The Community Relations and Communications Manager plays a key role in fostering strong internal communication within Hope Church Winchester (HCW) and promoting alignment between the church’s vision and its outward-facing activities. This role strengthens internal cohesion among teams, ministries, and members while also maintaining positive relationships with the local community, councils, educational institutions, and partner organisations. It combines strategic communications, partnership development, and community outreach with a primary focus on building clear, consistent, and inspiring internal messaging and culture.
Key Responsibilities
1. Internal Communication & Culture
· Develop and implement internal communication strategies that keep staff, leaders, and church members informed, engaged, and aligned with HCW’s mission.
· Coordinate messaging across departments and ministries to avoid duplication and ensure coherence in voice and purpose.
· Produce internal newsletters, leadership updates, and internal briefings to ensure key developments and initiatives are effectively shared.
· Foster a culture of transparency, feedback, and shared ownership through consistent and open communication.
2. Community Engagement & Outreach
· Support the planning and promotion of outreach ministries, ensuring church members understand and feel invited to participate in external-facing initiatives.
· Act as a bridge between HCW and the wider community, encouraging internal teams to serve local needs through well-communicated opportunities.
· Help ministry leads integrate community awareness into their strategies through internal briefings, prayer focuses, and shared resources.
3. Church-wide Communication Strategy
· Lead the development of an integrated communication plan that includes both internal and external audiences.
· Manage brand tone and key messaging to reflect HCW’s identity and values, ensuring consistency across all channels.
· Oversee the creation and coordination of digital and printed materials for internal use, including team guides, event collateral, and onboarding resources.
4. Staff & Volunteer Coordination
· Work with ministry leaders to identify communication needs and support the flow of information across departments.
· Support volunteer engagement by promoting opportunities, celebrating contributions, and clearly communicating roles and expectations.
· Ensure church members are informed and equipped for their roles in outreach, worship, service, and discipleship.
5. Digital Communication & Content Oversight
· Oversee the Content Creation Executive and collaborate on messaging that supports internal awareness and church culture.
· Align digital communication with internal priorities, including sermon series, ministry updates, and pastoral communications.
· Track communication engagement (e.g. email open rates, survey responses) to improve clarity and effectiveness.
6. Partnership & Stakeholder Communication
· Maintain strong working relationships with local councils, charities, and community partners, reporting updates internally as needed.
· Liaise with partner organizations to coordinate collaborative initiatives and ensure HCW leadership is well-informed of external developments.
· Support the Director of Operations by compiling internal insights and external feedback into actionable summaries.
7. Event Communication & Coordination
· Collaborate with ministry teams to plan and promote events, ensuring internal communications are clear, timely, and engaging.
· Lead internal briefings before major events to ensure all stakeholders understand goals, logistics, and their roles.
· Support post-event evaluation through surveys and feedback loops shared with relevant teams.
8. Monitoring & Evaluation
· Collect and analyse feedback and engagement data from internal communication channels and events.
· Provide regular updates to church leadership on internal communication effectiveness and staff/member engagement.
· Use insights to refine strategies and ensure HCW’s internal culture remains vibrant, informed, and unified.
Preferred Qualifications & Skills
· Education & Experience:
· Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Community Development, or a related field.
· Minimum 2 years in a communications, community relations, or church-based engagement role.
Key Competencies:
· Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
· Proven ability to manage and deliver internal communications strategies.
· Strong interpersonal and relational skills across diverse groups.
· Ability to work collaboratively and cross-functionally with multiple stakeholders.
· Experience in digital communications and content management tools.
· Strategic thinking with attention to detail and impact.
· Compassionate, relational, and service-oriented.
· Personally aligned with the Christian faith and the mission of Hope Church Winchester.
· Genuine Occupational Requirement: The post holder must be a practicing Christian (permitted under the Equality Act 2010).
Other Information
· Committed to the spiritual and relational unity of the church body.
· Church Membership: The post holder must be or become a member of Hope Church.
· Work Pattern: Full-time, permanent contract (3 months’ notice).
· Location: Middle Brook Centre, Winchester, SO22 8DQ.
· Annual Leave: 25 days (including 5 days at Christmas) plus Bank Holidays.
· Pension: Employers match up to 6% of salary in a group personal pension scheme.
· Salary: Negotiable.
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