Operations support jobs

Senior Communications Manager

Salary: up to £45k 

Term: Permanent 

Line manager: Head of Policy and Advocacy 

Background:

Our vision is a world where data is at the heart of understanding and decision-making 

Founded in 1834, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is one of the world’s leading organisations advocating for the importance of statistics and data. We’re a professional body for all statisticians and data scientists – wherever they may live. 

We have more than 12,000 individual members in the UK and across the world. As a charity, we advocate for the key role of statistics and data in society, and work to ensure that policy formulation and decision making are informed by evidence for the public good. 

The membership of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) constitutes a preeminent source of statistical expertise. Members work with RSS staff to support our work across areas such as policy development, education, training, statistical communication, and statistical literacy. Communicating what we do is important to ensure that our work has impact, and that our members are informed. 

Job Purpose:

The main purpose of this role is to lead and coordinate communications activities across the Society’s policy and external affairs activities, ensuring that our work is communicated strategically and visible to appropriate audiences.

Key responsibilities:

Understanding opportunities and the changing external environment  

• Develop our understanding of the preferences and needs of our key internal and external audiences to better align our policy and external affairs communications to those preferences and needs. 
• Monitor and respond to emerging trends to ensure our communications channels and content for policy and external affairs remain timely and relevant.
• Build a network of key contacts across critical and adjacent organisations to maximise potential routes into influencing decision-making and make the best use of resources through collaborative working. 

Development of strategies and plans

• Lead on strategic communication of the Society’s campaign priorities
• Contribute to the development of the Society’s communications strategy across media, social media and communications planning.
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to maximise the communications value of the Society’s key policy and external affairs outputs and activities.
• Contribute to costed plans for communications campaigns that meet key strategic goals and include monitoring for impact.

Media relations

• Lead on the Society’s media relations work – proactively identify and exploit appropriate media opportunities to promote campaign priorities, drafting media statements and managing launches and announcements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with journalists across our key topic areas and respond to press queries. 
• Expertly advise, assist and brief the Society’s key spokespeople in respect of media relations issues and opportunities. 
• Manage, and develop the Society’s statistical ambassador scheme, supporting individuals and ensuring we have a pipeline of spokespeople that reflects the diversity of the data professions.

Content creation and editorial

• Develop communications content including blogs, press statements, posts and thought pieces to communicate our campaigns and policy work. 
• Contribute to the operation of the Society’s social media accounts, working with wider staff to ensure we are reflecting the breadth of the Society’s activities across the various platforms.
• Produce write-ups of events and roundtables.

External affairs

• Work with the CEO and Head of Policy and Advocacy to identify and develop relationships with external stakeholders, both UK-based and international and across government, civil society, academia and business, acting as a convenor, trusted advisor and critical friend. 
• Lead on the Society’s statistical excellence awards programme, including developing and maintaining relationships with awards sponsors to ensure the awards are both impactful and financially sustainable.
• Lead on the planning and delivery of policy focused events 
• Support the publication, launch and dissemination of relevant outputs across the policy team, and work with colleagues to ensure relevant and timely and communication of policy positions to support policy and advocacy objectives. 
• Maintain a database of relevant stakeholders.

Management

• Monitor and report on progress and performance against targets. 
• Project manage campaigns, external affairs and communications activities, ensuring that work is appropriate, of high quality, and sufficient volume to maintain presence and reputation. 
• Manage the budget for the communications function.

Interfaces with other teams and groups 

• Contribute to a cross-RSS communications group to share comms plans and outputs and identify opportunities for synergy and collaboration. 
• Provide support to key Society groups, for example the Campaigns Advisory Group. 
• Work with staff responsible for business development to pursue sponsorship opportunities where appropriate. 
• Engage with teams across the organisation to identify comms opportunities to advance our campaign priorities.

