Chief Communications Officer

A role reflecting the step change ambition in the delivery of The National Lottery Community Fund’s ‘It starts with community’ strategy to 2030. This is an exciting, demanding and varied role at a time of optimistic change.

As Chief Communications Officer you will provide strategic leadership of our Communications and Engagement functions.  Sat within our Funding Strategy, Communications and Impact Directorate (FSCI), you will be leading our Branding/Content/Digital and Strategic Communications teams in the delivery of The National Lottery Community Fund, UK wide, external engagement strategy. 

This role requires a proven communications leader with expertise in team building and problem solving across the full breadth of external communications and engagement in a complex and evolving environment, creating a culture which encourages innovation.

We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

Interview Date: Wednesday 4th/11th September

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown. 

Essential criteria
• Significant experience of leading an integrated specialist communications and engagement team
• Strong influential leader with experience leading a function through organisational change
• Proven track records of developing and delivering a significant innovative communications and stakeholder strategy
• Working with a range of stakeholders including government 
• An ability to develop and enhance excellent relationships internally and externally to ensure that our communication and engagement functions are improving and furthering the delivery of our core work 
• Experience professional leadership in a newly forming central function/service across an organisation to deliver their strategy
• Experience of ensuring that communication and engagement function directly supports the organisations operational delivery  
• Understanding of the political and policy environment we operate in

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)