Corporate Communications Manager - FTC

The Communications Department at Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) informs, inspires and engages our many audiences about dementia and the progress being made in research. The Corporate Communications Manager will be part of the Strategic Communications team – one of several specialist teams in the wider Department.

The Corporate Communications Manager will be responsible for ensuring consistent and compelling external communications to drive our brand, as well as establishing the charity’s position in key strategic areas and helping to drive value from our corporate partnerships.

They will ensure a clear internal narrative and key messaging for ARUK employees, as well as supporting external communications from the CEO Office. This will include guiding key thought leadership pieces from ARUK’s Senior Leadership Team and ambassadors, informing key stakeholder communications and protecting ARUK’s growing corporate reputation.

The postholder will oversee the charity’s Annual Report and Review and identify opportunities to raise the charity’s profile in key strategic areas of work. The postholder will manage the work of two Corporate Communications Officers.

This role is a 12-month fixed term contract to cover a secondment.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Management

·       Developing and delivering operational plans for the team, working closely with other departments across the charity including Corporate Fundraising and the CEO Office.

·       Day-to-day responsibility for the budget of the team, including reforecasting.

·       Providing effective team management, exhibiting ARUK’s leadership values, including holding regular 1:1s, providing positive and constructive feedback, managing time and workload, and supporting training and development needs of team members.

·       Feeding into the development of department-wide initiatives to improve ways of working, increase engagement and improve the quality of our output.

 Thought Leadership

·       Develop and execute high-impact communication strategies that amplify the CEO’s voice across internal and external platforms.

·       Craft compelling narratives, speeches, op-eds, and social media content that positions the charity as an industry leader. Identify emerging themes and trends to proactively shape messaging.

·       Source, evaluate, and coordinate media opportunities including interviews, podcasts, panels, and profiles. Prepare briefing materials and talking points to ensure consistent and impactful representation.

 Partnership Communications

·       Managing the work of a team focused on supporting communications of and to our corporate fundraising partners, including:

-        Supporting New Business teams on pitch and proposition development.

-        Supporting Partnership Development teams on partnership announcements.

-        Providing regular opportunities for Fundraising teams to learn and improve their communication skills, as well as providing consulting support on a range of relevant topics arising within those teams.

·       Providing oversight and support for communications around current and future strategic partnerships for ARUK.

Key Messaging

·       Responsible for developing and maintaining key messaging documents and guidelines for the Department and ensuring internal teams and external partners are using consistent messaging to underpin the charity’s brand.

 Media Relations

·       Coordinating pro-active PR planning, using media metrics to guide decisions and identify key areas of opportunity.

·       Agreeing and tracking the use of media key messages.

·       Taking an active role in promoting thought leadership pieces on key corporate or strategic issues for the charity.

What we are looking for:

·       Ability to develop and support a high-performing team that delivers on organisational priorities.

·       Confident setting KPIs and direction for teams and will have proven success leading integrated PR and digital campaigns.

·       Significant experience working within an influential press office, including a record of proactively securing top-tier coverage.

·       Experience and/or understanding of working on issues relating to health inequalities and public health.

·       Demonstrates and encourages ownership and responsibility; builds drive and motivation in others – has a ‘can-do’ attitude, is committed to delivering results, and strives for continuous improvement.

·       A highly strategic and creative thinker, with exceptional problem-solving and decision-making skills.

·       Creative flair, with an eye for detail, compelling copy and engaging ideas – able to spot opportunities and develop them for the benefit of ARUK and its beneficiaries.

·       Excellent journalistic skills and an understanding of how to influence and use the media, including through thought leadership.

·       Ability to develop clear and persuasive messaging to support ARUK’s strategic goals and enhance the charity’s reputation.

·       Able to build effective relationships with internal colleagues and contacts in partner organisations, adapting ways of working to account for different personal working styles and organisational cultures.

·       A collaborative and approachable nature – able to work effectively, communicate regularly and challenge constructively with colleagues in relevant Departments to develop and deliver projects.

·       A self-starter, able to work with independence, intelligence, drive and initiative.

·       Strong ethical standards and a high level of personal integrity.

·       Willingness and ability to travel independently in the UK and beyond, and to work outside of regular office hours.

·       Experience of working in a charity/non-profit environment.

·       Understanding of the medical research environment.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £44,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 19th October 2025, with interviews being arranged once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website. 

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

·       18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

·       10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

·       2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK