Trainer jobs in berkeley, gloucestershire

Salary: £46,698 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum

Hours:                       35 hrs per week

Contract: Fixed term contract (until March 2027)

Benefits

· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;

· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;

· Attractive family friendly policies;

· Private healthcare cover;

· Season ticket loans;

· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.

For more information about our benefits please visit our website.

Office locations:  London, Bristol or homeworker

The role will involve spending a substantial amount of time in the East of England (including early starts/late finishes and overnight stays where required) and regular travel nationwide for NHF events and meetings. 

Please note, if office based, the successful candidate will be expected to carry out two days in-person working per week on average which will include attendance at your office location.

Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) to join our team of External Affairs Managers on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people. You can find further information about the NHF on our website.

Could you be our new External Affairs Manager, working closely with our housing association members across the East of England?

This is a unique and varied role which would appeal to someone with a background in areas such as stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications, programme management – or a combination of these areas! For example, you may be looking to step into a role to further develop your leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst still building on your policy or programme management experience and knowledge.

You will operate at the heart of social housing by working with key decision makers across the housing association sector – including managing relationships with chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential to the role, as well as the confidence to work at the most senior levels.  

It is crucial that you can work collegiately to lead key programmes of work across the NHF with colleagues in other teams, for example from our policy, press, events, and public affairs teams. Equally, you will be comfortable working autonomously and shaping your own work programme.

The core of the role involves being responsible for engagement with a whole geographic region of our membership; and working closely on or leading one of the NHF’s key themes of work, which include areas such as supported housing; devolution; developing new homes; decarbonising existing homes; ensuring the building safety agenda is delivered; or representing our rural or smaller housing associations.

The role is wide ranging and in addition to stakeholder management and programme leadership, will include running roundtables between our members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior teams within housing associations.

You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers sitting within the member services directorate, which is there to ensure that we provide excellent value for money for our housing association members.

Key elements of the role:

· You will build and maintain brilliant relationships with housing associations leaders, using your well-developed communication and advocacy skills to maximum effect.

· You will develop knowledge, insight and understanding of housing associations to shape our policy and influencing work and to create structured programmes of member engagement on critical policy and political issues.

· You will be the contact point for housing associations in your region, ensuring they receive first class customer service on the issues which matter to them. Working closely with NHF members you will facilitate the organisation of regional chief executive or leaders forums and sounding boards.

· In addition to your regional work, you will lead on the strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority. This will require collaborative working with colleagues from across the organisation and working with members across every region and specialism.  You will play a leadership role, creating structured engagement strategies to ensure members are able to influence policy as well as engaging key NHF stakeholders and sharing best practice.

· Your role will be to implement structured member engagement to ensure our policy priorities, positions and influencing work are member-led. This will include working directly with members to inform our policy positions and lead our influencing work.

· You will influence debates at the highest level and you will spot in advance and act strategically to mitigate the risk to our membership. As such, this role requires a high degree of political and organisational acumen and the ability to horizon scan.

· You will work with colleagues in our Commercial and Events teams to maximise commercial opportunities and help shape content at our conferences, as well chairing conference sessions.

· To be the face and voice of the NHF with members, stakeholders and the media.

· To ensure that as an organisation we deliver as a whole team, seamlessly, to members to achieve greatest impact in line with the business strategy.

· To maintain high quality standards and follow NHF policy and process.

The successful candidate:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· A sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and issues affecting the wider sector.

· A sound understanding of the political and policy landscape that housing associations operate in.

· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent customer service and value for money.

· Effective communication skills, in person and in writing, including the ability to credibly and confidently present at meetings and events.

· Ability to listen to and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating diplomacy, effective communication and negotiation skills.

· Clear leadership skills, able to lead complex and strategic programmes of work effectively, including experience of matrix managing and motivating a team.

· Excellent analytical skills and strategic nous with the ability to summarise complex information effectively to aid decision making.

· A commitment to excellent customer service.

· A positive, energetic and agile approach to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The NHF has published its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which was co-created with staff. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBTQ+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.

Disability confident employer

We are a disability confident employer and if you are a disabled person who meets the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.

Please note: there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, we may be required to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances the NHF will select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants. This is in line with the Disability Confident guidelines.

We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact the People team with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.

