Senior financial planning and analysis manager jobs

Head of Audiences

Summary:

Are you passionate about using audience and data insight to spark curiosity and inspire change? As our new Head of Audiences, you’ll lead a bold, data-driven strategy that places audience understanding at the heart of everything we do - shaping programmes, experiences and campaigns that reach further, resonate deeper, and include everyone. You’ll be joining a values-driven charity with a welcoming, collaborative culture, outstanding staff benefits, and a deep commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, and work-life balance.

Job details

Hours: 37.5 per week (flexible working considered, working a minimum of 0.9 FTE/33.75 hours per week)

Location: Between both sites – Winchester Science Centre (WSC), Winchester, SO21 1HZ, and Wonderseekers HQ, Eastleigh, SO50 9DE. Onsite presence is essential for the majority of this role, however occasional remote working is possible for a small proportion of time – this can be discussed at the interview stage.

Work pattern: Usually Monday to Friday working during office hours. Occasional out of hours work will be required. The charity operates 7 days a week.

Salary: Between £40,000 - £43,500 per annum (1 FTE) 

Contract: Permanent

Line manager: Chief Operating Officer

Responsible for: Marketing Officer, Digital Content and Brand Producer

Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays. Option to buy/sell some leave and gain additional days for continuous service after four years. The post-holder will not usually be expected to work bank holidays however when duties require, time off in lieu will be available.

Benefits: Cash health scheme, life assurance, buy/sell annual leave, long service holiday bonus, café and shop discount, electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, free tickets to WSC and partner attractions, family friendly leave, wellbeing policy, mental health first aiders, cycle to work scheme, financial loans, flexible IT, casual dress, staff events, enhanced pension contribution and pension salary sacrifice scheme, inflationary pay rise subject to charity performance and more.

Deadline: Monday 25th August 5pm

Interviews: 1st and/or 3rd September

About our Charity

Wonderseekers (the Charity behind Winchester Science Centre) strives to engage all children with science so they can live happier, healthier and more sustainable lives and contribute to improving life on Earth. The Charity runs Winchester Science Centre - a vibrant, hands-on experience for young children. Promising an exciting day out for families, with curriculum-linked trips for schools and an evening events programme, the Science Centre welcomes over 170,000 visitors every year. Through our magnificent planetarium and live science experiences, science is brought to life in imaginative, fun and accessible ways that means everyone is included.

1. The Role

The Head of Audiences is a new leadership role in the Commercial Operations team designed to ensure that audience insight and segmentation are at the heart of everything we do. This role will lead on understanding who our current and prospective audiences are, how they engage with us and what they need now and in the future. You will use this insight to guide programming, marketing, visitor experience at Winchester Science Centre but as we evolve our Charity’s reach and engagement you will play an important role in ensuring we fulfil our ambitious plans and reaching a diverse community. By building an inclusive and evidence-based audience strategy, this role will enable Winchester Science Centre to grow reach and engagement, deepen impact and fulfil its charitable mission to inspire a lifetime of curiosity in science.

The role is part of the Commercial Operations team led by the Chief Operating Officer and will work closely with the Head of Programming and Head of Visitor Experience. However, you will work with the wider leadership and their teams to ensure that both the community programme and on-site experience are insight-led, responsive to audience needs, and relevant to a wide range of segments. It plays a key role in championing access, equity and inclusion across all areas of the Charity’s work.

As we embark on a chapter of significant growth, you will play a pivotal role in identifying the audiences and ensuring they sit at the heart of our decision making. You will work with key stakeholders across the business, including our Children’s Voice, to ensure the Charity can achieve its commercial and impact objectives. At the heart of that conversation is a deep understanding of our audiences through geo-demographic and / or psychographic audience segmentation, that you will lead on.

You will lead a small team, with the potential for growth, comprising a Marketing Officer and a Digital Content and Brand Producer. Together, you will be responsible for driving bold, creative campaigns that are grounded in audience insight, developing engaging content across all channels, and supporting the evolution of our brand to reflect the diversity and ambition of our mission. As the team grows, you will shape its direction, nurture talent, and ensure alignment between strategy and delivery across all audience touchpoints.

2. Job Description

Key Responsibilities

· Lead the organisation’s audience strategy, embedding a data-led approach that informs programme development, marketing and wider organisational planning and offer.

· Lead the audiences' team to deliver high impact campaigns that delivers on organisational objectives and visitation targets, that contributes to the continued brand development of Wonderseekers and Winchester Science Centre.

· Use your expertise in audience segmentation to design, shape and oversee the delivery of multi-channel marketing strategies that maximises return on investment and successfully drives visitation and audience engagement targets.

· Gather, analyse and communicate audience insight using internal data, commissioned research and external benchmarking to build a shared understanding of current and potential audiences.

· Develop strategic campaigns to deliver audience growth with a focus on breadth (reach), depth (repeat engagement), equity (inclusive access) and impact (positive change).

· Collaborate with the Head of Programming to ensure audience needs, motivations and barriers directly inform the content, tone and timing of all programmes.

· Collaborate with the Development team to identify and align target audiences for new exhibitions and experiences.

· Collaborate with the fundraising team to ensure audience alignment for fundraising activities.

· Champion a culture of audience-centred decision-making across the organisation, ensuring all teams understand and use segmentation to shape their work and programmes.

· Provide actionable insight to the marketing team to refine messaging, campaign targeting, content tone and channel strategy by segment.

· Work in partnership with the Head of Visitor Experience to ensure audience insight and segmentation inform all aspects of the on-site experience including welcome, signage, wayfinding, service tone, flow and accessibility.

· Ensure programme, marketing and visitor experience are aligned to deliver a coherent, satisfying and inclusive journey for every audience group.

· Evaluate the audience experience across all touchpoints, using qualitative and quantitative feedback to support continuous improvement and operational learning.

· Contributing with the Head of Equity, Community, and Outreach to access and inclusion planning, ensuring physical, cultural and digital barriers are identified and addressed through evidence and audience consultation.

· Lead the piloting and testing of new engagement approaches, using segmentation insight to design and evaluate innovative offers across programme and experience.

· Collaborate with the Head of Digital Infrastructure and our web developers to ensure CRM, ticketing and digital platforms support effective tracking, evaluation and personalisation by audience segment

· Build internal capability by supporting colleagues to interpret and apply audience insight in their own work across programming, schools, visitor experience and marketing.

· Report regularly to the Executive Leadership Team and Board, sharing insight on audience trends, performance, and opportunities for future growth.

· Represent the organisation externally at relevant stakeholder events, networks and sector forums to share learning and maintain visibility.

· Manage the department budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated to maximise insight, impact, engagement, and visitation.

· Actively participate in senior leadership meetings and planning processes, ensuring key audience insight is integrated into organisational decision-making.

· Any other reasonable tasks commensurate with the position.

Special Circumstances

There may be occasional work, meetings and events in evenings, early mornings and at weekends which will be compensated by time off in lieu. Additional overtime would be arranged only with agreement of both the employee and line manager. Occasional travel may be required.

3. Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

• Significant experience in using geo-demographic and / or psychographic audience insights in a cultural, visitor attraction or charitable setting to drive visitation and engagement.
• Expertise and experience in developing and applying segmentation models to inform marketing, visitor experience and programming strategies.
• Demonstrable experience in leading, creating and delivering audience-led marketing campaigns that have achieved significant step changes in engagement, visitation or other key performance outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to turn complex data into actionable strategy and influence decision-making across teams.
• Experience in co-creating programmes or campaigns with diverse or underserved audience groups.
• Strong understanding of evaluation and impact measurement tools (e.g. surveys, focus groups, behavioural data, CRM analytics).
• Confident working across multiple departments and building organisational capability in audience understanding.
• Strong facilitation, presentation and reporting skills.

Core Competencies

• Passionate about public engagement, access and inclusion.
• An infectious enthusiasm and commitment that drives change.
• Strategic and analytical thinker who can join the dots across insight and experience.
• Strong communicator and collaborator.
• Self-motivated and able to lead and influence a range of stakeholders.
• Values-driven with an enthusiasm for data-informed storytelling.
• A proactive, ‘can-do’ attitude with a willingness to take measured risks to deliver beyond the brief and mission of the Charity.
• Able to work in an agile and responsive way, adapting quickly to changing priorities, emerging insights and audience needs while maintaining focus on long-term goals.

In addition applicants will have:

• A clean record on the Disclosure and Barring Service

Ready to Apply?

When you are ready to apply, please submit your application through our recruitment portal - see website for link.

You will be asked to submit your contact details and answer a few questions so we can get to know you. Please keep your responses concise, this is your opportunity to really stand out. After answering these questions, please upload your cover letter and CV.

Need information in a different format or would like to apply in an alternative way? Just get in touch using the email address above or call our office and book a call with HR - see website for details. 

