Head of Communications

Responsibilities

• Provide visible and accountable leadership for the Marketing and Communications Team, setting direction, priorities and standards.
• Develop and deliver an organisation-wide Marketing and Communications Strategy aligned with the priorities of People First, The Well Communities and partner organisations.
• Champion the strategic value of communications and ensure communications is involved early in planning, change and decision-making.
• Translate organisational priorities into an annual communications plan with clear resources, budgets, responsibilities and measures of success.
• Lead, line-manage and develop the team, creating a collaborative and accountable culture.
• Maintain a prioritised programme of campaigns and communications activity.
• Oversee websites, digital channels, social media, email marketing and other communications platforms.
• Use digital, media, audience and stakeholder insight to evaluate effectiveness and improve performance.
• Lead brand governance, ensuring consistent, accurate and accessible use of identity, messaging and tone of voice.
• Lead external, digital, stakeholder and internal communications.

Requirements

• Senior-level communications experience, including developing and delivering organisation-wide strategies and integrated multi-channel campaigns.
• Exceptional written, verbal and editorial skills, with the ability to communicate complex or sensitive issues to diverse audiences.
• A proven record of developing and protecting organisational brands, messaging and tone of voice.
• Leadership and line-management experience, including setting direction, managing performance and developing effective teams.
• Strong media-relations experience, including proactive profile building, handling enquiries and preparing senior spokespeople.
• Experience leading crisis and issues communications and managing reputational risk.
• Strong understanding of digital communications, audience insight, analytics and evaluation.
• Experience managing communications budgets, agencies and specialist suppliers.
• A strong commitment to accessible, inclusive and co-produced communications that amplify lived experience.

Preferred

• Senior communications experience within the charity, voluntary, health, care, recovery, public or wider social-impact sector.
• Relevant professional qualifications or continuing professional development in communications, PR, marketing or leadership.
• Experience supporting organisational growth, fundraising, business development, campaigns, public affairs or partnership communications.
• Experience commissioning creative, digital, research or media suppliers.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards, inclusive language and accessible digital content.
• Experience leading communications through organisational change, partnerships or service transformation.

Benefits

• 6% employer pension contribution
• flexible working arrangements
• staff wellbeing programme
• Holiday: 26 days (FTE) plus bank holidays, length-of-service increments