Completing our Application Form

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. The application form includes your employment and education history plus you will be asked to answer questions in relation to your knowledge, skills and experience, why you are applying for the role and questions in relation to our values. The application form is anonymous and will not require you to upload a CV or cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.

Right to work in the UK/UK VISA sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: 4 January 2026

Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2026

Terms: 0.6 FTE, 3 days per week; one year contract, with possibility for extension

Salary: £24,000 - £38,000 per annum, depending on experience

Location:Remote working

Start Date:As soon as possible 

Line Manager:Communications Manager 

Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK. 

Closing Date: 4th January 2026

About BASIC

BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth’s ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, an adherence to Earth’s planetary boundaries, and the consideration of future generations

For nearly 40 years, we have developed a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We comprise an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep and wide-ranging institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome.  We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.

BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership. 

BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment in which to work, with an exceptionally-positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade, and we are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues. 

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with room for growth

• 30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period

• Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)

• Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours

• Remote working with option to use co-working space

• 1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion

The Role

BASIC is seeking a Digital Communications Officer with exceptional design sensibility and meticulous attention to detail. This role is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the organisation's digital presence through clear, consistent, and effective communication with key audiences. The Digital Communications Officer will support the implementation of strategic communication objectives, promote organisational priorities, and uphold the integrity and professionalism of BASIC's online profile.

Reporting to the Communications Manager and working closely with BASIC's programme teams, the postholder will develop, deliver, and analyse the impact of digital content across our online platforms — including BASIC's website and microsites, social media channels (LinkedIn, X/Twitter, BlueSky), and email communications.

Essential Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a fluent English speaker with strong copy-editing and proofreading skills. Professional-grade capabilities in graphic design, web design, newsletter software, and audio/video production are essential for creating compelling online content. We are looking for someone who combines technical fluency with creative flair and storytelling, and who understands how to engage diverse audiences across multiple digital platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

Digital Strategy and Content Management

• Work with the Communications Manager to develop, maintain, and refine BASIC's digital communications strategy and associated workplans

• Ensure consistency in the presentation of programme communications strategies and accessibility for all staff

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of communications activities, identifying successes, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement

• Prepare communications plans for conferences, speaking engagements, international engagements, and campaigns

Website and Digital Platforms

• Commission, edit, and publish articles and commentaries for BASIC's website

• Maintain and update BASIC's website, microsites, and online presence (including Wikipedia and directory listings)

• Ensure all digital content is accurate, well-formatted, proofread, and on-brand

Social Media Management

• Develop and maintain a content calendar for BASIC's social media accounts (LinkedIn, BlueSky, X/Twitter)

• Create engaging, visually compelling, and timely social media content that advances BASIC's communications objectives

• Monitor social media engagement and use analytics to inform strategy

Email Communications and Newsletters

• Produce BASIC's regular newsletters, ensuring they are newsworthy, well-designed, and properly formatted

• Develop compelling headlines and select impactful imagery

• Use graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) to enhance visual appeal

Media Relations Support

• Develop, maintain, and update media contact lists and databases

• Work with the Communications Manager to document and refine media engagement processes

• Prepare press releases, ensuring they are compelling, accurate, and properly formatted

• Compile monthly digests of nuclear policy and security-related media coverage (as required)

Content Creation and Design

• Create visual, audio, and video content using professional-grade tools to tell BASIC's story effectively

• Ensure all imagery is well-cropped, edited, and appropriately branded

• Liaise with staff to identify the most impactful content for external communications

Additional Responsibilities (as required)

• Prepare programme Q&As, one-pagers, briefing notes, and key messages

• Support organisation of media training sessions

• Liaise with external contributors for website content

Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Other tasks may be required as they arise.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Degree in marketing, visual communications, journalism, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Proven experience in a digital communications or media role
• Experience in audio-visual storytelling such as video work or podcasting
• Excellent written and spoken English, with strong copy-editing and proofreading skills
• Professional-grade skills in graphic design, web design, and audio/video production
• Demonstrated ability to manage websites, social media channels, and digital campaigns
• Strong analytical skills, including experience using digital analytics to inform strategy
• Familiarity with email marketing or CRM platforms (e.g., Mailchimp)
• Technically fluent, with creative and storytelling flair
• Highly organised, collaborative, and attentive to detail
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field
• Experience working in a think tank, NGO, research, or public policy organisation
• Experience in media relations or crisis communications
• Knowledge of global security, defence, or nuclear policy issues