Director of Corporate Communications

Our Future Health will be the UK's largest ever health research programme, bringing people together to develop new ways to detect, prevent, and treat diseases. Diseases like cancer, dementia, diabetes, and heart disease affect the lives of many people in our communities. Our goal is to create a world-leading resource for health research, to improve our understanding and spot the patterns of how and why common diseases start, so treatments can begin sooner and be more effective.

We are hiring a
Director of Corporate Communications
to ensure that every communication - from press releases and social media posts, to internal announcements and stakeholder briefings - resonates with authenticity, driving our mission forward.

As a strategic leader in communications, you will craft and deliver our narrative - developing an integrated communications strategy and compelling messaging that encapsulates our mission, values, and achievements - overall enhancing our brand reputation.

Your responsibilities will include:
Strategic Communications Leadership:

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine an integrated corporate communications strategy that aligns with Our Future Health's mission and strategic pillars.
• Define clear measurable objectives and KPIs for communications activities, ensuring every message supports our broader goals.

Media and Public Relations:

• Work closely with the CEO, overseeing all media activities, including press releases and media relations.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with journalists, thought leaders, and influencers within the healthcare and research domains.
• Oversee the management of our website and the execution of social media strategies that enhance our online presence, build our brand and set the foundations for strong engagement with key audiences.

Crisis and Issue Management:

• Maintain active monitoring of news and stories about Our Future Health and associated risks and opportunities, adjusting strategies as necessary to maintain public trust and ensure an approach to communications that manages and mitigates our overall reputational risk.
• Lead planning of crisis communications planning and execution, ensuring rapid, accurate, and consistent responses that protect our reputation.

Content and Publishing:

• Guide the creation of compelling content across various channels—including digital platforms, social media, etc. and thought leadership pieces—to effectively convey our story.
• Work collaboratively with and support the marketing teams to understand the stories related to our mission and goals that will support their activities and lead the development of this content.
• Oversee guidelines and frameworks for brand style and messaging that will be used by the marketing teams in the preparation of content and materials that will be used for the direct communication with participants and researchers in relation to the sale / delivery of our products and services.
• Review the materials prepared by marketing teams, identifying and agreeing changes for content that is not aligned with brand guidelines and/or which could create reputational risk, whilst otherwise giving them the freedom to determine what is best for their "customers".

Internal Communications and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Oversee the development and distribution of internal communications that keep employees informed, motivated, and aligned with our mission.
• Collaborate closely with other functional leaders to ensure that internal messaging is integrated with external communications, and that staff are able to support and reinforce the external messaging.

Team and Agency Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing communications team, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.
• Manage external agencies and consultants as required to support integrated communications programs.

Requirements
Professional Experience:

• Proven leadership in a senior corporate communications or public affairs role, ideally within healthcare, research, public sector, or mission-driven organisations.
• Demonstrated success in leading comprehensive communications campaigns and managing multi-channel communications strategies.

Expertise & Competencies:

• Deep expertise in media relations, digital communications, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex issues for diverse audiences.
• Proven leadership abilities, with experience in managing teams and working within collaborative, matrixed environments.

Personal Attributes:

• A visionary, articulate, and strategic thinker with a passion for crafting stories that inspire and drive change.
• Resilient, adaptive, and proactive in managing issues and opportunities.
• A collaborative leader who thrives on building inclusive relationships and fostering trust among internal and external stakeholders.

Let's prevent disease together.
Closing date for applications : 27th October
We recommend you apply as soon as possible as occasionally due to high volumes of applications, we need to close our postings early.
At Our Future Health, we recognise the importance of having a diverse workforce and ensuring that all candidates, regardless of their background, have equitable access to our application process. We proactively encourage applicants who identify as having a disability, neurodiversity, or long-term health conditions to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments as part of their application process.
If you do require any reasonable adjustments, please email us at
Benefits

• Salary from £105,000
• Generous Pension Scheme - We invest in your future with employer contributions of up to 12%
• 30 Days Holiday pro rata + Bank Holidays - Enjoy a generous holiday allowance with the flexibility to take bank holidays when it suits you
• Enhanced Parental Leave - Supporting you during life's biggest moments
• Cycle to Work Scheme - Save 25-39% on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice
• Home & Tech Savings - Get up to 8% off on IKEA and Currys products, spreading the cost over 12 months through salary sacrifice
• £1,000 Employee Referral Bonus - Know someone amazing? Get rewarded for bringing them on board
• Wellbeing Support - Access to Mental Health First Aiders, plus 24/7 online GP services and an Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family
• A Great Place to Work - We have a lovely Central London office in Holborn, and offer flexible and remote working arrangements