Strategic Communications Lead

Student Loans Company Limited; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave plus 8 public |

Flexi-time and flexible working

Option to join Civil Service pension

Life insurance 4x annual salary

Enhanced sick pay and family leave

Retailer discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Dental insurance option

Job summary

Student Loans Company is seeking a Strategic Communications Lead to shape how we communicate around major transformation programmes. This 18‑month fixed‑term role focuses on engaging senior stakeholders and guiding strategic communications plans across multiple initiatives.

You will work with senior leaders and programme teams to ensure messages explain what is changing, why it matters, and how initiatives align with SLC's wider direction. A proactive, well‑judged communicator is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in developing and implementing strategic communications, with expertise in change communications and campaign management.
• Proven track record in leading successful campaigns and communications to support complex programmes.
• Membership of Government Communication Service (GCS) or be prepared to attain membership.
• Well-judged planning and analytical skills with ability to use data for decision‑making.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Ability to manage complex projects and multiple priorities.
• Political awareness and ability to operate in a fast‑paced environment.
• Sound writing and editing skills with ability to simplify complex information.
• Knowledge of change management principles and methodologies (e.g., ADKAR, PROSCI).

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic communications plans for major change activity spanning multiple programmes and areas of the organisation.
• Collaborate with senior leaders, programme teams and communications colleagues to shape messaging and impact.
• Explain what is changing, why it matters and how initiatives connect to wider organisational direction.
• Provide trusted communications advice and oversee development, delivery and evaluation of plans.
• Coordinate communications across interconnected change activity ensuring alignment with wider programme objectives.

Skills

Strategic communications

Change communications

Campaign management

Stakeholder engagement

Senior-level influencing

Data-driven decision making

Political awareness

Writing & editing

Meeting deadlines

Education

GCS membership or willingness to attain

Job description

Salary: £46,826.00 - £53,815.00 GBP Annual Pension: A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

Type: Full time Fixed Term End: 30-05-2028. Please note: The advert will close at 11:59PM the night before the listed closing date.

SLC offer a blended working model which will typically be 2 days in the office and 3 days from home.

Is it time you unlocked your potential?

Student Loans Company is a non‑profit making Government‑owned organisation to provide loans and grants to students in universities and colleges in the UK. Since 1989, we have enabled our customers to invest in their futures by delivering secure, accurate and efficient assessment, payment and repayment services.

Values Culture

Honesty: We act with integrity and transparency, sharing information openly and addressing challenges with courage.

Empowerment: We enable people to take initiative, make impactful decisions, and continuously learn and grow.

Accountability: We deliver on commitments, own our successes and mistakes, and strive for quality outcomes.

Respect: We value diverse perspectives, actively listen, and create an inclusive environment where everyone belongs.

Trust: We collaborate across teams, build dependable relationships, and work as one to deliver for our customers.

About the Role

As Strategic Communications Lead, you will play a key role in shaping how SLC communicates and engages around some of its most significant transformation programmes and strategic priorities. This 18‑month fixed‑term opportunity has been created to support a period of significant organisational change, as SLC delivers the ambitions set out in its business plan through its focus on Perform, Reform and Transform objectives.

You’ll play a leading role in communications for major change activity spanning multiple programme and areas of the organisation, helping colleagues and stakeholders understand not only what is changing, but why it matters and how individual initiatives connect to SLC's wider direction.

Working closely with senior leaders, programme teams and communications colleagues, you will take ownership of strategic communications plans for complex projects and change initiatives, leading their development, delivery and evaluation.

You’ll look beyond individual communications activity to understand the broader organisational, stakeholder and external environment, ensuring communications support effective delivery and informed decision‑making.

Using insight, horizon scanning and an understanding of the political and organisational landscape, you will anticipate risks, identify opportunities and help shape communications approaches that support engagement and understanding among colleagues and stakeholders.

You’ll work across a wide range of stakeholders and matrix teams, coordinating plans and communications across interconnected change activity and bringing together different priorities and perspectives while ensuring project communications align with wider programme objectives and organisational messaging.

You’ll provide trusted communications advice and help maintain a clear and consistent narrative across transformation activity.

We’re looking for a proactive communications professional with sound judgement, strategic thinking and the confidence to operate at senior levels. Success in the role will come from building trusted relationships, providing well‑judged communications advice and bringing clarity and coordination to complex organisational change, helping SLC to deliver effectively while protecting and enhancing its reputation.

What you Bring

• Significant experience in developing and implementing strategic communications, with expertise in change communications and campaign management.
• Proven track record in leading successful campaigns and communications to support complex programmes.
• Membership of Government Communication Service (GCS) or be prepared to attain membership.
• Well‑judged planning and analytical skills with ability to use data for decision‑making.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Ability to manage complex projects and multiple priorities.
• Political awareness and ability to operate in a fast‑paced environment.
• Sound writing and editing skills with ability to simplify complex information.
• Knowledge of change management principles and methodologies (e.g., ADKAR, PROSCI).

You can expect more from a career with SLC.

• 28 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays
• Option to buy/sell annual leave
• Flexi‑time and enhanced flexible working options available
• Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme
• Life insurance cover for 4 x annual salary
• Enhanced company sick pay and family leave including maternity, paternity and adoption
• Contributory lifestyle benefit options including discounts at hundreds of retailers, cycle to work scheme, access to the Civil Service Sports and Leisure Club for discounted gym memberships, and an optional dental insurance scheme

The Legal Bits

We’ll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK. If we offer you a job and you accept, there are some background checks we need to complete before you can start with us. This will include employment history, criminal record check, credit reference check and fraud check.

EDI

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience that empowers people of all abilities. Our team actively promotes accessible hiring practices, supports candidates with disabilities throughout their employment journey to help build a diverse equitable workplace at SLC.

SLC will make reasonable adjustments for those who consider themselves to have a disability or long‑term condition in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Our application process provides candidates with the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments but if you would like to discuss this in more detail, please email [e-mail].

Use of AI in Job Applications

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see Candidate Guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Why Join Us

When you join SLC you will become a valued member of our team which has a strong purpose - enabling more than 1.5 million students each year to invest in their futures via access to further and higher education.

The Student Loans Company is a non‑profit making government‑owned organisation, who enable opportunity by providing funding to students in universities and colleges in the UK.

Each year, we process around 1.5 million student finance applications worth £22 billion in loans and grants.

We dedicate ourselves to supporting 9.7 million customers and administer a loan book valued at £260.8 billion.

Whether a customer is applying for student finance or repaying their loan we want to make their experience as easy as possible, at the same time as delivering the exceptional service that they deserve.