Transformation Communications & Engagement Lead/Sponsorship available – UK

Tamfol; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Aviva pension plan

BUPA Cash Plan

Private Medical Insurance

Perkbox benefits

Study Arden courses for free

Golden Ticket: Arden education gift

Job summary

Arden University is seeking a Transformation Communications & Engagement Lead to shape the narrative and engagement for the AI Transformation Programme. You will work with Internal Communications to craft clear messages, drive two-way participation and support leaders in communicating through change.

The role requires extensive experience in leading communications for organisational change, with a focus on digital, AI and higher education contexts.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading communications and engagement for large-scale organisational change or transformation.
• Proven track record of delivering sustainable change across multiple workstreams.
• Strong understanding of recognised change management methodologies, such as Prosci, ADKAR or Kotter.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and stakeholders, supporting authentic communication through uncertainty and change.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement, communications, adoption and change readiness.
• Experience designing meaningful two-way engagement and participation.
• Experience working alongside transformation, programme and change management teams.
• Experience leading or managing teams and developing high-performing cultures.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, facilitation, presentation and content-development skills.
• Ability to translate complex strategies and programmes into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong stakeholder management, analytical and organisational skills.
• Understanding of how insight, data and feedback can improve engagement and adoption.
• A relevant qualification such as APMG Change Management, Prosci, Agile PM, PRINCE2, APM PMQ or MSP.
• Experience delivering digital, technology, AI or organisational transformation programmes.
• Experience working in higher education or similarly complex environments.
• Knowledge of benefits realisation and portfolio management approaches.

Responsibilities

• Shape Arden's AI Transformation Programme narrative and engagement approach.
• Lead communications across multiple programmes and enable two-way participation.
• Build colleague networks and support leaders to communicate confidently through change.
• Use feedback, insight and data to understand engagement and inform decisions.

Skills

Change communications

Multi-workstream change

Change management frameworks

Stakeholder influence

Stakeholder engagement

Two-way engagement

Cross-team collaboration

People leadership

Writing and storytelling

Narrative development

Stakeholder management

Data-informed engagement

Change management qualifications

Digital/AI transformation

Higher education experience

Benefits realisation

Job description

Position:Transformation Communications & Engagement Lead

Job Type:Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Work location:London

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

About our Department:

The Transformation team is leading the Arden AI Transformation Programme, helping shape how the University works, delivers education and supports its people and students. Working across the organisation, the team brings together colleagues and programmes to turn our transformation ambitions into meaningful and sustainable change.

About the Opportunity:

As Transformation Communications and Engagement Lead, you will shape the narrative and engagement approach that brings Arden’s AI Transformation Programme to life. Working closely with Internal Communications, you’ll develop a clear, compelling story that helps colleagues and students understand the transformation, what it means for them and how they can contribute.

You’ll lead communications and engagement across multiple programmes, creating opportunities for genuine two-way participation, building colleague networks and supporting leaders to communicate confidently through change. You’ll also use feedback, insight and data to understand engagement, inform decisions and continually improve our approach.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping how transformation is understood, experienced and embedded across the University.

About You:

We’re looking for an experienced communications and engagement professional with a strong background in leading communications through complex organisational change. You’ll be a confident storyteller and strategic adviser, able to turn complex ideas into clear, engaging messages, build trusted relationships and create meaningful opportunities for people to influence change.

• Significant experience leading communications and engagement for large-scale organisational change or transformation.
• Proven track record of delivering sustainable change across multiple workstreams.
• Strong understanding of recognised change management methodologies, such as Prosci, ADKAR or Kotter.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and stakeholders, supporting authentic communication through uncertainty and change.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement, communications, adoption and change readiness.
• Experience designing meaningful two-way engagement and participation.
• Experience working alongside transformation, programme and change management teams.
• Experience leading or managing teams and developing high-performing cultures.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, facilitation, presentation and content-development skills.
• Ability to translate complex strategies and programmes into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong stakeholder management, analytical and organisational skills.
• Understanding of how insight, data and feedback can improve engagement and adoption.
• A relevant qualification such as APMG Change Management, Prosci, Agile PM, PRINCE2, APM PMQ or MSP.
• Experience delivering digital, technology, AI or organisational transformation programmes.
• Experience working in higher education or similarly complex environments.
• Knowledge of benefits realisation and portfolio management approaches.

Why Arden:

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!
• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%
• BUPA Cash Plan
• Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)
• Access to Perkbox benefits
• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends
• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education

Our Values:

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.

Closing Date: 17th November

If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance here.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people’s age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement:

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, or fulfil the criteria we have for providing sponsorship. However we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.