Strategic Communications Planning Manager

Strategic Communications Planning Manager

Full-Time No working from home possible
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic planning and deliver impactful communications for child protection.
  • Company: Join the NSPCC, a passionate team dedicated to ending cruelty to children.
  • Benefits: Supportive environment, growth opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on personal and professional development.
  • Why this job: Shape strategies that protect children and inspire change across the UK.
  • Qualifications: Experience in strategic marketing and strong organisational skills required.

The NSPCC's mission is simple but powerful: to end cruelty to children in the UK. To do that, we must communicate with clarity, emotional resonance and impact, inspiring people to support our work, champion change, and take action to protect children. Our Communications and Marketing directorate is award‑winning, creative, strategic and deeply committed. We’re looking for a Strategic Communications and Marketing Planning Manager to help us deliver our planning approach. This is a rare opportunity to sit at the heart of how the NSPCC prioritises, plans and delivers its communications and marketing activity, ensuring that everything we do is audience‑led, insight and creatively driven and aligned to the organisation's most important aims.

What you’ll do

  • Lead how we plan, prioritise and deliver communications and marketing across the organisation.
  • Own our annual planning cycle—bringing together priorities, insight and creativity into a clear, actionable plan.
  • Lead the development of a focused annual communications and marketing plan aligned to organisational goals.
  • Facilitate planning workshops that bring teams together, challenge thinking and build alignment.
  • Maintain a clear, forward‑looking marketing calendar so teams know what matters, when—reducing bottlenecks and improving delivery.
  • Ensure our work is joined up, understood and driving shared goals.
  • Build strong relationships across the organisation, especially with Engagement and Fundraising.
  • Put in place simple, effective planning processes that keep priorities visible and teams aligned.
  • Help ensure our marketing and communications deliver real results.
  • Shape the directorate business plan, strengthening how we connect with supporters and the public.
  • Turn complex data into clear insight, helping senior leaders make better decisions and continuously improve.
  • Bring clarity to investment, performance and trade‑offs.
  • Work closely with finance and agency partners to understand budgets, plans and performance.
  • Support media and brand investment decisions to maximise impact.
  • Provide concise, decision‑ready updates to governance groups—making priorities and choices clear.
  • Support high performance within your team.
  • Provide clear direction, coaching and support.
  • Set objectives and help team members grow and develop.
  • Create a collaborative environment where people take initiative and improve how we work.

About you

You are a strategic planner who brings clarity to complexity and helps organisations focus on what matters most. You likely bring:

  • Strong experience in strategic marketing and communications planning within a complex organisation.
  • A track record of aligning multiple teams around a shared plan.
  • The ability to simplify complexity and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders.
  • Confidence working across budgets, investment decisions and performance data.
  • Strong organisational skills—you prioritise well and deliver at pace.
  • Experience managing or developing others.
  • A genuine commitment to our mission: ending cruelty to children.

A few questions to help you decide

  • Do you enjoy turning complexity into a clear, actionable plan?
  • Are you confident challenging teams and bringing people together around priorities?
  • Can you balance long‑term strategy with day‑to‑day delivery?

Why join us?

At the NSPCC, you'll join a passionate, supportive and driven team who care deeply about the work we do, and about each other. Your expertise will help us keep children safe. You'll find opportunities to grow, stretch your strategic skills, collaborate across disciplines, and influence communications that reach millions.

Strategic Communications Planning Manager employer: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The NSPCC is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment where your strategic expertise can make a real difference in the lives of children across the UK. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have opportunities to develop your skills while collaborating with passionate colleagues who share a common mission. Join us to be part of an award-winning team that values creativity, insight, and impactful communication.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Contact Details:

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Communications Planning Manager

Show Your Creative Side

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Engage in Marketing Communities

Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children are looking for.

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Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.

Attend Industry Events

Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Communications Planning Manager

Strategic Planning
Communications Planning
Marketing Planning
Data Analysis
Stakeholder Engagement
Budget Management
Performance Measurement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.

Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.

Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!

Demonstrate Your Understanding of National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Showcase Your Creative Campaigns

Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.

Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out

If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.

Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions

At National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.

Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing

As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.