Communications Manager (Maternity Cover)

Wessex Archaeology; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading archaeological service provider in the UK is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to oversee external communications and manage a dedicated team. This role involves developing strategic communication plans, engaging with stakeholders, and leading public relations efforts for various projects. Ideal candidates will have strong copywriting skills, experience in media engagement, and a collaborative approach to communication. The company offers a supportive work environment and excellent benefits.

Benefits

22 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme

Life assurance scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience leading external communications.
• Ability to develop strategic communications plans.
• Proven track record in media engagement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee external communications activities.
• Develop communications plans with stakeholders.
• Lead and support the communications team.

Skills

Strong verbal communication

Copywriting

Stakeholder engagement

Digital communications

Public relations

Job description

Why join us?

Bringing together leading minds and practitioners in the sector, we are Wessex Archaeology a trusted archaeology and heritage service provider and educational charity. From our network of international offices, we work in partnership with our clients to deliver sustainable solutions to manage the historic environment - above ground, below ground and underwater. We are committed to our social impact. This means using the knowledge and connections we make through our commercial activities as a catalyst to engage the communities in which we work.

Join us and you’ll be part of a collaborative team committed to shaping a better future for our staff, the sector and the world. As well as having knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues, you’ll have an opportunity to access a variety of fascinating and high‑profile projects and develop your skills and knowledge along the way.

The role - what’s involved?

Want to help shape how we communicate some of our fascinating and significant archaeological work? We’re looking for an experienced Communications Manager to lead our external communications team, designing and delivering communications across the organisation, including for our high‑profile commercial projects as well as our award‑winning community projects.

You’ll have the opportunity to work with our experts, from archaeologists to creative teams, as well as our clients and project stakeholders, across a diverse range of communications activities. With a remit for planning, public relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement and reputation management, you will play a significant role in increasing the impact of the organisation and forming positive perceptions of our work.

You will have a keen eye for a communications opportunity, archaeological stories and be able to identify reputational issues and respond accordingly. You’ll be able to develop considered, creative, audience‑led strategic communications plans as a result. With strong verbal communication and copywriting skills, you will be adept at influencing key stakeholders and communicating in a way that appeals to our target audiences, making full use of the range of digital and traditional tools available to you.

Reporting to the Communications and Impact Director, you’ll be part of a collaborative and valued team that sits at the heart of the organisation. You’ll be confident leading and motivating a team, setting and meeting team objectives and planning workloads to align with wider organisational goals, whilst creating a supportive and inclusive environment as a line manager. Able to prioritise your workload and plan ahead, you will understand the importance of attention to detail yet also be able to develop and realise your creative ideas while supporting your team to realise theirs.

If you're motivated by having responsibility for shaping and delivering your own initiatives, as well as contributing to broader project and organisational objectives, then this is the role for you!

Main responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing and managing the planning and implementation of external communications activity across the organisation.
• Fostering fruitful working relationships internally and externally, actively pursuing opportunities to develop productive partnerships, with a particular focus on project stakeholders and clients and developing communications plans in partnership with them.
• Taking an active role in leading a small but valuable team, proactively fostering a positive and supportive culture through effective line management.
• Line managing the Content Officer and Communications and Digital Assistant and support them to deliver their work, including setting objectives and KPI’s, providing day to day advice, guidance and support with areas such as social media, content and internal and strategic initiatives.
• Creating and maintaining comms plans and schedules to inform and manage communication activity across the organisation. Devising and implementing integrated communications and engagement campaigns, across PR, stakeholder engagement and digital comms.
• Actively engaging the media, managing the press office function, organising press events and opportunities, and overseeing filming requests for specific projects.
• Developing messaging and handling plans whilst being mindful of sensitivities around projects and carefully managing reputational issues.
• Supporting your team to commission creative content for communications activity, briefing and directing creative teams to develop targeted multimedia content that meets our content standards.
• Liaising with project teams to source stories and assets and research and develop engaging yet authoritative content.
• Tracking and analysing communications activity against KPI’s and reporting frameworks to produce actionable and meaningful insights, making effective use of analytics tools to inform project communications activity and ensure our work is led by evidence

For more information about the role, please refer to the Job Description and Personal Specification

What can you look forward to?

Our focus is on creating a collaborative culture where people can thrive, develop and where safety and wellbeing come first. From anonymising candidate data in our recruitment process to improvements in our benefits, we’re committed to creating a safe, fair and inclusive working environment.

We offer:

• 22 days of annual leave per year plus bank holidays rising to 27 after 5 years of continuous service.
• Option to buy up to 5 days holiday per year.
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme, Wessex Archaeology employer pension contribution 5%.
• Life assurance scheme of three times your basic salary.

Wellbeing and family-friendly benefits

• Our maternity, adoption and shared parental pay is 100% for 12 weeks, 90% for 21 weeks and 6 weeks statutory, day 1 eligibility.
• Enhanced paternity leave, up to 4 weeks from day 1.
• 5 days of carers leave.
• Paid sick leave from the start of a contract, with the number of days dependent on length of service.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where applicable.
• Company Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - free and confidential service in the form of counselling and assistance in areas such as health and stress.
• AIG SmartHealth – round‑the‑clock support for you and your family.

Sustainability and other benefits

• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Bike2Work scheme.
• 100% Professional membership costs reimbursed.
• High‑quality personal protective equipment (PPE) provided.
• Free transport from regional offices to sites.
• Time in lieu or paid time for drivers.
• Subsistence allowance.

How to apply

Interested in working with us? For all the details about how to apply visit wessexarch.co.uk/vacancies.

Email your completed application form and equal opportunities monitoring form by midnight on 8 November 2025 to [e-mail].

All candidates will be contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date. Interviews will be held in mid‑November. If you have questions about the role then please contact Nicola Kalimeris, Communications and Impact Director at [e-mail].

We encourage applications from people with disabilities. When you apply, please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments to the recruitment process. Successful candidates must have proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK by the start of their employment.