teams within the organisation to keep these accurate and up to date.
· To maintain the Events Team’s folders, files and useful documents such as templates and ‘how to guides’.
· To manage the team’s Intranet page making sure that the content is up to date.
· To manage the resources for events and review the materials on a regular basis to see if they are fit for purpose.
· To ensure accurate record keeping of events activity on the fundraising database.
· To use the database to monitor and report on events activity and to manage communications for events.
What we are looking for:
· Confident working with computers, extensive knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook
· Experience in an administrative role supporting multiple team members
· Experience of prioritising a diverse workload and working to deadlines
· Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise competing tasks
· Ability to build and maintain strong relationships both internally and externally
· Excellent attention to detail
· An effective communicator able to work with stakeholders at all levels.
· Highly motivated and a team player
· Proactive and able to work independently using initiative
· Willingness to learn
· Flexibility and adaptability within the role when required
· Willingness and ability to work at events, often outside of core working hours
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £24,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 11th January 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.
We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:
· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.
· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.
· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.
ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.
To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a new role sitting within the Marketing Planning team, created to establish ARUK’s Single Source of Marketing Truth. This role helps to establish marketing effectiveness as a core organisational capability at ARUK, ensuring objectivity on performance.
The Senior Marketing Effectiveness Officer will work with the Head of Marketing Planning and Senior Marketing Planning Manager, to deliver robust audience insight, marketing performance measurement, and effective evaluation to inform marketing strategy. The role moves ARUK to a consistent, comparable measurement system that supports income growth, audience development and best use of marketing budgets.
Key Responsibilities:
Marketing Effectiveness & Performance Measurement
· With the support of the Senior Marketing Planning Manager, deliver and implement an ARUK Single Source of Truth (SSOT) dashboard for marketing performance.
· Build and maintain consistent KPIs, reporting methodologies and dashboards across all marketing disciplines.
· Analyse campaign performance across channels, providing objective insight on effectiveness, ROI, CPA, long-term value and audience movement through the funnel.
· Produce clear performance summaries and recommendations for senior leadership to guide future decision-making and budget optimisation.
· Identify what works, what doesn’t, and what should be scaled — ensuring learning is embedded into planning cycles by the Senior Planning Manager.
Audience Insight & Segmentation
· Working with the Senior Marketing Planning Manager, translate priority audience insights into actionable planning and targeting guidance for campaign and channel teams.
· Maintain and update audience personas, segmentation models and behavioural profiles in partnership with the Insight team.
· Support on ad hoc audience research (quantitative and qualitative) to inform proposition development, message testing and campaign design.
· Support the Head of Marketing Planning and Senior Marketing Planning Manager in ensuring all marketing activity is rooted firmly in audience needs and motivations.
Data, Systems & Continuous Improvement
· Support the implementation and optimisation of new effectiveness tools, dashboards, analytics partners and measurement frameworks.
· Work closely with CRM, Data and Finance teams to ensure accurate, consistent flow of supporter, campaign and spend data.
· Identify gaps in data, insight or measurement and propose solutions to resolve them.
Stakeholder Engagement & Upskilling
· Present clear, insightful recommendations to senior leaders and campaign owners to guide investment and planning.
· Support training for teams on how to use insight, performance data and funnel metrics to improve campaign effectiveness.
· Champion a test-and-learn culture across the organisation.
Key Outputs
· A clear, agreed set of marketing performance measures and way of working for marketing evaluation used organisation wide.
· Increased understanding and clarity in how marketing success is defined and reported.
· Evidence of performance insight actively shaping planning, channel selection and investment.
· Improved ability to demonstrate marketing’s contribution to income and growth.
· Strong confidence from senior leaders in marketing effectiveness.
What we are looking for:
· Strong experience analysing marketing performance data across multiple channels (digital, brand, fundraising, PR, paid media etc.).
· Demonstrable experience designing or implementing measurement frameworks, dashboards, KPIs, or campaign reporting approaches.
· Experience working with audience insight (quantitative and qualitative) and translating this into practical recommendations for campaign planning or proposition development.
· Experience working with analytics, data, or CRM teams to extract, clean and interpret data into marketing strategy.
· Experience presenting insight and performance findings to senior stakeholders, with clear recommendations.
· Ability to interpret complex datasets, identify patterns, and turn evidence into actionable improvements.
· Highly analytical, with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
· Able to communicate complex information simply and compellingly.
· Curious, evidence-led mindset — always seeking to understand “what’s working and why”.
· Comfortable challenging constructively and influencing decision-making.
· High attention to detail and accuracy.
· Ability to plan and manage multiple insight or analysis workstreams simultaneously.
· Collaborative and proactive — able to work closely with Fundraising, Digital, Insight, Brand, Comms and Data teams
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £36,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 11th January 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.
We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:
· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.
· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.
· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.
ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.
To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Employer: Community Rail Network
Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time
Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield
We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.
About us
Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.
Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.
Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.
About this role
This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.
As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.
Main responsibilities
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Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice;
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Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport;
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Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared;
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Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;
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Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport;
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Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement;
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Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact;
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Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR;
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Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact;
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Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;
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Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement.
Skills and competencies
- Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management;
- Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
- An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights;
- Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas;
- Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels;
- Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels;
- A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments;
- Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level;
- Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks;
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so;
- IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media;
- Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.
Other information
As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.
This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.
Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a brilliant time to join our Research and Impact team. We are at the start of a new strategy which has learning and development at its heart. We have embedded a strong monitoring, evaluation and learning culture within the organisation and have a highly evolved theory of change. We have a learning plan for the year ahead and a 5-year vision for where we want our learning culture to get to in the next strategy period. Our work is central to BookTrust’s ambition to deepen our impact for children and families, and build our profile, public affairs and income generation work in support of our overall mission.
We are looking for someone committed to and excited by the potential for research and insight to strengthen our impact for children and families, with a specific focus on our work with primary and secondary schools.
The role will suit a mixed methods researcher, with experience of data led problem solving – i.e. analysing and presenting data from a range of sources to develop and test hypotheses, generate insights and help others apply these to shape and inform decisions or drive change. It requires excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, and a keen eye for detail. The role requires someone who is happy to work collaboratively and flexibly in a changing environment, potentially changing focus and approaches in line with evolving organisational priorities. It requires high levels of organisation and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
This is an early career position, but we are looking for candidates with one or two years’ relevant experience outside academia.
Please apply through our Career’s portal with your CV and a covering letter showing how you meet the person specification and your motivations for applying for the role. Your covering letter should not be longer than two sides.
Please also answer this question in your cover letter:
BookTrust sees good data, and good use of data as key to delivering our strategy. In your application, please tell us: what are some of the principles of good use of data that BookTrust should incorporate into our work? (Even if you use AI for a little help, please focus your answer on the principles that you personally feel are most important.)
Please also attach one or two examples of written outputs (reports, blogs etc) you have produced and also specify if you are applying to be based from our Leeds of London office.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

