Senior Manager - Strategic Communications (Corporate & Consumer)

Recruitment Process: Two-stage competency-based interview process with a possible presentation and task Interview Dates: First stage: W/C 23 November 2026. Via MS Teams Second stage: W/C 30 November 2026 or 7 December 2026, in Stratford offices., We are looking for an experienced communications leader to join us on a maternity cover contract. The role will lead the strategic development and execution of high-impact communication strategies and campaigns that support the charity's communications strategy, and deliver on CRUK's priority areas. What will I be doing?

• Plan, develop and oversee multi-channel communication strategies and campaigns supporting organisational goals
• Contribute to the development of the annual comms plan, quarterly communications strategies, and message house as required
• Oversee delivery of high-impact consumer PR campaigns and activity (national and regional), raising awareness of CRUK's priority campaigns, fundraising activities, corporate supporters, special events and trading
• Oversee delivery of CRUK's corporate communications activity, including visible leadership, EDI strategy and Annual Report & Accounts
• Oversee delivery of high-quality communications content, including drafting and reviewing media materials, press releases, statements, plans, briefing documents and creative multi-media content
• Oversee the creation of crisis communications plans and manage reputational issues, recommending appropriate courses of action to senior stakeholders
• Use data-driven insights to inform high-level decision making.
• Ensure strategies take into account recommendations and lessons learnt from previous activity
• Oversee campaign evaluations, working with colleagues to ensure they reflect the full breadth of our communications activity, and the impact of our work
• Monitor the external landscape to identify strategic opportunities and risks
• Advise leadership and colleagues on emerging trends
• Build and maintain relationships with colleagues within the department, and across the organisation, to ensure plans and objectives are aligned and delivered collaboratively
• Manage senior-level relationships with external agencies, and ensure they deliver high-quality work, aligned with strategic objectives
• Instil a culture of collaboration with other teams and individuals across the charity, developing meaningful relationships, understanding their needs, and making recommendations for communications activity
• Line and matrix manage team members to deliver against agreed KPIs
• Coach and mentor colleagues through their career at CRUK, creating a culture of development. Performance manage where necessary.
What are we looking for?
• Communications expertise: excellent communications track record; experienced at leading a team to deliver against KPIs; ensures department-wide objectives are met
• Management expertise: leads by example, encourages team to develop creative, progressive ideas that increase our effectiveness. Actively coaches and oversees development of line reports, setting direction and role modelling appropriate behaviours
• Problem solving: able to work on own initiative to deal effectively and pragmatically with problems; actively supports the head of strategic communications & campaigns by helping to resolve complex team-wide problems
• Accountability: responsible for setting team direction and strategies for some corporate communications campaigns as part of supporting the wider department objectives
• Decision making: proactively manages own workload and advises team members on how to manage theirs; deputises for head of corporate communications requiring ability to take key decisions with appropriate consultation
  
  Communication skills: well-developed communication skills, and ability to deal with complex and sensitive information in a professional way; always showing a high level of self-awareness
• Influence: required to influence internal and external stakeholders, including at very senior level; builds consensus and instils confidence and credibility of advice and decision making with other key teams
• Strategic planning: Responsible for developing and managing plans to achieve delivery of overall communications strategy. Uses organisational priorities to make informed decisions about communications support
• Experience: an established communications career at senior level, either in-house or agency, with a proven track-record of team and project management and excellent results delivery. Accustomed to regular contact with directors and executive directors, as well as the CEO for important reputation issues