No recruitment agencies, thank you.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND
Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The External Relations (ER) unit comprises four complementary functions: Private Fundraising, Marketing & Mobilization, Policy & Advocacy and Operations & Analytics. To enable IRC to deliver our Strategy100 commitments, the ER unit established a bold new approach that enhances our ability to raise diverse and flexible funding aligned with IRC’s top priorities, while raising our profile and influence. The ER unit is international, with colleagues in more than 10 offices globally.

The Purpose of the Role

As Director of Communications, UK, you lead IRC UK’s core communications strategy with the objectives of growing our profile, influencing policy, driving income, and building our reputation. This is done by taking a strategic approach to generating effective messaging for cross-team use, creatively collaborating to produce cut-through external products across media and digital channels, and generating top tier media coverage in collaboration with communications, advocacy and fundraising colleagues globally. In this role you will be expected to use expert judgment to manage IRC UK’s reputation, as well as ensure media and digital outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm. 

The Director will report to the UK Executive Director and the Acting Senior Director of Global Public Affairs. The Director will collaborate closely with the Director for Digital Engagement, UK Advocacy Director, and the Director of UK Mass Markets to meet the organization’s strategic objectives surrounding profile, income and influence.

Scope and Authority

Authority:

●The role holder sets strategic direction for UK communications, with a focus on earned media, public advocacy and organic digital.

●The role oversees the UK comms operational budget, with access to the Global External Relations budget.

●The role has the authority to brief journalists with agreed messaging and act as spokesperson for the organisation.

●The Director will line manage the communications team and other positions when required.

●The role is a key member of the UK Senior Management Team, with collective responsibility for the leadership, culture and efficacy of IRC UK.

Key Working Relationships

●Reports to the UK Executive Director and Acting Senior Director Global Public Affairs & Communications.

●Close collaboration with External Relations staff in the UK, US and globally, including Policy and Advocacy, Mass Markets, Fundraising, Awards Management, Digital Engagement, Entertainment Relations, Creative Studio, and Experiential Marketing.

●Works closely with key country directors, country programme staff and technical unit colleagues.

●Supports policy staff in the IRC President’s Office on key UK messages and policy initiatives involving the IRC President.

●Works closely with counterparts in NGOs and donors particularly FCDO and the DEC.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Direction

●Raise IRC UK's profile, income, influence and brand in the UK market by developing and delivering a 360 comprehensive communications & marketing strategy that reaches target audiences, attracts new supporters, and connects supporters with IRC clients.

●Partner with global external relations leadership to set Key Performance Indicators for achieving the strategy, and drive and monitor progress towards them with the support of your team.

●Contribute to the development and delivery of the UK Strategic Plan.

Team Management & Stakeholder engagement

●Manage a team of communications professionals, setting objectives, portfolio scope, and partnering on professional development opportunities

●Drive creative insights and strategic thinking within the UK comms team and influence / maximize policy, advocacy and fundraising outputs and results

●Lead strategic communications planning to maximize opportunities of partnering with income and influence objectives and outputs

●Ensure the UK Communications Team are clear on systems, processes and organization to drive efficiency and team productivity

●Review team performance quarterly and present on results to global stakeholders

●As a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UK SMT) support the UK Executive Director in the creation and delivery of IRC UK strategies and priorities, foster cohesion and collaboration among UK based departments, representing the needs and objectives of the team in the UK SMT and UK office.

Execution: Driving IRC profile, influence and income; and protecting the reputation of the IRC

●Work alongside global communications colleagues, Policy & Advocacy colleagues, Digital Engagement and UK Fundraisers to develop appropriate messaging on key proactive and reactive issue areas across the scope of IRC’s work.

●Plan and identify key moments of opportunity for IRC UK Communications according to internal and external landscape and timetables.

●Ensure pro/reactive message accuracy and cut through calls to action that engage audiences for proactive campaigns and news cycle opportunities.

●Develop, commission and drive creative cut-through tactics and products, from revealing IRC research and analysis to emergency media briefings.

●Secure top tier media coverage of IRC’s work, solutions and innovation, balancing mentions with long-form/features and profiles.

●Influence and shape key media and digital narratives around IRC UK priority issues.

●Oversee strategic media opportunities by commissioning, writing, editing and disseminating messaging for multi-channel use includingpress-releases, op-eds, statements, web and social content to secure coverage of the IRC in the UK across print, broadcast and online media.

●Work with global communications colleagues and country office staff to create strong, persuasive and impactful outputs, and to arrange interviews and media visits to frontline work.

●Act as a spokesperson for the organization in the media as needed.

