Senior Communications Manager - Charity

Nicholas Howard Ltd; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicholas Howard Ltd is recruiting for a communications professional to help a charity strengthen its voice, profile and influence. You’ll shape brand narrative, craft compelling content across formats and reach key audiences with clarity and impact.

You’ll lead on storytelling, media relations and content strategy, collaborating with senior colleagues to turn evidence into engaging external storytelling and raise the organisation’s profile in maths education.

Qualifications

• Brilliant writer and editor with ability to turn complex subjects into engaging content.
• Experience creating content across video, podcasts, social media and other formats.
• Ability to develop brand narrative, tone of voice and consistent messaging.
• Strong media relations and proactive PR experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the corporate communications plan to strengthen profile and influence.
• Develop the organisational narrative, message framework and tone of voice.
• Oversee content creation across articles, case studies, speeches, video and podcasts.
• Lead press office and media relations and support public affairs.
• Build proactive PR by identifying opportunities and engaging with partners.
• Line manage and develop internal communications and advocacy activities.

Job description

We're looking for a creative, curious and experienced communications professional to help us strengthen our client's voice, build their profile and make more of the brilliant work happening across the charity.

Our client is a charity committed to improving mathematics education. They have a wealth of expertise, evidence, ideas and people with interesting things to say. They want someone who can find the opportunities in all of that, bring their work to life and help them reach and influence the audiences that matter.

This is an opportunity to shape how they communicate, from their brand and narrative to the content they create and their media profile. You'll have the freedom to bring fresh ideas, try different approaches and make a real difference to how the organisation is seen and understood.

Who are they looking for?

A storyteller

You're curious about people, ideas and what's happening in the world around you. You ask good questions, spot interesting angles and know how to turn complex subjects into engaging, accessible content. You're a brilliant writer and editor, but your creativity goes well beyond words. You're excited by the possibilities of video, podcasts, social media, visual content and other formats, and know how to choose the right medium for the message and audience.

You really understand brand

You understand how narrative, positioning, tone of voice and consistency shape perceptions and build trust. You'll enjoy helping to develop a clearer, more distinctive voice for the organisation and making sure it comes through in everything they do.

You know how to build profile and reputation

You understand the importance of proactive PR, strong media and partner relationships. You'll be confident identifying where the organisation has something valuable to say, helping colleagues share their expertise and building their reputation as a trusted voice in mathematics education.

Making their social media work for them

Organic social media will be a key part of this role, and we're looking for someone with the experience, creativity and enthusiasm to take it forward. They would particularly love someone who can bring fresh energy and ideas to their LinkedIn presence, transforming how they use the channel to share expertise, engage audiences and build their profile. You'll enjoy getting hands-on with content, experimenting with formats, understanding what works and continually improving their approach.

A strategic thinker who loves making things happen

You're equally happy developing a long-term communications strategy and getting stuck into creating and delivering the work. You can see the bigger picture, set clear priorities and turn good ideas into a practical, achievable plan. You understand that effective communications isn't about doing everything. You have the judgement and confidence to decide what matters most, what can wait and when an unexpected opportunity is worth pursuing.

You'll bring a good understanding of the education landscape, the people working within it and the issues that matter. You can engage credibly with subject experts and external stakeholders, recognising where internal expertise can make a valuable contribution to wider discussions and debates.

You're a great collaborator

You enjoy working with people, building relationships and helping others share their knowledge and ideas. You're confident advising colleagues, asking questions and constructively challenging approaches, while bringing people with you.

You'll manage and develop the Internal Communications and Advocacy Lead, and understand how effective internal communications and employee advocacy can strengthen external voice and reputation. You'll help ensure these activities work together as part of a joined-up approach to communications.

Main duties and responsibilities

Communications strategy, narrative and brand

• Own and deliver the corporate communications plan, setting priorities, communications objectives and measures of success that strengthen organisational profile, reputation and influence.
• Develop and govern the organisational narrative, message framework, positioning and tone of voice, ensuring consistent corporate messaging and working with marketing and design colleagues on brand application.
• Use stakeholder insight, media monitoring and reputation and engagement measures to identify communications opportunities and adjust priorities.

Content, creative and external voice

• Set the editorial strategy, standards and priorities, using human stories, evidence, insight and staff expertise.
• Commission and shape high-value corporate content including articles, case studies, speeches, opinion pieces, video and podcasts, using technology and AI responsibly where they improve quality, reach or efficiency.
• Oversee the corporate social media and editorial presence, including LinkedIn, with a focus on profile, reputation and influence.

PR, profile and influence

• Identify and develop opportunities for the charity's evidence and expertise to contribute to national conversations; prepare senior colleagues with speeches, briefings, media lines, opinion pieces and spokesperson support.
• Provide specialist communications support for public affairs, strategic partnerships, collaborations and convening, ensuring messaging and communications activity reinforce the charity's positioning and reputation.
• Lead press office and media relations, including journalist relationships, proactive pitching, media enquiries, reactive statements, comment and appropriate profile opportunities.
• Lead communications aspects of issues and reputation management: horizon-scan for emerging issues, assess communications risk, develop lines to take and escalation or response plans, and advise senior colleagues in sensitive or fast-moving situations.

Impact, evidence and publications

• Own the editorial direction, development and publication of the annual impact report and other priority publications, from purpose and audience through commissioning, quality assurance, approvals and launch.
• Work with evaluation, data and programme colleagues to interpret evidence and impact accurately for external audiences, applying editorial judgement so claims are clear, credible and appropriately evidenced.

People and collaborative working

• Line manage and develop the Internal Communications and Advocacy Lead, ensuring internal communications and employee advocacy reinforce the charity's narrative and priorities.
• Act as a senior specialist communications adviser to the Director, senior leaders and colleagues across the business, aligning communications with organisation priorities and advising on messaging, media handling and external positioning.