The Head of Communications and Campaigns is a key senior role at the Runnymede Trust, responsible for leading and delivering strategic communications activity that strengthens the organisation’s influence, profile, and impact across policy, media, civil society, and general      audiences.

Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, the postholder will lead the development and delivery of communications strategies that ensure Runnymede’s research, policy work, and public interventions shape debate, influence decision-makers, and contribute to shifting public understanding and narratives on race and racial justice in the UK.

The role combines strategic communications leadership with hands-on delivery across campaigns, press, digital communications, publications, and stakeholder engagement. The postholder will oversee a small communications team and ensure communications activity is aligned with organisational priorities, supports fundraising and external engagement objectives, and strengthens the Runnymede Trust’s reputation as a credible and influential racial justice think tank.

The role requires strong political judgement, knowledge of anti-racist campaigning in a UK context, excellent media instincts, and the ability to lead communications activity within a fast-moving and high-profile environment, balancing strategic oversight with operational delivery and risk management, across a broad communications portfolio.

The Head of Communications and Campaigns sits within the senior leadership team, supporting organisational planning, cross-organisational collaboration, and internal communications across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Communications Strategy, Influence & Reputation

●       Lead the development and delivery of the Runnymede Trust’s communications strategy, ensuring communications activity supports organisational priorities, policy influencing goals, and audience engagement.

●       Shape and maintain Runnymede’s external voice, messaging, and communications approach across press, campaigns, digital, and social media activity.

●       Identify opportunities to position Runnymede’s expertise within public, political, and policy debates on race and racial justice.

●       Advise the CEO and senior leadership team on communications strategy, messaging, reputational risk, and external positioning.

●       Monitor and evaluate communications impact, audience reach, and influence across communications activity.

Press, Campaigns & Public Affairs

●       Lead media relations activity, managing the Runnymede Trust’s busy press office, and proactively securing high-impact media coverage across national, broadcast, digital, and specialist policy media.

●       Oversee rapid response communications activity, including reactive press comments,       statements, press releases, and reputational management.

●       Lead the development and delivery of communications campaigns and public engagement activity that support Runnymede’s influencing and audience engagement objectives.

●       Build and maintain relationships with journalists, civil society organisations, policymakers, funders, and external partners to strengthen Runnymede’s profile and influence.

Digital Communications & Content

●       Oversee Runnymede’s digital communications activity across website, social media, email communications, online blog and multimedia content.

●       Ensure complex research and policy work is translated into accessible, engaging, and high-quality communications outputs for a range of audiences.

●       Oversee the production of publications, digital content, campaign materials, and organisational outputs, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and alignment with Runnymede’s values and editorial standards.

●       Hold responsibility for the Runnymede Trust’s brand portfolio, refining and maintaining our tone and visual offer as appropriate.

●       Support the development of audience engagement strategies that strengthen visibility, reach, supporter engagement, and organisational impact.

●       Liaise with freelance photographers, designers, copywriters and other partners to ensure consistency and uphold the Runnymede Trust’s editorial standards across all our work.

Leadership, Collaboration & Organisational Contribution

●     Lead, manage, and develop the communications team, setting priorities and supporting a collaborative, creative, and high-performing team culture.

●     Contribute as a member of the senior leadership team to organisational planning, decision-making, and cross-organisational collaboration.

●     Work closely with colleagues across research, policy, operations, and fundraising to ensure communications activity supports organisational impact, partnerships, and funding objectives.

●     Support effective internal communications and organisational information sharing across teams.

●     Represent Runnymede externally at relevant events, networks, media opportunities, and stakeholder forums.

Person Specification

Experience

●       Significant experience in a senior communications, media, public affairs, or external affairs role within a charity, think tank, NGO, campaigning, policy, advocacy, or media environment.

●       Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering communications strategies that support organisational influence, audience engagement, and public profile.

●       Experience of campaigning for policy change.

●       Proven track record of securing high-impact media coverage and managing media relations across print, broadcast, digital, and specialist policy media.

●       Experience of leading communications activity within fast-moving or high-profile environments, including managing reputational or politically sensitive issues.

●       Experience of developing and delivering communications campaigns, public engagement activity, or audience engagement strategies.

●       Experience of translating complex policy, research, or social justice issues into accessible and compelling communications for a range of audiences.

●       Experience of managing, developing, and supporting communications staff within a collaborative team environment.

●       Experience of contributing to organisational leadership, planning, or strategic decision-making processes.

Skills

●       Written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging and tone for different audiences, platforms, and political contexts.

●       Media relations and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with journalists, partners, and external stakeholders.

●       Strategic communications skills, with the ability to identify communications opportunities, shape messaging, and align communications activity with organisational priorities.

●       Digital communications skills including social media strategy, website oversight, audience engagement, and content development.

●       Campaigns and public engagement skills, including the ability to deliver communications activity that supports influence and organisational impact.

●       Leadership and people management skills, with the ability to support, motivate, and develop a small communications team.

●       Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a small and fast-paced organisation.

●       Organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and reactive communications activity effectively.

Knowledge & Understanding

●       Understanding of the UK political, media, policy, and social justice landscape, particularly in relation to race equality and racial justice and charity obligations.

●       Understanding of the opportunities, responsibilities, and risks associated with communications work within a high-profile and politically impartial organisation.

●       Understanding of how communications activity can support policy influence, audience engagement, organisational profile, and fundraising objectives.

●       Commitment to racial justice and alignment with Runnymede’s mission, values, and anti-racist approach.

●       Commitment to collaborative, inclusive, and values-led ways of working.