●Liaise closely with Fundraising teams to collaborate on timely messaging, client-centered storytelling, digital outputs, and media coverage to bring in donations to the IRC during emergencies and other fundraising appeals.

●Manage the communications component of IRC UK’s relationship with the DEC and lead communications on DEC appeals.

●Use expert judgment to ensure the IRC’s brand is protected and to develop and enact strategies to enhance IRC’s reputation, as well as ensure media outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm.

●Ensure coordinated and topical messaging across media outreach and digital channels.

●Establish close relationships with press counterparts within statutory donor organizations that lead to opportunities to promote IRC in the media.

●Leverage IRC’s President and CEO, and UK Executive Director to grow our profile in the UK, through proposing and implementing op-eds, interviews and other media activities.

●Support, prepare and coach staff, spokespeople and board members for media interviews and visits; and provide guidance across the organisation to dealing with media.

●Build expertise on current and potential issues in the humanitarian NGO arena via research and monitoring of national media and competitors and in liaison with global colleagues.

●Work with the global media colleagues to ensure that IRC has a system for managing media enquiries at all times, as needed.

●Responsible for reporting to the IRCUK board, subcommittees and Executive Director on press activity, trends and upcoming opportunities.

●Responsibility for the budget oversight, tracking & administration as well as ensuring adherence to financial processes

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

●**Track record in creating, driving and evaluating a 360-degree communications and marketing strategy that focuses on media, digital and enabling income.**

●**Experience leading and managing media and digital teams.** 

●Experience navigating and influencing within large matrixed organizations.

●Extensive experience of developing key messages and implementing media strategies with an international, and ideally humanitarian or development focus.

●**Experience of conducting media relations and communications opportunities in developing countries and sensitive contexts.

●Experience of organising international media visits to projects in order to facilitate reporting on key issues.**

●**Experience responding to reputational threats.**

●**Experience leading a digital communications team that delivers breakthrough digital content

●Experience/knowledge of tools for monitoring media coverage and digital results.**

●Experience of dealing with media enquiries into crisis and sensitive issues.

●Experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation.

●Experience managing a budget, ensuring timely payment and adherence to finance protocol

Skills and Knowledge

●Creative thinker who can identify opportunities and collaborate internally to produce external products that cut through media and digital and meet strategic IRC UK objectives.

●Strong communication and interpersonal skills: ability to communicate effectively with colleagues both in the UK and overseas and manage working relationships diplomatically.

●Excellent eye to detail and commitment to high speed and high quality writing and editing

●Strong understanding of marketing and how communications intersect with income generation, and influencing

●Strong organisational and time management skills: ability to prioritise team’s work, and multi-task in a fast-paced work setting.

●Good knowledge of UK and international media landscape and news cycle

●Good instinct for digital marketing and digital environment

●Good contacts with key UK journalists and media outlets, and knowledge and ability to develop relationships quickly.

●Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; adept at writing clean, engaging, jargon-free copy for a range of channels.

●Ability to represent IRC-UK and the wider IRC professionally and appropriately at all times.

●Knowledge/interest in international affairs, particularly of conflict and humanitarian crises and issues.

●Knowledge of key political debates in the UK around international development and aid.

●Flexibility as regards working hours, as the need arises.

●Willingness to travel occasionally to conflict areas.

●Fluency in English, spoken and written.

This is an exciting time to be at Battersea at the start of a new five-year strategy for the charity as it seeks to scale up and deliver new services and partnerships that will help it in its mission to help more dogs and cats, creating lasting change for animals and those who care for them, wherever they are. Earned media and PR is crucial to help Battersea build its visibility awareness, and relevance to new and existing audiences to support engagement with our strategic aims. The PR team play a key part in telling our story, shifting public attitudes, and generating support.

We need a confident, dynamic and enthusiastic Press / Media Officer to help us drive visibility, affinity, and relevance amongst new and existing audiences. They will ensure Battersea maintains a high profile and strong, influential voice by working closely with the media and delivering quality proactive and reactive media activity that supports the charity’s strategic aims to help more animals. This role will focus on promoting the work Battersea is doing to help animals not just at our three centres, but also across the UK and overseas.

Responsibilities will include responding to press enquiries and working with production teams, as well as supporting the wider Marketing & Communications directorate on the delivery of integrated campaigns and PR plans that support our animal welfare campaigning (Our Voice), our brand platform ‘We’re all in for them’, our global programmes strategy, our income generation activity, and our sector and corporate partnerships.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions – up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Closing date: 5th August 2025

Interview date(s): 13th August 2025 (1st round) & 21st August 2025 (2nd round)

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.