Strategic Communications Officer

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 Strategic Communications Officer will be part of the Strategic Communications team – one of several specialist teams in the wider Department.

The Strategic Communications Officer will be responsible for producing high-quality and compelling communications to raise the profile of the charity and rally much-needed support for the cause.

They will play a vital role in shaping our brand, driving impactful campaigns, and supporting fundraising initiatives that help accelerate the search for a cure for dementia.

The postholder will also empower teams across the charity to consistently deliver key messages through exceptional storytelling, to reach Alzheimer’s Research UK’s core audiences.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

· Working with the Senior Strategic Communications Manager, lead on communications for charity-wide key moments, including co-ordinating activity, developing key messaging and narrative, and creating compelling content that can be used across teams. Effectively measure the impact of this work.

· Help ensure consistent, powerful storytelling, amplifying our key messages, across all platforms including web, email, social and video.

· Work closely with teams to ensure their content embodies Alzheimer’s Research UK tone of voice.

· Prepare, write, pitch and issue media stories to generate coverage for our initiatives and campaigns.

· Establish and develop valuable and productive relationships with journalists; respond promptly to queries, including occasional out-of-hours queries.

· Develop effective relationships with teams across Alzheimer's Research UK’s Communications, Policy and Involvement (PCI) Directorate, and Fundraising & Marketing (F&M) Directorate, in order to identify and deliver on communications needs.

· Attend and/or organise appropriate meetings and events – these will require some travel and occasional unsociable hours.

What we are looking for:

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Confidence working with computers; knowledge of Microsoft office packages and databases, good keyboard skills.

· Excellent organisational skills; the ability to manage a large number of tasks with internal and external stakeholders to multiple deadlines.

· Ability to communicate appropriately with people affected by dementia and to translate scientific work for lay people; knowledge of dementia and/or science is advantageous, but not a requirement.

· Experience working in the PR, marketing or brand sector.

· Experience of supporting or co-ordinating partnership working.

· Experience of delivering communications programmes through a variety of media (e.g. press, social media, email, events).

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 £31,000 per annum, plus benefits

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

The closing date for applications is the 27th July 2025 , with interviews being arrange 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 the 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