External Communications Officer

NATIONAL TRUST; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading heritage charity is looking for an External Communications Consultant to develop a communications strategy for the Future Saltram Programme in Plymouth. This fixed-term role involves maximizing external engagement, building partnerships, and creating impactful content. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, experience in stakeholder engagement, and a passion for working with diverse communities. This opportunity promises to make a significant impact on the local community and heritage.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme up to 10% basic salary

Free entry to National Trust places for you and family

Rental deposit loan scheme

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build and sustain strategic partnerships across sectors.
• Experience delivering communications for large-scale programmes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a stakeholder engagement communications strategy.
• Produce engaging content across digital, media, and print channels.
• Develop engagement tools to ensure community voices influence plans.

Skills

Strong experience in communications and stakeholder engagement

Ability to work effectively with senior leaders

Excellent communication and storytelling skills

A track record of working with diverse communities

Job description

We’re looking for a bold and creative External Communications Consultant to develop and drive the stakeholder engagement communications plan/strategy for the Future Saltram Programme—a once-in-a-generation project to transform this much-loved estate and how Plymouth’s communities connect with it.

Working with leaders across our Plymouth portfolio and Future Saltram programme team, you will identify opportunities to maximise external engagement across the city. You will plan and deliver a communications strategy that is open, inclusive, and meaningful for diverse audiences. You will plan and coordinate impactful engagement with city partners, stakeholders and local communities.

The National Trust’s Future Saltram Programme is our commitment to open up this historic estate like never before. Over the next few years we’ll double the amount of accessible outdoor space, deliver major improvements to visitor facilities, and work with local communities to break down barriers to nature and heritage. At the heart of this is a £6.2m Access to Nature and Heritage package, majority-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is about making Saltram relevant and inspiring for everyone—not just those who already know it.

This is a fixed-term role until 30 August 2029.

Future Saltram is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to offer this new, dedicated project role.

What it's like to work here

Saltram is one of Plymouth’s most treasured places—an “oasis in the middle of the city” where history, parkland, and community come together. With over 900,000 visits last year, it’s one of the busiest National Trust properties in the country.

You’ll join a collaborative, energised team who work at pace, share challenges, and support each other to get the job done. It’s a fast-moving, exciting time to be part of Saltram, with plenty of scope to make a real difference.

What you'll be doing

As External Communications Consultant, you’ll:

• Lead the development and coordinate the delivery of a stakeholder and communications strategy for Future Saltram.
• Shape how we share stories and connect with new and existing audiences.
• Work with city and funding partners to identify and deliver communications and engagement opportunities
• Work with portfolio leads to plan and support engagement with with community organisations, education providers, voluntary groups, local authorities and city partners
• Develop engagement tools and processes to ensure community voices influence our plans.
• Act as an advocate for Saltram, leading marketing and communications for both the visitor business and the programme of projects.
• Produce engaging content across digital, media, and print channels to inspire visitors and supporters.

This is about more than communications. It’s about building trust, opening doors, and helping redefine what a heritage estate can mean in a modern city.

Who we're looking for

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Strong experience and expertise incommunications, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work effectively with senior leaders and across teams in a matrix.
• Ability to manage complexity and bring clarity to communications and stakeholder engagement work.
• Proven ability tobuild and sustain strategic partnershipsacross sectors.
• Experience delivering communications and stakeholder engagement forlarge-scale programmes or capital projects.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the confidence to influence and inspire.
• A track record of working withdiverse communitiesand a genuine commitment to inclusion.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, collaborative environment.
• Knowledge of Plymouth’s communities, networks, and civic landscape.

This is your chance to be part of atruly transformational project—helping to listen, connect, and deliver change that will make Saltram open and relevant for generations to come.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places