Interim Head of Engagement

Freelancingforgood; London; On-site; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity in animal welfare seeks an Interim Head of Engagement for a 12-month maternity cover. This full-time role involves providing strategic direction, managing stakeholder relationships, and leading a dynamic Engagement team to enhance community outreach and support for the charity's mission.

Qualifications

• Experience in senior marketing and communications roles.
• Track record of developing strategies for engagement.
• Expertise in stakeholder management and building partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic engagement and communication initiatives.
• Manage internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Oversee the design and delivery of impactful engagement campaigns.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic communication

Team leadership

Job description

Mayhew is looking for an Interim Head of Engagement (maternity cover).

Overview:

• Full-time position: 12-month contract (maternity cover)
• Language: English
• Location: London, UK
• Salary: £60,000 per year
• Applications closing: 15th June

Job Description

We are recruiting a Head of Engagement (maternity cover) who shares our compassion and commitment for animal welfare. As a vital member of our Senior Leadership Team, this role offers the unique opportunity to provide inspirational leadership and strategic direction to our Engagement team, as well as to staff and volunteers across the charity.

Your expertise will be integral to our ambition to broaden our reach, deepen our impact, and significantly contribute to our ability to engage a substantial and diverse supporter base. You will be skilled at securing buy-in and maintaining support from both internal and external stakeholders. You will demonstrate leadership in engaging diverse stakeholders and consistently look for ways to encourage participation and co-production, particularly as Mayhew enters its new organisational strategy cycle.

Importance of the role

This hugely important role touches four key aspects – collaboratively leading the charity as part of our Senior Leadership Team, influencing behaviour of diverse stakeholders (from beneficiaries and local partners to media and celebs), development and implementation of all our communications (on and off-line), team management and development.

The post holder will ensure that we:

• Communicate our work internally and externally in ways that foster a shared understanding of our impact and the vital difference we make, highlighting why it matters now more than ever.
• Collaborate across the charity, especially with Fundraising, to create impactful, integrated campaigns across all our channels, converting recognition into active support and building a thriving Mayhew community through seamless supporter journeys.
• Develop and maintain a strong brand identity and distinct voice that increases awareness and engagement of diverse stakeholders; through marketing and education campaigns, external communication, and PR activities.
• Build strong external partnerships, collaborating to increase our impact and reach, while championing inclusive participation (especially within the communities we work with and support).
• Take an insight-led approach to our communications and marketing work, measuring impact and using insights to plan or course-correct as necessary.

Responsibilities

As the Head of Engagement at the Mayhew, you will have the following responsibilities

Strategic engagement and integrated communications

• Lead on developing and delivering a strategic approach to integrated engagement activities that build our community and deliver a seamless supporter journey.
• Work with the team to develop engagement, marketing and communications plans and activities, securing support and commitment, monitoring and evaluating effectiveness annually.
• Work closely with Fundraising to ensure engagement campaigns and plans are fully integrated with fundraising initiatives, driving lead generation and fostering strong connections with supporters.
• Support the team to develop and deliver internal communications plans that promote a shared understanding and connection among staff and volunteers.
• Actively promote education and positive behavioral change through compelling narratives across all our channels, as relevant and possible.
• Expert in designing and delivering high-impact educational and community engagement initiatives focused on influencing positive behaviour change and ensuring our communities understand Mayhew’s services and how to access them.

Brand and digital

• Develop and manage brand identity, ensuring consistency across our visual and verbal identity, elevating brand visibility and shaping a distinctive brand voice.
• Take overall responsibility for Mayhew’s website and digital communications (including social media), supporting the team to deliver timely and relevant supporter communications that promote education and engagement, and grow Mayhew’s digital audience.

PR and media

• Act as the voice of Mayhew, maximising opportunities across media to tell our story, inspire support, and raise our profile, effectively communicating with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Develop and nurture relationships with local, national, and trade media.
• Manage Mayhew’s approach to reputational risk and oversee crisis communications, if and when necessary.
• Lead cross-organisation engagement priority projects, applying project management tools and practices to devise, oversee, and monitor project budgets and reporting, including Mayhew’s 140th anniversary.

Leadership and team empowerment

• Provide leadership and support to the charity by helping define and deliver against our onward purpose, target impact, and objectives, shaping our onward strategy.
• Ensure staff and volunteers clearly understand the charity’s strategic priorities and plans and how they contribute to achieving them.
• Provide expert advice, insight, and subject matter expertise to the Chief Executive, SMT, and Board of Trustees.
• Oversee effective and proportional delegated authorities, RACIs, and risk management frameworks for the organisation.
• Ensure the Chief Executive is appropriately updated and presented with key information in a timely way.
• Contribute to organisational impact and performance measurement and reporting.
• Support the Chief Executive, and work closely with other SLT members, to develop and deliver Mayhew’s new organizational strategy.
• Lead and manage the Engagement team to ensure colleagues have clear objectives, are empowered and equipped to deliver against them, celebrating their successes and providing effective performance management and development opportunities.
• Provide each team member with appropriate development opportunities and regular appraisals.
• Be an inspirational and engaging leader, fostering professional growth and empowering teams to achieve clear objectives while managing conflicting priorities.

Stakeholder and partnership Management

• Provide exceptional stakeholder engagement that builds confidence in our expertise in animal welfare and veterinary interventions as well as our non-judgmental stance, a positive reputation for Mayhew, and faith in our ability to deliver against our ambitions.
• Skilled at building and maintaining strong relationships with a wide range of audiences, from internal teams to media, partners, and communities, championing inclusive participation.
• Proactively work with other teams to gain knowledge of cases, activities, and emergent risks and opportunities.
• Design and provide tools, training, and on-the-job coaching to colleagues where relevant.

Financial & Operational Management

• Experienced in managing budgets, overseeing effective delegated authorities, and adapting departmental activities to meet need and maximise resource.
• Produce an annual plan and budget.
• Manage suppliers, including marketing agencies and mailing houses, ensuring the right balance of insourcing, out-sourcing, innovation, and technology development to optimise resources.
• Monitor department activities and expenditure, adapting as necessary throughout the year.

General

In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all Mayhew employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

• Mayhew is committed to encouraging volunteering throughout the organisation and as such the post holder will be expected to support and respect volunteers and may be asked to work alongside or supervise a volunteer as part of their role.
• Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
• Adhere to all Mayhew policies and procedures at all times.
• Actively promote and support the safeguarding of dogs and cats in need, observing and adhering to values and policies on animal welfare.
• Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the charity into disrepute.
• Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national professional or occupational standards associated with the role.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.

Role Requirements

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:

• A senior marketing and communications role in an organisation of comparable breadth and scope
• Developing and leading delivery of strategies across marketing, content and digital engagement that support organisational priorities
• Stakeholder management across a range of internal and external audiences, including building long term relationships and partnerships
• Being a great networker and ambassador, confident and comfortable inspiring support for the charity
• Successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team

How to apply?

To apply for this role, please fill in the application form.

Please note that the successful candidate will be asked for evidence of their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.