Senior marketing and communications manager (interim)  

 (fixed term maternity leave cover for up to one year) 

About the Association of Charitable Foundations  

The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the membership body for UK foundations and grant-making charities. 

Founded in 1989, we have over 420 members who reflect the diversity of the foundation sector, including family trusts, corporate foundations, broadcasting appeals and livery companies, which fund a very wide range of charitable causes.  

Our values guide our work  

• We care 

 • We are open 

 • We are evidence based  

• We are ambitious  
 
Our strategic objectives 

• ACF SUPPORTS foundations in achieving their charitable objectives

• ACF ADVOCATES on behalf of foundations for an enabling policy, legislative and operating environment

• ACF CONNECTS foundations to people, organisations, governments and movements relevant to their work

• ACF INSPIRES foundations to be ambitious and effective in the way that they use their resources

• ACF THRIVES and is sustainable, supporting members over the longer term

What is a foundation? 

Foundations are charities with private, independent and sustainable income that usually fund or support individuals or other organisations. 
 
About the role 

This is an exciting time to lead our marketing and communications function focused on managing communications across ACF. You will work closely with senior colleagues in membership, external affairs and events to develop marketing and communications plans to build ACF’s brand and reputation and improve ACF’s communications reach and impact. 

2022 will be a year of development for our new team. Alongside business-as-usual activities such as managing our email marketing programme, overseeing the ACF website and leading on all comms planning, you will have the chance to work on key strategic projects, including: 

• Development of ACF’s new five-year strategy  

• Implementation of a range of comms reviews, including new key message grid, updated brand guidelines and tone of voice guides 

• Leading the marketing and communications plan for our annual conference  

• Contributing to the development of a pipeline from events to membership. 

You will also take the lead on supporting our new marketing and communications officer who will join the organisation in early 2022.  

This role is part-time (negotiable, approx 26 hours per week) maternity leave cover for a fixed term of up to one year.  Flexible working combining time at our Aldgate East London office and home working is available. 

 You must be available to start this role in March 2022.  

 What you’ll do 

• Work with senior colleagues to develop marketing and communications plans for ACF’s activities which include events and conferences, membership recruitment and services, products, and projects 

• Manage the effective operation of all ACF communications channels  

• Work with the director of membership on ACF’s branding and messaging framework across all communication channels, print and digital 

• Develop and manage ACFs website to ensure content is engaging and accurate, and ensure maximum reach and impact 

• Develop marketing briefs for external agencies 

• Coordinate with the policy team to ensure policy matters are related accurately and timely to our membership. 

What you’ll bring 

• Significant experience of developing and delivering communication and marketing plans and strategies 

• Significant experience of effectively influencing and negotiating with stakeholders at all levels including senior managers and third parties 

• Detailed understanding of communications good practice 

• Detailed understanding of email marketing platforms and content management systems 

• Developed IT skills including Office 365 

• Developed decision making 

• Some line management experience. 

  
Benefits 

ACF has a developed a range of benefits to enable staff to perform and be supported in times where personal situations change.  Annual leave is 25 days per year (pro rated for part time staff), plus all the bank holidays, as well as time off during Christmas and New Year which does not affect the leave above.  We also make a pension contribution of 10% of base salary into Now Pensions on staff members behalf. 

ACF offers flexible working and ensures that any working from home is supported by equipment to ensure your home office set up is optimised. 

 
The application process 

ACF uses Be Applied https://www.beapplied.com/ as its recruitment platform to remove as much bias as possible in the process.  Candidates will complete questions on the platform, which are scored for every candidate who completes an application by a suitably trained and qualified panel. Those selected to be interviewed are as a result of these scores; we do not take CVs into account at this point in the process. 

Interviews will take place online, with the structured questions shared in advance to enable candidates to prepare thoroughly. The Panel will score independently each candidate’s responses with a review of candidates’ summary scores only compiled when all interviews are completed.   

Communication will be via email through the platform and managed independently by the HR team. Any support a candidate needs can be directed to recruitment@acf.org.uk which will not impact their application, negatively or positively. 

All candidates who apply for the position will receive feedback from the panellists at the conclusion of the process to support any future applications. 

Application deadline: Monday 17 January 2022 

Interviews to be held: Week of 24 January 2022. Interviews will take place on Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments. 

Please note that you must be available to start this role in March 2022.