ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for an experienced Communications and Marketing Manager with excellent organisational
skills to develop, implement and manage effective communication strategies for a charity based in the
healthcare sector, with a national and local reach across the UK and Ireland.
You’ll have demonstrable experience in planning and implementing different communications strategies
across a range of marketing channels to help us grow our organisational profile, uphold our vision
and values, while extending our reach across the sector to support growth and awareness among the
community we support.
As part of the daily management of the charity’s communications and marketing needs, you’ll work with colleagues and volunteers to raise awareness maximise awareness of our support model, support the organisation through attendance of national and local events and be part of a team representing the charity at key exhibitions during the year requiring you to be away overnight for up to 3 or 4 nights at a time (depending upon location) – approximately 3-4 times per year. Further information will be available to candidates taken forward for interview.
You will be integral to our communications and marketing approach, collaborating with colleagues who manage our social media and published communications (e.g. member magazine). Above all you are someone who fosters an organisation wide approach working with, mentoring and supporting colleagues to ensure a planned, structured and collaborative approach to our communications and marketing planning.
The ideal candidate must have a proven track record in managing communications, producing effective content and campaigns across a range of channels (print, digital, online) for at least TWO years, ideally bringing additional experience from within the charity sector.
The role is primarily remote and the successful applicant can work from a location of their choice (subject to representing the charity at key meetings, internal meetings and exhibitions throughout the year). The role holder will make optimum use of video conferencing and online collaboration tools to work as part of a wider communications team so the team feels connected and engaged in its approach.
Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) with successful candidates going through to a second round. Second round interviews will be face-to-face interview (with advance notice). Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short working brief and asked to present their campaign ideas at interview together with past examples of their work.
UK travel within the role is expected with the charity reimbursing reasonable travel costs where agreed up front and on behalf of the charity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Plan, execute and monitor a value-driven, measurable communications and marketing strategy across our print, digital and internal channels in accordance with the direction of the Board
- Demonstrable experience developing, collaborating and managing multi-channel campaigns as part of the overall strategy measuring their effectiveness, adapting to change, where necessary, as part of the wider communications approach (digital, print)
- Develop engaging, accessible and audience-focused content to build trust and a relationship with our target audience
- Excellent organisational skills to manage small projects, ensuring timely delivery and execution supporting risk identification and mitigation
- Upholding brand and culture in everything you do
- Collaborate with colleagues to support organisation and management of charity events
- Oversee the communications and marketing direction of the charity to ensure consistency in approach across all channels
- Build and maintain relationship with journalists and oversee other PR opportunities
- Develop and nurture strategic partnerships with key individuals, stakeholders, and community voices, building strong working relationships that support authentic storytelling and enhance the charity’s impact
- Ensure all content in accessible, inclusive and aligns to our brand and identity
- Budget management with strong planning to meet upcoming deliverables and identifying areas where financial savings can be made to maximise charity resources
- Produce meaningful management information at key times
- Monthly senior management reporting
- Quarterly Board reporting
- Annual reports (authoring and collaborating from external sources)
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Experience
- At least two years experience in a Communications/Marketing Management role
- Experience in developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies, ideally within the not-for-profit sector, across a wide range of marketing channels
- PR experience and media liaison
- Communications planning and forward thinking
- Brand management
- Team player/Mentor
- Campaign management to raise the organisational profile and advocate for people
- Working with third party stakeholders to manage exhibition attendance, organise events and more generally any services provided to/purchased by the charity
- Working with and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships including our trustees, staff, volunteers and external medical professionals
- Demonstrable experience of online and digital marketing platforms to promote the charity, raise awareness and support our target audience
- A strong working knowledge of social media platforms, although we have a dedicated social media manager undertaking the role that you will collaborate with
- Familiarity with UK data protection regulation
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge and experience of SEO
- Budgetary management
- Experience in social media moderation
- Experience in creative tools (Canva, Adobe products) and digital marketing platforms
- Podcasts or similar digital content
- Experience of working on sensitive content
- Experience across the not-for-profit sector
- Ambassador management
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
- Creative, proactive and confident in your approach achieving outcomes in a timely manner and within budget
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to build strong working relationships
- Adaptable, flexible and committed to our charitable aims and values
- Strong time management skills
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
To apply, please submit:
- Your CV (up to 3 pages)
- A covering letter outlining your suitability to the role (max 500 words)
Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) discussing previous experience and role fit with successful candidates going through to a second round. This includes alignment to IA’s values. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.
Second round interviews are expected to be in in-person in a central location - advance notice will be given and the charity will reimburse reasonable travel expenses, approved in advance. Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short brief and asked to present their campaign ideas from a charity working example at the interview. This should be available to us at least 48 hours prior to interview to allow us time to review.
Additionally second stage applicants will be asked to provide examples of their own work, at least 48hrs prior to the interview. You should be comfortable sharing past content that you have created previously which will be treated with the strictest confidence. Please allow up to 1.5 hours for this second stage.
