Strategic Communications Manager

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Strategic Communications Manager to work as part of our Policy & Practice Team.

This is a 22-month fixed term contract to the end of September 2027, with potential to extend

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity and that s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people regardless of who they are or their background to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

Policy and Practice work towards our corporate strategy objectives by elevating the voices of lived experience and diverse communities to influence system change and ensuring it is then delivered on the ground for people severely affected by mental illness.

How you will make a difference

The Strategic Communications Manager will shape and deliver the communications strategy for a landmark, mental health partnership. The partnership, funded by the Wellcome Trust, brings together over 20 leading mental health organisations in a coordinated effort to push mental health up the political agenda and drive transformational change in UK mental health care. The role will support the Influencing Partnership Strategic Lead, hosted at Rethink Mental Illness, and comms colleagues across the sector to deliver this.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer. We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here.