Communications Lead
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This range is provided by Make‑A‑Wish® UK. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base Pay Range
Location: Reading, Hybrid
Salary: £49,098 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Campaign Closes: 28th November 2025
First Stage Interviews: 9th/10th December 2025
Second Stage Interviews: 15th/16th December 2025
We are looking for a Communications Lead to shape and deliver impactful communications that inspire and engage. You will lead day‑to‑day coordination of internal and external communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and creativity across all channels. Acting as deputy to the Head of Brand, Communications & Entertainment, you’ll manage specialist managers and oversee integrated planning for campaigns, partnerships, and internal engagement.
Qualifications
* Significant experience (2+ years) in a mid‑senior communications role, ideally within the charity or not‑for‑profit sector.
* Proven ability to lead, manage, and coordinate communications teams and projects across multiple disciplines.
* Strong understanding of integrated communications planning – including PR, digital, social, and internal comms.
* Demonstrated experience delivering impactful communications that build engagement, increase awareness and drive consideration.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling, and emotionally resonant messages.
* Experience developing and delivering internal communications strategies that foster alignment and culture.
* Collaborative leadership style with the ability to coach, motivate, and support a high‑performing team.
* Skilled in managing competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
* Excellent stakeholder management and partnership communication experience.
* Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery skills and a focus on impact and efficiency.
Core Purpose
The Communications Lead plays a pivotal role in delivering Make‑A‑Wish UK’s mission by leading the planning, coordination and execution of impactful communications across internal and external channels.
Acting as the communications lead across everyday operations, this role ensures alignment, clarity, and consistency across the organisation’s communications outputs, storytelling and messaging. It provides strategic and operational leadership to specialist communications managers and supports the delivery of high‑quality campaigns, partnership communications, and internal engagement activity.
This role supports the Head of Brand, Communications & Entertainment to develop long‑term brand and engagement strategy, while ensuring excellence in delivery, team coordination, and communications impact.
Key Responsibilities
Communication leadership & coordination
* Lead the day‑to‑day management and coordination of Make‑A‑Wish UK’s communications activity, ensuring cohesive planning, consistent messaging, and effective delivery.
* Line manage specialist communications managers and coordinate cross‑team workflows to improve collaboration and reduce operational bottlenecks.
* Oversee integrated communications planning for key projects and partnerships – ensuring alignment across media, social, digital and internal channels.
* Lead and support delivery of flagship communications moments such as organisation‑wide annual campaigns, events and major brand partnerships.
* Serve as deputy to the Head of BCE where required, representing the communications function internally and externally.
Internal communications
* Lead the development and implementation of a structured internal communications strategy to strengthen staff engagement, visibility of organisational priorities, and alignment across teams.
* Alongside senior leadership and relevant stakeholders, deliver consistent, creative, and on‑time internal communications such as internal newsletters, all staff update meetings, and ad‑hoc announcements.
* Equip managers and internal stakeholders with tools and guidance to communicate effectively across teams.
Corporate and partner communications
* Coordinate and develop communications for key corporate partnerships, high‑value donors, and campaigns to ensure strategic alignment and high‑quality delivery.
* Work collaboratively with fundraising and partnerships teams to ensure communications activity enhances partner experience, reinforces brand values, and drives impact.
* Oversee the production of tailored communications plans, toolkits and templates for partners to ensure consistent, on‑brand engagement.
Campaigns and storytelling
* Provide senior communications support for major campaigns, ensuring clear narratives, powerful storytelling, and consistent brand representation across all channels.
* Support the Head of BCE in developing emotionally resonant communications that connect audiences to the mission and deepen understanding of Make‑A‑Wish UK’s impact.
* Ensure quality control and brand alignment across all public‑facing content, in partnership with the Content Manager.
* Drive the development and optimisation of key messages, and their effective use across all touch points within the organisation.
Measurement and continuous improvement
* Track and evaluate communications performance using agreed KPIs.
* Use available data and insights to refine processes and improve communications effectiveness across channels. Seek out new data and tracking ability to enhance learnings and inform development.
* Contribute to a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement within the BCE team.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Marketing, Project Management, and Strategy/Planning
Industries: Non‑profit Organizations
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