Applications should be submitted via the advertising platform including your CV and covering letter. See attached role profile for recruitment timetable and further details about us/the role, including contact details for an informal chat, if required, before applying. Applicants are encouraged to ensure availability in line with the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.
While IA recognises the value of AI technology in the current climate, IA reserves the right to ignore applications where we have reason to believe that they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.
Please let us know if you require any additional support to attend or undertake an interview or if there is anything we should consider as part of the interview process.
Apply as above. Additionally, please refer to the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Animal Free Research UK to recruit the organisation's first full time Media and PR Manager.
About Animal Free Research UK
Animal Free Research UK is a UK charity working to replace the use of animals in medical research. It funds and supports pioneering, human-relevant science such as advanced lab models, data science and other non-animal research methods that aim to deliver better treatments for diseases faster.
Alongside its grant-making work, the organisation actively champions and accelerates the transition to animal-free research by collaborating with scientists, building centres of excellence, and promoting innovation across the life sciences sector.
It also undertakes advocacy, campaigning and policy work; influencing government and public debate to drive legislative and systemic change towards ending animal testing in the UK.
An amazing organisation doing so much incredible work, Animal Free Research UK combines research funding, sector leadership and public affairs activity to create a future where medical research is both effective for humans and free from animal use.
Media and PR Manager
Contract: Permanent, full time position
Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum
Location: Animal Free Research UK is a fully remote organisation, and this is therefore a predominantly home based role. The postholder will be required to travel within the UK around 10 to 12 times per year for team get togethers or events and meetings. Travel will be paid by the organisation when required
Closing date for applications: 9am on Friday 26th June
Interviews: first round interviews will be held on the 7th and 8th July, with second round planned for 14th July
About the role
This is a truly exciting opportunity for a talented media and PR professional to really be creative in a brand new role for an organisation which has made some fantastic inroads into the influencer and media spaces over the past 18 months.
Building on a solid foundation you will be responsible for elevating the organisation's public profile and driving engagement with core media and influencer audiences at a pivotal moment for the organisation.
Delivering influencer and media work that supports across celebrity engagement and fundraising, public affairs advocacy, as well as the organisation's new Centre for Human Specific Research, yours will be a core role within the team.
Key responsibilities within the role will be as follows:
- Develop and implement integrated PR campaigns that support the charity's public affairs work, the Centre for Human Specific Research, and wider initiatives
- Create persuasive PR materials, including press releases, op-eds, spokespeople briefings, comment pieces, and digital content
- Identify newsworthy stories related to campaign milestones, scientific breakthroughs, policy announcements, and funded research
- Maintain and grow relationships with journalists, broadcasters, sector media, influencers, and celebrity supporters to secure sustained, high-quality coverage
- Draft, place, and pitch press releases, letters to editors, feature articles, and broadcast opportunities aligned with brand guidelines and with appropriate organisational sign-off.
- Act as first point of contact for media enquiries, managing proactive and reactive press activity
- Track media coverage, sentiment, and reach, using analytics to refine strategy and maximise impact.
- Build on the charity's success with celebrity supporters and social media campaigns to increase visibility, engagement, and fundraising impact
- Develop and launch a Celebrity Ambassador Scheme, identifying, onboarding, and supporting high-profile advocates
- Plan and deliver PR events, photo opportunities, digital campaigns, and celebrity-led activations that amplify awareness, engagement, and fundraising outcomes
- Collaborate closely with the digital team to align PR campaigns with social media strategy, amplifying reach through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms
- Track and report on the impact of social media and celebrity-led initiatives, using insights to optimise campaigns and inform future strategy
- Support crisis and risk communications planning, ensuring consistent, credible responses on sensitive or complex issues.
- Monitor, evaluate and regularly report on the effectiveness of PR output for senior colleagues, identifying recommendations for continual improvement
- Contribute to ongoing reviews and evaluation of whether Animal Free Research UK is reaching the right audiences and is achieving its communications goals Measure
We'd love to hear from individuals with the following core skills and experience:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent through experience
- PR and/or media trained with a professional qualification or equivalent through experience
- Demonstrable success in securing high-impact media coverage in national, broadcast, and digital media
- Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with journalists, influencers, and high-profile supporters
- Strong copywriting and editing skills tailored to diverse audiences
- Experience managing a media desk, including proactive and reactive work
- Ability to interpret complex scientific or policy content and communicate it clearly and compellingly
- Influential communicator with strong interpersonal skills, confidence in public engagement and stakeholder management
- Familiarity with media monitoring and CRM tools
- Deep commitment to animal protection, scientific integrity, and the strategic goals of Animal Free Research UK
- Strategic thinker who can act tactically, manage multiple priorities, and work under tight deadlines
- Flexible and resilient approach to work, with willingness to travel and work out-of-hours as needed
If you're interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance. Alice can be reached by 'Apply Now' button.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.