Communications Manager (Dormant Assets)

The National Lottery Community Fund; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Lottery Community Fund in England is seeking a Communications Manager (FTC ending March 2028) to lead high-profile campaigns promoting Dormant Assets funding and two multi-million-pound programmes. You’ll work with government and senior stakeholders to build awareness and trust across communities.

You’ll develop messaging, content and assets, manage matrix teams, and deliver integrated communications that demonstrate impact and engage diverse audiences. Some travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in a communications role within a complex organisational environment.
• Proven track record planning and delivering integrated campaigns with matrix teams.
• Excellent content and copywriting abilities for tight deadlines.
• Experience advising senior leaders and stakeholders, including in reputational risk situations.
• Ability to work in high-pressure situations and adapt to changing deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop messaging, narrative and content, plus social and brand assets.
• Build relationships with government comms and policy counterparts and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with media team to deliver integrated activities and rapid response.
• Help shape public understanding and inspire engagement with the funding programmes.
• Work with Strategic Communications Leads to manage matrix teams.

Skills

Campaign planning

Content writing

Stakeholder management

Media relations

Crisis communications

Project management

Job description

We're looking for a skilled communications professional who is passionate about strengthening communities and improving people's lives. You'll lead high-profile communications campaigns, work closely with government and senior stakeholders, and showcase how our funding is helping people and places thrive., We're recruiting for a Communications Manager (FTC ending in March 2028) in England to play a pivotal role in helping The National Lottery Community Fund to strengthen society as we deliver on our strategy, It Starts With Community. You'll play a key role in delivering high-profile communications campaigns that support the distribution of hundreds of millions of pounds of Dormant Assets funding (money from long-forgotten bank accounts) to communities across England. Working closely with government, senior stakeholders and colleagues across the Fund, you'll help build awareness, inspire participation and demonstrate the impact of this investment. The job will focus on two multi-million-pound funding programmes:

• The Community Wealth Fund - a long-term investment programme that gives local communities the power to improve where they live.
• The Youth Enrichment Fund - investment that helps disadvantaged young people access opportunities in the arts, culture, sports, and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability.

In this role, you'll work closely with government and colleagues across the Fund to deliver integrated, multi-channel communications activities that effectively promote these programmes and showcase their impact on the communities we serve. Your work will help shape public understanding of the schemes, inspire communities to engage with them, and build trust with key stakeholders.

• Develop deep insight into these programmes, to enable you to implement effective communications plans for them while supporting Strategic Communications Leads to build and manage matrix teams.
• Design, develop, and deliver messaging, narrative and content, as well as social and brand assets, working closely with colleagues in the wider team to deliver effective and impactful communications activities.
• Build positive relationships with government comms and policy counterparts as well as with teammates and colleagues across the Fund to make programme communications relevant and resonate internally and within Government departments (specifically DCMS and MHCLG) and, most importantly, the communities we serve.
• Work closely with colleagues in the media team to deliver integrated activities, monitoring media and advising on opportunities and risks. Ensure rapid response to emerging issues with processes and protocol on lines to take and spokespeople.
• Demonstrable experience in a communications role within a complex organisational environment
• Track record in planning and delivering integrated communications campaigns, with experience managing matrix teams
• Excellent content and copywriting abilities, used to producing assets to tight deadlines. Able to adapt tone and style for different audiences and channels
• Experience in complex institutions, involving colleagues and stakeholders up to leadership level
• Project management abilities - confident working in a matrixed organisation with competing deadlines
• Experience of strategic communications counsel and advising senior leaders and stakeholders, particularly in times of reputational risk and crisis management
• Experience of working in high-pressure situations and an ability to adapt calmly to changing deadlines and requirements with short notice.

We are looking for a calm and organised strategic communicator and storyteller able to swiftly build relationships and adapt. You'll be experienced in developing integrated campaigns and working across teams to deliver high-impact communications. The role will involve some travel from time to time.

Desirable

• Experience in government and / or the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone - therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed. We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That's why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)