Digital Communications Lead 

Could you drive powerful digital communications that support climate justice and a fairer, better low carbon future? 

Ashden is recruiting a Digital Communications Lead – someone who understands the ingredients of great storytelling, and how to reach diverse audiences and create impact.  

The role holder will oversee a website, multiple social media channels, and a host of digital campaigns and projects.  

Ashden’s digital communications bring powerful stories to a wide range of audiences, in the UK and Global South. From politicians and local councillors to community groups, philanthropists to clean energy entrepreneurs. 

You’ll have the resources to create brilliant communications – great human stories of climate innovators and the people they support, as well as high-quality video and photography.  

Your work will draw on these resources to create action that tackles the biggest climate challenges. Challenges like bringing clean energy to families and businesses in the Global South, supporting Indigenous communities, and making UK homes warm and energy efficient. 

With many stories to tell, to many different people, you’ll need to think strategically and balance a wide range of messages across multiple channels. 

We’ll ask you to create and manage audience journeys, produce content using InDesign and Photoshop, and train and support colleagues. You’ll manage use of the Ashden brand across our organisation, and monitor digital impact. 

If you’re interested in a job sharing inspiring climate stories with the world, we want to hear from you. 

This is an office based role with the option to work from home. 

Interviews will take place online Wednesday 13 December and in-person on Monday 18 December.

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job title: Digital Communications Lead 

Job purpose: To manage and develop Ashden’s online presence, making our website the best it can be, and growing our community on social media channels to increase reach and impact. 

Terms and conditions:  

Permanent employee  

5 days per week   

Based in Ashden office in London Victoria and working from home as appropriate/agreed.   

 Reports to: Director of Communications and People 

 Responsible for: Communications Assistant 

 Duties and key responsibilities 

Lead Ashden’s digital strategy, planning, and implementation, to raise awareness of our network of climate leaders, help position Ashden as a bold, informed voice for change, and advocate for real, rapid climate action in the UK and global south.   

 Digital Media  

• Develop, plan, and implement Ashden’s digital strategy to support wider communications and organisation objectives- setting targets and significantly growing our digital reach through our website, marketing emails and social media.  

• As part of this, develop and deliver social media strategy, working with the Comms Assistant and external agencies to run Ashden’s social media accounts including X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook,  Instagram and YouTube  

•  Plan and execute strategic, creative social media campaigns, both organic and paid, to build awareness and authority amongst target audiences, working with external creative agencies and freelancers as required. 

• Ongoing tracking and reporting of digital performance against KPIs, reporting back on effectiveness and impact to a wide range of stakeholders.  

• Work with Ashden Award winning organisations, partners and the comms team to develop engaging digital content for our platforms and others’ (this will often be in partnership with others, whether such as K-CEP, CDP, Clean Cooking Alliance and SEforALL).  

• Manage and strengthen Ashden’s online community and our connection with key online audiences.  

•  Train/support Ashden teams to develop their professional online presence (via LinkedIn and X(Twitter), including thought leadership positioning  

• Be the guardian of our brand, ensuring that all staff, partner organisations and external agencies/freelancers are using it correctly across all channels 

 Manage Ashden’s website including:  

• Working with the Communications Assistant and Editor to ensure content is up to date, engaging and relevant to key target audiences, reading, editing, and uploading content as required 

• Work with programmes teams to identify key target audiences, developing digital content strategies and campaigns to align with their interest, values and needs. 

• Work across teams and with other stakeholders to understand how our websites are being used, identifying bottlenecks and ways to optimise and improve user journeys and content findability/discoverability.  

• Working with Ashden teams to make sure that the website reflects all areas of our work and impact – led by user experience  

• Using SEO, PPC (Google AdGrants Pro) and other tools to monitor and drive quality traffic to our site  

• Monitor performance and produce regular reports that enable quick and easy analysis of digital platforms  

• Work with Communications Assistant and Press Lead to ensure our extensive video and photo libraries are organised and optimised for use across range of internal and external stakeholders 

  Marketing and events: 

• Design and implement online marketing campaigns to promote both in-person and online Ashden events to target audiences, including the annual Awards celebration  

• Attract applicants to the annual Ashden Awards through annual cross-channel marketing strategy, from social to e-marketing and paid organic campaigns 

• Develop digital marketing strategies to increase audience for our online content including learning resources, reports and videos’ 

• Work with Fundraising team to create meaningful fundraising and donor journeys with multi-national corporates, trusts, foundations, and government.   

• Work closely with colleagues across the team to develop opportunities to promote key programme outputs throughout the year to key target audiences 

Supporting the wider team 

• Work closely with the fundraising team to produce compelling proposals, and liaise with our funders’ comms teams to ensure that we are maximising opportunities and recognising their support  

• Engage with the wider Ashden team so that they feel ownership and are keen to contribute to our digital and PR campaigns  

• Produce reports and social media assets using InDesign and Photoshop, working with creative agencies and freelancers as required  

• Write and edit copy for an online audience alongside our Editor  

 General responsibilities: 

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting your work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development. 

• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position 

• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace 

• Support and promote the sustainability and carbon reduction actions within Ashden, SFCT and our wider work  

• Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of SFCT’ s work 

 Scope and accountability  

Decision making and limits of authority 

Responsible for developing and overseeing implementation of strategy for all our digital work and overall management of our online presence both website and socials. 
Recognise and refer upwards any issues that pose reputational risk. 

 Financial resources 

Responsible for digital and social media promotion budget of £33k. 

 Information resources 

Responsible for running social media accounts, ensuring that the content is appropriate and represents Ashden work accurately. 

Responsible for keeping Ashden and associated websites up to date with accurate information. 

 Other resources 

Ensure that photo and film resources are safely and securely stored.  

People management 

Line management of Communications Assistant 

Legal, regulatory and compliance: 

• Ensure compliance with SFCT financial policies and procedures  

• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (where applicable - GDPR Champion for Ashden, initial responsibility for ensuring compliance with GDPR)   

• Ensure compliance with Ashden Safeguarding policies and procedures and data protection in relation to grant management.   

• Personal compliance with SFCT health and safety procedures, Equal Opportunities & Diversity procedures 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

EXPERIENCE 

• Development and delivery of effective social media campaigns  

• Experience of growing digital platforms to reach the right audiences  

• Experience of developing, designing and managing websites  

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Creative and strategic thinker with strong digital technical skills and a passion for using data to solve problems  

• Good understanding of SEO and Google Ads (PPC)  

• Google Analytics and other reporting tools  

• Excellent writer - proven track record of writing for a range of audiences   

• Able to multitask and prioritise work schedule.   

KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION/TRAINING 

• Proficient in InDesign. Photoshop, infographic production and intermediate video editing skills.  

• UX and UI design skills 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS  

• Able to work some evenings, weekend and out-of-hours from time to time, and travel within UK 

• Active and self-led learner who keeps abreast of developments  

• Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work.  

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.