External Communications Manager
Salary: £40,000–£42,000 FTE
Hours: 30 hours per week
Location: Remote, with regular travel to FitzRoy services, team and stakeholder meetings as agreed. The role requires attendance in London once per month and applicants must be able to commute to services in Norfolk, Nottingham and Hampshire.
Reports to: Head of Communications
Directorate: Business Development and Partnerships
FitzRoy is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs to live lives rooted in choice, meaning and happiness.
We are strengthening our external voice and looking for a confident, perceptive and warm communicator to help more people understand FitzRoy’s expertise and impact and increase our influence.
This is a moment of change for social care. We want to play a more active role in shaping its future, ensuring the people at the heart of it are seen, heard and involved in the decisions that matter.
About the role
As External Communications Manager, you will help build FitzRoy’s profile and reputation by identifying the stories, insight and opportunities that show what good support looks like in real life.
You will work closely with the Head of Communications, fundraising, business development and operational colleagues to turn external communications priorities into practical plans, content and opportunities.
This is a delivery role with real influence. You will be expected to bring ideas, advise colleagues, shape practical plans and turn opportunities into action.
What you will do
You will:
- develop proactive external communications activity that raises awareness of FitzRoy’s work, expertise and impact
- spot opportunities for FitzRoy to contribute constructively to sector conversations
- identify realistic opportunities for media, sector press, partner or local coverage
- gather stories, photos, video and quotes that help people understand what good support looks like in real life
- use social media, website content, audience insight and analytics to strengthen FitzRoy’s external profile
About you
You may come from charity communications, PR, journalism, public affairs, stakeholder communications or another external communications background.
You do not need to have worked in social care before, but you will need to be interested in people, willing to learn quickly and able to handle stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement.
We are looking for someone who is:
- an excellent writer and editor
- confident developing clear, accessible content for different audiences
- warm, curious and able to build rapport quickly
- able to spot strong stories, ideas and opportunities
- confident creating social media and website content shaped by audience insight
- comfortable working independently and managing competing priorities
- able to think strategically about audiences and influence, while being practical about what can be delivered in a small team
- confident gathering content including photos, videos and quotes
- willing and able to travel to FitzRoy services and meetings as needed
A full clean driving licence and access to a car for work travel are required, as some services are not easily accessible by public transport.
Working at FitzRoy
You will join a small, friendly communications team with big ambitions. This role will suit someone who enjoys a mix of planning, writing, relationship-building, story-gathering and hands-on delivery.
You will help us show the difference good support makes – and help ensure the voices, experiences and achievements of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs are seen and heard.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your application and a covering letter.
We do not expect your covering letter to address every point in the person specification. We would like you to tell us:
- what interests you about this role and FitzRoy
- three things you would bring to the role
- a piece of communications work you are proud of and why
- how you approach using social media, website content and audience insight to build external profile
- how you would approach telling stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement
If you are using AI tools to write your application, please use them with caution. We are looking for your own voice and writing style.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Our vision, mission and values guide us each step of the way, and are as important now as when the charity first began. Our vision A society where p
Thank you!
- 37 hours per week
- £40,000 – £42,000 per annum plus 6% pension contribution
- Remote
Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) is the national campaigns and membership body for a network of independent, community-based Rape Crisis Centres working to end child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence.
The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is a national service led by Rape Crisis England & Wales and funded by the Ministry of Justice.
We are looking for a values-led professional with strong digital project skills and a deep commitment to survivor-centred, high-quality services.
Job Summary
As the Digital Project & Product Lead for the 247 Support Line, you will lead the transformation and continuous improvement of the organisation’s digital support line infrastructure, ensuring the technology and processes that underpin survivor support are effective, resilient, and user centred.
This role sits at the intersection of project delivery, product management, and a genuine commitment to the survivors RCEW serves. The right candidate will understand that technology is only as good as the humans who use it and will bring both rigour and empathy to everything they do.
You will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery which, includes defining the product requirements, technology evaluation, procurement, implementation, onboarding, and ongoing optimisation. Working closely with operational teams, suppliers, and stakeholders, you will ensure that our support line products enable support workers to deliver high-quality, accessible services.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Delivery
· Own and drive the support centre improvement programme from procurement through to live operation, ensuring delivery on time and within budget
· Manage supplier relationships, coordinate and input into the evaluation of bids, and identify, track, and mitigate risks throughout the programme
· Maintain clear, accessible project documentation and provide regular progress updates to senior stakeholders
· Coordinate across internal teams (services, technology, legal, finance) and external partners to keep work aligned and moving
Product & Solution Ownership
· Act as product owner for the support centre platform: defining requirements which meet the needs of support workers and service users
· As part of a team you’ll evaluate technology options against a set of agreed criteria, with a focus on fitness for purpose, data security and value for money
· Oversee the bespoke configuration of the chosen platform, working closely with the supplier
· Collaborate with the Head of Service to and I.T Lead to onboard and train the team, ensuring support line workers feel confident and prepared from day one
· Following go-live, take responsibility for the continued health and development of the support centre platform and identify improvement opportunities
· Champion best practice in digital service design and products across the organisation, building internal capability over time
Information Governance & Data Protection
· Work closely with RCEW's Data Protection Officer and Senior leadership to ensure all aspects of the programme comply with relevant data legislation
Person Specification*
· A proven track record of successfully delivering digital or technology projects on time and within budget
· Able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities
· Ability to assess complex situations, identify blockers, and develop pragmatic solutions
· Ability to gather and translate user needs into product requirements; comfortable working with service design principles and working iteratively to develop or improve digital products
· Experience and understanding of contact centre software, CRM, and/or case management platforms
· Proven ability to work across diverse teams and communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences
· Thorough knowledge of UK GDPR and able to handle highly sensitive personal data and engage with difficult subject matter with care and professionalism
· A team player who builds trust quickly and works effectively across organisational boundaries
· Self-starter who can work autonomously, flag problems early, and drive work forward without constant direction
· A genuine commitment to RCEW's mission to end sexual violence and support survivors
Personal Attributes
We are looking for a skilled and versatile digital professional who combines strong delivery skills with product thinking. You do not need to be a technical expert, but you do need to be confident working with technology suppliers, communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and making sound decisions under pressure.
Above all, we are looking for someone who understands the importance of the work RCEW does and has a strong track record of delivering digital projects effectively.
Success in the role of Digital Project & Product Lead for the Support Line is determined by the ability to lead and coordinate the successful delivery of digital projects that enhance the effectiveness, resilience, and user experience of the national 24/7 Support Line. Working collaboratively with suppliers, internal teams, operational colleagues, and key stakeholders, the role will ensure that digital solutions are implemented safely, on time, and in line with service requirements.
Key measures of success include:
- Strong supplier engagement and stakeholder collaboration result in agreed solution designs that meet the operational needs of the Support Line.
- A robust project plan is developed and managed in partnership with suppliers, with key milestones achieved within agreed timescales.
- Virtual Contact Centre (VCC) upgrades are configured and delivered in accordance with agreed specifications, supporting improved service delivery and performance.
- Integration testing with existing systems is completed successfully, with issues identified, resolved, and signed off before implementation.
- Operating procedures, user guidance, and supporting documentation are developed or updated to reflect new processes and system functionality.
- Comprehensive training materials are produced, enabling Support Line staff and delivery partners to effectively use new systems and features.
- Training is delivered to relevant colleagues and stakeholders, ensuring operational readiness and confidence ahead of implementation.
- A structured Go Live readiness review confirms that technical, operational, governance, and business readiness criteria have been met before deployment.
- The VCC upgrades are launched successfully with minimal disruption to Support Line operations, supported by effective implementation planning, monitoring, and post-launch issue resolution to maximise adoption and service benefits.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit a CV and a covering letter (no more than two pages) explaining why you are interested in this role and how your experience meets the person specification.
RCEW is committed to equal opportunities and actively encourages applications from people with lived experience of sexual violence, and from people from communities which are under-represented in our workforce, including Black and minoritised communities, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ people.
All roles at RCEW are subject to an enhanced DBS check. The post-holder will have access to sensitive data relating to survivors of sexual violence and must demonstrate the highest standards of discretion and data security.
Eligibility
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence of this will be required prior to appointment.
Additional Information
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Due to the volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.