Head of Communications

Prison Advice and Care Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Eye care scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Training events

Thorough induction

Wellness and inclusion groups

Job summary

Pact is seeking a maternity leave cover for Head of Communications to shape the charity’s voice and public profile at a strategic level. You will lead communications, brand development and storytelling to raise awareness of Pact’s work and support its ambitious goals.

The role oversees digital platforms, content creation, and campaigns across paid and organic channels, working with the Executive Team to guide organisation-wide projects and champion a culture of inclusive communication.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior communications, PR or marketing leadership role.
• Proven ability to develop and evaluate impactful strategies.
• Exceptional storytelling with strong audience engagement.
• Experience managing digital platforms and growing audiences through content innovation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all communications activity across the charity.
• Evaluate communications performance and report against KPIs.
• Oversee Pact’s digital platforms and content across owned channels.
• Lead marketing, branding and publication development to support stakeholders.
• Amplify voices of people with lived experience with ethical storytelling.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic communications

Storytelling

Digital platforms

Audience growth

Team management

Stakeholder relations

Inclusive communication

Tools

CMS

Analytics tools

Job description

Hybrid (Home and Office) with regular travel nationally across Pact’s Services

Marketing and Communications

Full time

Temporary

Role Purpose

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the voice and public profile of one of the UK’s most impactful social justice charities. As Maternity Leave Cover for Head of Communications, you’ll lead our communications function at a strategic level, inspiring and influencing how we share our story with the world. You’ll craft and deliver bold, creative, and inclusive communications that raise awareness of Pact’s work and help us achieve our ambitious goals. From digital campaigns and media relations to powerful storytelling and brand development, you’ll ensure our voice is clear, compelling, and deeply rooted in the lived experiences of those we serve. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will also play a vital role in shaping the overall strategic direction of the organisation, leading organisation-wide projects and championing a culture of open, values-driven communication.

Key Responsibilities

You will provide strategic leadership for all communications activity across the charity, working closely with colleagues to develop and deliver multidisciplinary communications plans that support corporate objectives. You will be responsible for evaluating communications performance, reporting against KPIs, and using data to drive improvement. You’ll play a key role in horizon-scanning and forward planning, ensuring our messaging is proactive and responsive to external developments.

You’ll oversee all of Pact’s digital platforms, including our social media channels and websites, as well as those for the Prisoners’ Families Helpline. You will lead the creation and delivery of compelling content to engage and grow our audiences, ensuring a dynamic and consistent presence across both organic and paid-for channels.

Marketing and branding will be central to your remit. You’ll lead the development of high-quality, accessible and inclusive marketing materials and publications that inspire and inform stakeholders, staff, volunteers and service users. You’ll ensure the organisation maintains a strong and coherent visual and written identity, and you’ll manage a library of media assets and case studies that bring our work to life. You will also offer trusted support and guidance to colleagues and volunteers promoting Pact’s services locally.

A core part of the role will involve amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. You’ll oversee the regular generation of powerful case studies and service user stories to be shared across internal and external channels, always ensuring ethical and inclusive storytelling.

You’ll also contribute to the planning and promotion of key organisational events, including staff and volunteer gatherings, stakeholder roundtables and receptions.

Ultimately, you will be the guardian of the Pact brand and the leader of our communications culture – someone who empowers others, inspires creativity, and champions clear, compassionate communication at every level.

Person Specification

You will have significant experience in a senior communications, PR or marketing leadership role, with a proven ability to develop and evaluate impactful strategies. You’ll be an exceptional communicator with a keen eye for storytelling and audience engagement, and you’ll have experience managing digital platforms and growing audiences through content innovation.

Strong leadership and team management skills are essential, as is a collaborative, facilitative approach that brings out the best in others. You’ll need to be a confident relationship-builder, able to influence at senior levels and build trust with stakeholders, media, and partners.

Ideally, you will bring experience or understanding of the voluntary, criminal justice or social justice sectors. A strong grasp of inclusive communication and accessibility standards is highly desirable, along with an ethical approach to storytelling that respects and amplifies lived experience.

What we offer:

• Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme and generous holiday entitlement.
• You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and interventions worker.
• You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.

Hours

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Flexible working hours are possible.

• Generous Holiday allowance
• Season Ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Charity worker discounts
• Enhanced maternity package
• Wellness, inclusion, and diversity groups
• EAP scheme
• Life assurance

Other information

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).

This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 5-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment) and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We will also require a certificate of good conduct from the Police Force of the country of residence if you have resided overseas for a period of over 12 months (in the past 10 years while aged 18 or over).