We are recruiting for an Interim Head of Mission Communications

About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet. 

For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation. 

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk. 

Summary

You will lead a team of embedded communications professionals to plan, support and deliver a range of planned and reactive communications activities that drive mission success. Within each mission, you will be part of a team that is responsible for seeking and securing opportunities for Nesta to advance its agenda,  build its public profile and achieve its mission goals.

This includes proposing and planning communications, partnership development, having the overview of stakeholder relationships across the mission; and owning the mission narrative and messaging, ensuring salience and consistency of key messages and communications outputs.

You will spend 50% of your time embedded in one of our three missions to provide senior level communications, support and activity; the mission in which you are primarily embedded for the duration of this contract will be A fairer start. You will spend the remainder of your time working flexibly across each mission as is needed and where your senior-level communications expertise is most valuable.

The role

• Leading on the development and delivery of high-impact advocacy, communications and stakeholder activity for work that is focused on achieving our mission goals - this might be anything from attitude shaping to work conducted in support of a particular policy priority

• Leading on the development, delivery and  evaluation of communications campaigns in support of high priority mission projects

• Leading on mission level stakeholder relationships: ensuring that through your own work and that of your direct reports, you identify target stakeholders, have an overview of engagement with them across each mission, and support each mission team to plan and deliver engagement activities.

• Being responsible for the smooth and efficient delivery of mission communications work, either through your own work or those of your direct reports, ensuring strong project management practices and processes, the best internal stakeholder relationships and good communication 

• Drafting and editing a variety of communications content relating to mission projects and activity

• Supporting, coaching and developing a team of embedded colleagues to work together as a unit and with colleagues to deliver best-in-class communications outputs for our missions

This role sits as part of both the communications team (made up of specialists across media, marketing, events and content production), and the mission teams (including experts across policy, research, behavioural science, data science and design). 

The person

You should have the following skills and/or experience:

• Professional communications experience: You will have proven experience of working in a senior communications or public affairs role. A creative thinker, influencer and experienced writer and editor, you will be comfortable working on a variety of communications outputs designed to inform and influence different audiences and stakeholders, such as blogs, briefings and pitch decks.

• Managing integrated communications campaigns: You will have proven experience of driving and delivering successful communications campaigns to achieve policy impact and influence.

• You will be an experienced motivator and leader of teams with the ability to drive activity towards high impact outcomes, knowing when to step in and how to develop high performance 

• Project delivery skills: You will have proven experience of delivering high-impact communications campaigns from conception to delivery and evaluation. 

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills: You will have experience of applying these effectively to collaborate well with colleagues, build stakeholder relationships and develop partnerships.

• Knowledge of political systems and government in the UK: You will have knowledge and understanding of how policy is made and developed, and of the wider political system, including central government and Parliament, ideally gained in a professional context.

As with all members of the Nesta Group communications team, the postholder will also be at their best working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, have a flexible approach and an appetite for taking on new tasks and challenges. They will also have excellent written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to write for a range of different audiences.

What we offer

Salary: circa £62,000 (80% of a full-time salary of £77,500) plus array of benefits, including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more  

Location: This role is based in London, Blackfriars, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office

Term: Maternity cover

Hours: This is a part-time role, 4 days per week (30 hours)

Reports to: Group Executive Director of Communications

Making an application 

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 08:00am on the 27th of May 2025. Please submit:

• A CV; and

• A cover letter outlining why you are interested in this role and a summary of why you think you would be a good fit, in line with the job description (max 1 page). Please submit both documents on 1 page.

Interviews will take place w/c the 2nd of June 2025.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results. 

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. 

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. 

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.  

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.