Head of Communications and Engagement in London

Head of Communications and Engagement in London

London Full-Time 59576 - 67000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic communications and engagement for a nonprofit focused on energy and climate.
  • Company: Join the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, a leader in climate insights.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, hybrid working, and health support.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the climate sector while leading a talented team.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in communications leadership and team management required.

The predicted salary is between 59576 - 67000 £ per year.

Are you a strategic communications leader with a proven ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-profile environment?

Hours

35 hours per week

Location

Borough, London (Hybrid) minimum 2 days in the office per week.

Closing Date

30/07/2026

Interviews

August

The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) is a nonprofit organisation providing independent, evidence-based insight on the UK’s energy and climate landscape.

We help inform public debate and support better decision-making at a critical moment for the UK’s net zero transition.

This is an exciting senior leadership opportunity for an experienced communications professional who can shape and deliver organisation-wide communications and engagement strategies, lead a talented team, and ensure impactful engagement across media, digital and stakeholder channels.

You will play a pivotal role in driving communications strategy, informing key audiences and supporting organisational growth and impact.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, you will lead the organisation's external communications and engagement function, ensuring all communications activity is strategically aligned, well-coordinated and delivered with pace, accuracy and impact.

You will oversee media relations, digital communications, parliamentary and stakeholder engagement, and lead on rapid response activity, acting as the central point of coordination for organisational messaging and editorial decision-making.

Key responsibilities include

  • Developing and delivering the organisation's communications and engagement strategy.
  • Leading, motivating and managing a multidisciplinary communications team.
  • Coordinating communications activity across multiple programmes and projects.
  • Leading rapid-response communications and identifying opportunities to inform public debate.
  • Building and maintaining strong relationships with journalists, producers and key stakeholders.
  • Providing strategic communications advice to colleagues and senior leaders.
  • Managing organisational reputation and communications risk.
  • Maintaining high standards across all communication and engagement channels.
  • Using data, analytics and audience insight to evaluate impact and improve performance.

About You

We are looking for a confident and proactive communications leader with the credibility and expertise to operate at a senior level.

  • Proven experience leading a communications, public affairs or engagement function.
  • Experience of line managing and developing high-performing teams.
  • Demonstrable experience developing and implementing strategic communications and media plans.
  • Strong editorial judgement, including handling politically sensitive and high-profile issues with experience of maintaining high quality standards.
  • Experience identifying, assessing and managing reputational risk.
  • Strong understanding of the UK political and policy environment.
  • Experience integrating digital communications into wider strategic communications activity and adapting content and messaging across platforms.
  • Excellent project management skills with experience of coordinating multiple priorities and stakeholders.
  • Experience building senior-level relationships across media, policy or related sectors.
  • Experience using analytics, audience insight and data to evaluate and improve communications effectiveness.
  • A highly proactive, self-motivated approach with the ability to take initiative and drive delivery.
  • Experience leading rapid-response communications in a fast-moving news environment.
  • Experience in climate, energy, environmental policy or related sectors.
  • Generous Annual Leave: 30 days annual leave.
  • Hybrid working: Benefit from the flexibility of remote work combined with in-person collaboration.
  • Monthly team days: Connect and collaborate with colleagues during regular team building events.
  • Healthshield healthcare scheme: Access essential health and wellness support, including optical, dental, and physiotherapy coverage.
  • Salary Sacrifice pension contributions: We match employee pension contributions up to 5%.
  • Cycle to work scheme and Cyclesaver (discounted bike hire)
  • FORA Office amenities including on-site gym, rooftop terrace, fully stocked kitchens and secure bike storage and shower facilities.

We know that diverse teams make stronger, more creative and more effective organisations.

We are actively working to increase the diversity of our team and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the climate and environment sector.

We particularly welcome applications from marginalised groups, especially people of colour and other ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQIA, Disabled people and those who identify as working class.

If you need us to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us as soon as possible.

If you’re excited about this role but unsure whether you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

We value different perspectives and experiences alongside specific skills.

How to apply

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is as fair as possible, and we ask all applicants to apply via our recruiter who will anonymise applications.

For more information please contact

We can only consider applicants who are eligible to work in the UK.

Please note that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

We may store your information internally for up to 12 months unless you specifically request otherwise.

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Head of Communications and Engagement in London employer: Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where innovative thinking and collaboration are at the forefront. With a strong commitment to employee development, ECIU offers numerous growth opportunities and encourages team members to engage in meaningful projects that shape public discourse on energy and climate issues. Located in a vibrant area, the hybrid work model provides flexibility while ensuring a supportive environment for impactful work.

Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

Contact Details:

Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Communications and Engagement in London

Get Involved Locally

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Showcase Your Commitment

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Utilise Online Platforms

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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Communications and Engagement in London

Strategic Communications
Team Leadership
Media Relations
Stakeholder Engagement
Rapid Response Communications
Editorial Judgement
Reputational Risk Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.

Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.

Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Communications and Engagement, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.

Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.

How to prepare for a job interview at Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

Show Your Passion for Social Change

When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.

Highlight Project Experience

We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.

Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices

Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.

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Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!