Job Title: Communications Manager
Location: Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham or Bristol
Permanent/fixed-term: Fixed term (12 months)
Grade: 17
Salary: £53,160 – 58,75
Closing date: Sunday 30 Nov 2025
Summary
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is looking for a Communications Manager to lead RSH’s engagement with the media and contribute to wider communications and engagement work within the team. This is a 12‑month fixed‑term maternity cover role.
At RSH you’ll be joining an organisation that gives you the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives, regulating a sector that houses over four million people across England.
About the role
As the Communications Manager, you will have skilled technical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of media relations, and how it can be used strategically to deliver RSH’s overall communications objectives.
You will plan, deliver and evaluate a wide range of media activity. This will include content about RSH’s busy schedule of publications and announcements. You will also handle reactive enquiries from the trade and national media, write thought leadership pieces for senior leaders, and prepare them for broadcast interviews.
You will use your insight and experience to provide expert communications advice to senior leaders, as well as to colleagues across the organisation, on tactical and strategic communications issues. You will also scan the horizon for key issues in the media that could impact on RSH’s reputation.
About you
This role requires a skilled technical knowledge of media relations and strategic communications, including planning, delivery and evaluation. Broader knowledge and understanding of the range of communications disciplines would also be beneficial (including events, digital/social media and internal communications).
Qualifications
* Experience of leading media relations in a regulatory or public sector environment, preferably with experience of working with trade, national and local media.
* Experience of providing strategic communications advice to senior leaders and at all levels of an organisation.
* Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholder organisations, including the media (trade, national and local).
* Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating strategic communications activity and driving continuous improvement.
* Working knowledge of the range of communications disciplines set out in GCS Modern Communications Operating Model.
* Self‑starting with an ability to plan and manage your own workload, as well as manage the input of others, to meet tight deadlines and competing priorities.
General Information
Why work at RSH?
At RSH, we offer a fantastic range of benefits including a 35 hour working week, 33 days annual leave and access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Our staff survey results consistently show that our staff think that the best thing about working at the RSH is our flexible and hybrid working, along with our family friendly policies that support work‑life balance.
We also offer access to our staff discount scheme, cycle to work scheme, a Nuffield Health Screening; and a range of other well‑being focussed benefits. Full information on this and our other fantastic benefits is available on our website.
Location
We operate a hybrid model of working with a mix of office and home working, as well as offering a range of flexible working arrangements.
This role can be based out of any of RSH’s core offices in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol. Our Manchester and Bristol offices will be relocating during 2025/26, however will remain within the city centre. Most roles involve some travel within England between our offices, with some roles also involving onsite visits to social housing providers.
Interviews
Interviews are expected to take place in November and will be held via Microsoft Teams. We expect this to be a one‑stage interview process.
Benefits and Salary
At RSH, we offer a competitive salary along with a range of excellent benefits; full information is available on our website.
The salary for this role is a spot salary within the given range, which will normally be the minimum of the range. There is no incremental progression through a pay scale. Annual salary reviews are determined by the government pay award.
Things you need to know
Application process
For more information on the role, please see the attached Role Profile.
To apply, please complete the online application form on the RSH careers site detailing your experience. We will also ask you to provide a supporting statement or to answer specific role related questions, detailing how you meet the criteria of the role, which will be used in assessing your application. Guidance on the application process is available on our website.
Candidates must have valid right to work in the UK, as unfortunately we are unable to provide sponsorship and must also meet the requirements outlined in the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Please see our website for more information.
Commitment to equality and diversity
Our anonymous shortlisting process helps to ensure fair and consistent recruitment decisions, based solely on skills and experience.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and shortlist those who best meet the minimum criteria as part of our commitment.
We are passionate about building a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued and respected and has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, beliefs, identities and life experiences, recognising that varied perspectives enrich our organisation.
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