Person Specification

• Significant relevant experience in media relations and external affairs 
• Excellent written / oral communication skills, including writing, editing, sub-editing and proofreading 
• Excellent organisation, project and budget management skills
• Ability to work effectively, managing multiple projects and deadlines and reprioritising and achieving results in a changing environment.
• Ability to work on own initiative, escalating issues where appropriate. 
• Experience organising events in a policy context 
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to persuade, inspire, influence, achieve results through others. 
• Collaborative team worker: proven ability to work efficiently and effectively with colleagues, committees, volunteers, and people with a wide range of perspectives, and to foster consensus. 
• Ability to establish and develop an extensive network of external contacts in the industry.
• Work closely with members of the Society who provide expert support on a voluntary basis including the President and Vice-President for External Affairs.

Desirable

• Interest in or experience of statistics, research, or other aspects of the Society’s work 
• Familiarity with developments within data science, statistics, machine learning, AI and related subject areas. 
• Experience working with volunteers. 
• Scientific background or experience. 

Working for the RSS

Pension and benefits

Our defined contribution pension scheme can be joined after three months in post. Your contributions of up to 8% of salary will be double matched by the Society (making a maximum contribution by the Society of 16%). A training budget, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and employee assistance programme are also available. 

Location

The RSS office is in central London. We offer flexible working arrangements, and this is a hybrid role with a minimum two days a week working in the office. In person attendance for certain meeting is required, including all-staff / team meetings and governance / committee meetings that take place in person. Limited travel within the UK and internationally may be required.

Working hours

35 per week full-time. Applications for job shares, part-time and flexible working will also be considered. The post-holder will be the point of contact for any out-of-office hours press queries. 

Holidays

25 days per annum, plus bank holidays and an additional shut down between Christmas and New Year. 

Probation

This post is subject to a six-month probation period.

How to apply:

Applications should be sent to via email and be in the form of a supporting statement telling us:  

• Why you should be considered for the role and how it fits with your career
• How your skills and experience align with the person specification  

Please also send us your CV.

Note that applications by CV-only will not be considered. We may arrange interviews before the deadline has passed. Any questions about the role should also be sent via email. If you are interested in applying but cannot do so until nearer the deadline, please email us to register your interest. 

Reports to: Director of Research 

Responsible for (personnel): N/A 

Start date: June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Based in: Candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. If successful, you will be expected to adhere to the working practices of the DMI office where you are subsequently based. If in the UK, you will be required to attend our London office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There may be occasional opportunities for international travel.

Type of role: Full time, permanent 

Salary: £35,000-45,000 per annum, dependent on experience, plus benefits. Benefits will be aligned with those in place at the DMI office in which the successful applicant is based. All DMI staff receive at least: any statutory pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private health insurance – more details can be given at interview.

Application deadline: 23:59 on 22nd April 2025

Date of first round interview: 30th April 2025

About DMI 

Development Media International (DMI) delivers media campaigns aimed at changing behaviours, promoting health and saving lives in developing countries. We are the first organisation to scientifically demonstrate that mass media can increase life-saving behaviours (see the results of our RCT that proved our interventions can save thousands of children’s lives, here). 

DMI has two priorities: first, to continue to generate ground-breaking research, second, to take our proven strategies to scale, saving as many lives as possible. We work across a range of health issues, including child survival, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, hygiene, and early childhood development. DMI works in close partnership with leading experts in health, including WHO, UNICEF and LSHTM and has been funded by some of the world’s most prestigious organisations including the Wellcome Trust, FCDO, The Hilton Foundation, the Global Innovation Fund, Unorthodox Philanthropy, and the Mulago Foundation. 

We are an innovative organisation, working at the nexus between science and creativity. DMI has demonstrated that knowledge is not only a human right but is also the key to saving lives in a cost-effective way. Our intellectual rigour, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn from both our successes and mistakes, makes us distinct. By working at DMI you will have a genuine, measurable impact on improving lives in low-income countries. 

