Communications Officer - Fixed Term Contract 12 Months in Carlisle

Want a comms role where you're out in schools surfacing real stories, rather than stuck behind a desk pushing out generic press releases? Looking for genuine autonomy to shape how a growing trust talks to its people, parents and the wider community? Foxgroves Recruitment is working with a well-established multi-academy trust in Carlisle to appoint a Communications Officer on a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave. There is real potential for the role to extend beyond the initial term, though this is not guaranteed at this stage. The trust is in a genuinely interesting period of expansion, and comms sits right at the heart of that story.

This is a stand-alone role reporting directly to a senior exec, with regular exposure to the Senior Leadership Team. You'll have the autonomy to own the comms function during your time in post, and the freedom to get out across the trust's schools to understand the organisation properly before you start telling its story.

The Role

• You'll be the trust's go-to communications lead, advising the SLT on tone, messaging and audience, and making sure every channel pulls in the same direction.
• Deliver a communications plan aligned with the trust's expansion strategy.
• Advise senior leaders on comms approach across internal, external and reputational matters.
• Maintain a consistent trust voice across every school and every channel.
• Use audience insight to inform how and when the trust speaks.

You'll bring a geographically spread organisation together, making sure staff across all schools feel informed, connected and part of one trust.

• Plan and deliver internal comms that reach staff across multiple sites.
• Write staff newsletters, leadership updates and key change communications.
• Support the SLT with messaging during periods of growth and change.
• Build internal channels and rhythms that genuinely work for a multi-site team.

You'll be the trust's main point of contact for media and external comms, protecting the brand and proactively raising its profile.

• Lead on external press activity and media relations across local and regional outlets.
• Draft press releases, statements and media briefings.
• Support individual schools to raise their profile locally while keeping the trust brand consistent.
• Manage reactive press queries with sound judgement.

You'll create content that brings the trust's mission to life and supports pupil and staff recruitment across the trust.

• Manage the trust's social media channels and content calendar.
• Plan and deliver marketing campaigns that support pupil and staff recruitment.
• Get out into schools regularly to gather stories, photography and case studies.
• Produce written and visual content that reflects the character of each school.

You'll Flourish if You Have:

• Solid experience in a communications role, ideally covering both internal and external comms.
• The confidence and credibility to advise senior leaders and operate as a stand-alone.
• Strong writing skills, with a feel for storytelling and the human angle.
• Comfort moving between strategic conversations and on-the-ground content gathering.
• Experience managing social media, press activity and content campaigns.
• The organisation to juggle multiple workstreams without dropping the ball.
• A full UK driving licence, or the means to travel independently between school sites.
• Education sector experience is welcome but not essential — charity, public sector or membership body comms backgrounds translate well.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• £35,000–£40,000 depending on experience.
• 12-month FTC with genuine potential to extend (not guaranteed at this stage).
• Full-time or part-time hours considered.
• Stand-alone role with real autonomy.
• Meaningful work supporting education across Cumbria.

Foxgroves Recruitment acts as an employment agency for vacancies on behalf of clients, following fair and inclusive recruitment practices in line with the Equality Act 2010. All appointments are subject to pre-employment screening, including right to work checks, reference checks, and qualification verification. Reasonable adjustments are available for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.