Strategic Communications Lead

Student Loans Company; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Civil Service pension scheme

Flexible working options

Life insurance 4x salary

Enhanced sick pay and family leave

Lifestyle discounts and cycle to work

Dental insurance option

SLC Careers

Job summary

Student Loans Company is seeking a Strategic Communications Lead on an 18-month fixed‑term basis to shape how we communicate around major transformation programmes. You will work with senior leaders to develop strategic plans, coordinate cross‑programme communications, and protect our reputation.

We offer a blended working model with 2 days in the office and 3 days from home, along with a Civil Service pension option, generous leave and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in developing and implementing strategic communications, including change communications and campaigns.
• Ability to lead campaigns and communications for complex programmes.
• Membership of Government Communication Service (GCS) or willingness to attain it.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own strategic communications plans for major transformation programmes.
• Coordinate communications across interconnected change activities, aligning with programme objectives.
• Advise senior leaders with trusted, well‑judged communications guidance to protect and enhance SLC’s reputation.

Skills

Strategic communications

Change campaigns

Campaign management

Stakeholder engagement

Senior level influencing

Project management

Political awareness

Editing/writing

GCS membership

Data-driven decisions

Job description

Salary

£46,826.00 - £53,815.00 GBP Annual

Pension

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Please refer to the Civil Service Pensions website for more information.

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.

Our Values

Culture is at the heart of everything we do at SLC and we are guided by our five values which help make SLC a great place to work:

• 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.

These values are more than words—they guide our decisions, shape our collaborations, and strengthen our impact on the students we serve.

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’ll 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. We support colleagues to unlock their potential through our Career Pathways development programme and offer an excellent benefit and rewards package that includes:

• 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
• To find out what’s it’s like to work at Student Loans Company click here SLC Careers

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.