DMI’s HQ is near Kings Cross in London and the organisation has a permanent presence in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. It also currently works in Mauritania, Uganda and Cote d’Ivoire.

DMI is ranked as one of the most cost-effective non-profit organisations in the world by The Life You Can Save.

Job Description

DMI is looking to recruit a Research Officer/Manager, whereby candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. The salary and title of this role is dependent experience, and DMI will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. To succeed, you will need to demonstrate significant research experience and a highly proficient report writing abilities.

More specifically, the Research Officer/Manager role will include the following responsibilities: 

1. Designing and managing effective and scientifically robust evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative) for DMI projects.

2. Overseeing, advising, and supporting research teams in DMI’s national offices to conduct routine research activities (for example, focus groups to understand barriers to behaviour change) and other project specific research tasks.

3. Commissioning and managing external agencies (usually based in the country that we are working) to carry out surveys. This includes the competitive selection of an agency, often using a tendering process, liaising with the selected agency and ensuring that their work is of the highest scientific standards.

4. Contributing to writing and publishing reports based on data gathered and methodologies used during DMI projects. This will include articles for peer-reviewed academic journals and wider scientific publications.

5. Providing technical support to project design during the proposal phase, particularly in relation to the design of monitoring and evaluation elements.

6. Keeping abreast of the latest research evidence, theories, and concepts relevant to DMI’s campaign topics, and communicating trends and new ideas across the organisation.

7. Effectively communicating with, providing technical research support, and building the research capacity of colleagues (those with and without a research background) and sub-contractors in the areas of research methods, monitoring, process evaluation, and impact evaluation, analysis, and interpretation.

8. Other tasks as required by DMI.

Person specification 

Required knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Very strong intellectual ability, as evidenced by a research-focused postgraduate qualification and significant research experience in epidemiology, public health, health economics, social sciences, statistics, biomedical sciences, or an equivalent field.  The salary range is broad to reflect that we will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. 

2. Excellent writing skills (in English), likely proven both by a publication record, and by an ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-specialist audiences, both internally and externally.

3. Practical experience with, and good working knowledge of, statistical analysis software programmes, such as Stata, SPSS, R, or SAS, and strong general IT skills including questionnaire design, database development, and working with complex spreadsheets.

4. An inquisitive and open-minded approach, evidenced by knowledge and understanding of a broad range of research topics and a willingness to learn about new themes, approaches, and techniques when required.

5. Self-motivated with a high capacity for work, shown by the ability to cope with multiple concurrent professional priorities and tight deadlines. This will require strong organisational and time management skills but also the flexibility to understand the pressures, uncertainties, and difficulties of working in an international development context.

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Willingness and ability to take the initiative not only in identifying problems but also in suggesting and implementing solutions.

7. The ability to understand different cultural contexts, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Language ability in French, Portuguese, or Swahili. Fluency in other languages spoken in DMI’s countries of operation is also desirable.

2. Practical experience of designing, monitoring, and evaluating programmes, preferably with some research experience in developing countries, and meeting the monitoring and evaluation requirements of global funders. Experience of data collection using PDAs/mobile phones/tablets would be useful.

3. Experience of working with geographically displaced colleagues (ideally in different countries).

DMI is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

DMI operates a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and is committed to the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. Where appropriate, successful candidates will undergo background and reference checks. All DMI employees will be required to self-declare prior issues of sexual or other misconduct, termination of past employment, criminal records, and concerns registered with government authorities regarding contact with children.

Global Campaigns Officer - Health 

Contract type: Permanent (37.5 hours per week), Full time 

UK Hybrid Working: A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in London office, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid. WaterAid is located at Canary Wharf, London and this will be your location and contract base.

*60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid is currently defined as: 60% of an employee’s time in a location of their choice, 40% face to face per week, defined as in the London office, at conferences or at stakeholder meetings or other location as relevant for the proper performance of the duties of the role. 

