Senior Communications Manager in Birmingham

About The Role

Reports to: Head of Communications

Location: Currently operating hybrid working in West London office

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full time (9am - 5:30pm)

Interview dates: 23 & 25 February 2026

We are seeking a Senior Marketing Manager to join Ark’s Communications team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced marketing professional to drive the charity’s marketing function. You will design and lead integrated marketing strategies that strengthen Ark’s profile, grow the newly established EdCity brand, and support the recruitment and admissions needs of Ark’s schools and ventures.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and lead integrated, cross‑organisational marketing strategies that support Ark’s priorities
• Provide strong project leadership, ensuring timely delivery of complex, multi‑stakeholder work
• Develop compelling campaigns to promote the EdCity offer – increasing awareness, engagement and participation
• Lead network-wide projects to improve the quality, consistency and effectiveness of external communications to target audiences
• Oversee the teams responsible for staff recruitment and school admissions marketing

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field
• At least 7 years’ experience in marketing and line management
• Significant experience as a senior marketing professional, with a proven ability to lead teams and manage complex projects
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality content tailored for different audiences and platforms

Other

• Right to work in the U.K.

Benefits

• Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days.
• In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad.
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays.
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform.
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests.

About Us

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high-quality early years education.

Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity – a unique not-for-profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission-aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.

Diversity and inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

For any questions, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org