Director of Communications in London

Is our Director of Communications opportunity at Oasis Community Learning the role for you? Firstly, you’ll be joining Oasis. We’re a large, established Multi-Academy Trust of 58 academies, but we’re more than a MAT. As part of the Oasis family, we exist to make a difference, build stronger communities and enhance young people’s lives. Want to work within a purpose-led organisation and help us tell our story? Then this might be the place for you.

This role forms part of the leadership team that shapes Oasis. If you share our vision, want to make a difference, and want to help develop and translate our communications strategy into action, then please read on!

About our Director of Communications role:

Our central service teams provide the framework that allows our academies to focus on their vital work. In this role, you will be key to telling our story. This is an all-encompassing communications role where you’ll be key to developing a new communications strategy, translating it into action, and ensuring the world knows who we are and what we stand for at Oasis. You will help us shape the sector and share our vision both inside and beyond our organisation. Taking an omni-channel approach, there is real scope to build on work already done and ensure our key messages and tone come across clearly in our communications.

The role will suit someone who is comfortable blending strategy, team management and day-to-day operations. You’ll lead a small but expert team of six colleagues working across Public Relations, Internal Communications and Admissions Marketing.

Who will this suit?

• Experience in a Multi-Academy Trust, education, higher education and/or the third sector would be advantageous but is not required.
• We currently have 58 academies and over 5,000 employees, so someone with some synergy with this type of organisation would be great.
• What really matters is being someone who gets us. This role will only suit someone who believes in our vision and wants to make a difference.
• We are open to backgrounds in marketing and communications. However, a good understanding of the different disciplines would be advantageous.
• You’ll be adept with PR and will help shape some of the amazing success stories our academies and students have, alongside promoting the work we do as a leading educational organisation.
• Conversely, you’ll be able to respond sensitively to some of the difficult situations we must handle, supporting senior leaders, sometimes at short notice, as necessary.
• You will be a confident leader who is accomplished at supporting people to achieve their potential.
• Finally, you’ll have excellent attention to detail and be able to support the team to shape messaging as needed.

This is a hybrid role, there will be a requirement to work out of our Waterloo office 2-3 days a week.

Key details and what will you get in return?

• Duration: Permanent
• Salary: National £73,000 - £78,000 ( £76,000 - £82,000 Inner London weighting)
• Base: Hybrid, likely working out of our London Waterloo office two to three times a week.
• Travel: Some requirement to visit academies as needed, with the potential need to respond in person in any crisis.
• Hours: 37 hours a week
• Benefits: Continued professional development on both an informal and formal basis, plus access to the wider Oasis Community Learning benefits portal, including health and dental cover and discounts at leading companies.
• Pension: Enrolment in Local Government Pension Scheme - a great scheme and benefit!
• Great holiday entitlement:
• Under 2 years’ continuous service: 34 days holiday, comprising of 26 days + 8 Bank holidays.
• Under 4 years’ continuous service: 39 days holiday, comprising 31 days + 8 Bank Holidays.
• Over 4 years’ continuous service: 40 days holiday, comprising 32 days + 8 Bank Holidays.

About Oasis Community Learning:

The overall vision for every part of Oasis is community: a place where everyone is included, making a contribution and reaching their God-given potential. Delivering first-class, innovative education is part of the work we do as we seek to grow an Oasis Hub in every area where we work, creating safe and inspiring local neighbourhoods that provide integrated and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community.

Next steps:

The job description and additional information about Oasis are also included. Sounds good? Then please submit your application. The role is open until Sunday 4 October, although we may need to close early if there is significant interest. We will be carrying out initial shortlisting calls during this time, and first-stage interviews will take place in Waterloo on 14 October. Successful candidates will then be invited to the final stage of our process in Waterloo on 22 October.