Salary: £39,358 - £41,325 per year with excellent benefits 

About WaterAid: Want to use your skills in campaigning and project management to play a vital role in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone everywhere? Join WaterAid as our Global Campaigns Officer – Health to change for millions of people so they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.

About the Team: You will be joining a friendly and supportive group of campaigners who have big plans for the future of WaterAid’s public campaigning work, and we are excited for you to join us! You will be line managed by the Senior Campaigner on Health. The Global Campaigns Team sits within the wider Global Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns department.

About the Role: As our Global Campaigns Officer, you will be a key part of the team driving forward progress on our women’s health campaign. In this role, you will work with policy, advocacy and communication colleagues across the organisation, including country, regional and global teams, as well as with external grassroots groups and partner organisations.  
 

In particular, you will be responsible for some specific high-profile projects for the women’s health campaign, with the support of the Senior Campaigner. Projects could include coordinating our campaigning presence at a UN summit; working with country staff and women’s groups to produce a series of creative activities to enable women’s voices to be heard across the world; and leading on gathering data, learnings and stories for our monitoring and evaluation work. You will also keep the ‘engine’ of the global campaigns team by ensuring key working group and decision-making meetings are scheduled and internal communications compiled. We’ll welcome your insight and ideas and provide an environment where you can hone and develop your campaigning skills too. 

You’ll also:  

• Be an active member of specific campaign working groups and project teams, adding value by bringing your insights, ideas and solutions. 
• Work alongside a number of country offices to support the delivery of their campaign plans, alongside other colleagues.  
• Build excellent working relationships with country teams, federation member teams and others responsible for delivery of their campaigns.  
• Support the Head of Campaigns and Senior Campaigner by tracking progress and engagement across country offices - documenting this in the campaign project plan.  
• Maintain key tools that support the operation of the campaign, including a contact management system – that tracks engagement with decision makers and key influencers – and the campaign calendar. 
• Provide administrative support relating to WaterAid’s global campaigns, including scheduling key meetings, coordinating feedback processes and taking minutes.  
• Develop communications tools, resources and presentations that will aid the delivery of the campaign, liaising with relevant internal stakeholders.  

Requirements

You will be a self-starter, a great team player, a confident cross-cultural communicator and have strong project management skills.  

To be successful, you’ll need:  

• Past background in campaigning, with an ability to evidence skills in public mobilisation (such as utilising communications, events, stunts, social media & other tactics to get the public behind your campaign).  
• Experience of working on complex multi-stakeholder projects related to public campaigning/ advocacy/influencing. 
• Excellent digital communication skills including social media and working virtually, as well as Microsoft Office (including Teams, Word, Excel and Powerpoint).   
• Strong commitment to working in partnership with others in a collaborative and equitable way.  

Although not essential, we also prefer you to have: 

• Experience working with colleagues in different country contexts.  
• Previous experience working with or leading groups of grassroots or community campaigners  
• Experience producing communications products for public audiences  

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ to complete the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and Cover Letter. 

*Please indicate in the summary the relevant skills and experience you bring that makes you an ideal candidate for this role. 

Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 pm UK time on 28 April 2025.  Availability for interview is required w/c 5 May 2025.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well. 

Benefits

Our Benefits:

• 36 days' holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave
• We offer a generous pension plan with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Wide range of flexible and agile-working arrangement
• Season Ticket Loan
• Free annual eye tests
• Pay as You Give charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced Maternity and Adoption/Surrogacy pay, Shared Parental Leave and Paternity Leave
• Sabbaticals
• Volunteer Day

Our Global Commitment:

Our People Promise: We will work with passion and focus to ensure safe and sustainable water, toilets and hygiene are available to everyone, everywhere. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have.  We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to put the wellbeing of our people first, to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values. 

Equal opportunities: We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life. This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, national or social origin, health status, and economic or social situation.

Safeguarding: We are also committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. As a safeguarding measure, WaterAid carries out background checks on all potential employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.