Vulnerability Communications Manager in Sunderland

Salary from £42,000+ Up to 10% Bonus Permanent, 40 Hours Per Week Hybrid Working – Based at our offices in Thorpe Park, Leeds or Doxford Park, Sunderland.

Help us make a bigger difference for the communities who need us most. We have an exciting opportunity for a Vulnerability Communications Manager to join our small, fast‑paced in‑house Communications team. You will lead the design and delivery of communication strategies, plans and processes that support programmes improving the lives of people in vulnerable circumstances across our region. Working closely with the Social Strategy team and external partners, you will ensure opportunities are maximised through effective, seamless engagement.

Reporting to the Communications Lead, with a dotted line to the Social Strategy Programme Manager, you will be a highly organised, creative professional who can quickly make an impact. You will develop and deliver engaging, results‑driven content and campaigns across online and offline channels, showcasing and elevating the work Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is delivering with industry and voluntary sector partners to support vulnerable customers and communities in the North. A full UK driving licence is a requirement for this role.

In this role you will:

• Develop and deliver the communications strategy, plans and processes for customer vulnerability, maximising opportunities to promote and enhance programmes and projects.
• Ensure all communications align with NGN’s brand, values and organisational objectives, reflected across NGN‑led and collaborative campaigns.
• Create compelling content that highlights the benefits of NGN’s vulnerability work, using appropriate channels including non‑digital and assisted pathways.
• Ensure all collateral, website and social media support the communications plan, embedding inclusive and plain‑language principles throughout.
• Proactively identify positive media opportunities, build and maintain media relationships, raise awareness of key issues and manage incoming media enquiries.
• Horizon scan for reputational risks, offering guidance on managing or mitigating potential issues.
• Manage external communications agencies effectively to deliver impactful NGN‑led and collaborative campaigns.
• Provide copywriting, editing and proofreading support for reports and publications, and work with internal and external creative teams to produce new content and materials.
• Support the development of annual reports, demonstrating the impact of both NGN‑led and collaborative vulnerability projects and the wider value they deliver.
• Contribute to regulatory reporting, following NGN’s processes and procedures and overseeing evidence submissions from third parties, ensuring accuracy and forensic evidencing.

We are looking for:

• Educated to degree level, ideally in a communications‑related discipline such as English literature or language, journalism, sociology, psychology or marketing.
• Proven experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, media relations and delivering campaigns across digital and offline channels.
• Highly organised, with the ability to coordinate and prioritise a varied and demanding workload.
• Strong project management capability with a track record of delivering to deadlines.
• Experience managing communications and creative agencies to achieve impactful outcomes.
• Able to work collaboratively and confidently with colleagues and external partners, using sound political awareness and a strong interest in health, social and energy issues.
• Skilled in writing and producing compelling content tailored to key audiences.
• Motivated, flexible and creative, with the drive and enthusiasm needed to achieve results.

We encourage early applications, as the vacancy may close before the advertised deadline once we have received enough suitable candidates.

Why join NGN?

• Salary from £42,000 per annum.
• Annual bonus of up to 10%, recognising your contribution and performance.
• 25 days of annual leave, plus recognised bank holidays and 2 additional half-days over the Christmas period.
• Occupational sick pay available after the first 2 calendar days of statutory sick pay.
• Generous stakeholder pension scheme, doubling your contribution, up to 10%.
• Flexible benefits and salary sacrifice options, including discounts on UK attractions, gym memberships, restaurants, experience days, plus access to a Virtual GP service.
• Family-friendly policies, including up to 6 weeks of paternity leave and 6 months of full pay for maternity leave (for eligible employees), plus shared parental leave and more.

About NGN: We deliver gas to 2.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Northern Cumbria, and much of Yorkshire, through a network of over 37,000km of underground pipes. Serving both major cities and rural communities, we are committed to safety, reliability, and innovation. Our values – Trailblazing, Empowered, Heartfelt, Community Focused, Intellectually Curious, and Happy, shape everything we do. We are proud to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, and actively support initiatives alongside our Colleague Communities (LGBTQ/Women’s/Ethnic Minority/Parents & Carers/DisABILITY) to ensure we reflect and uplift the communities we serve.