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- Tasks: Lead strategic communications to amplify our mission for justice reform.
- Company: One Small Thing is transforming the justice system for women and children through trauma-informed care.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative work environment with opportunities for professional growth and impactful change.
- Why this job: Be a voice for change, influencing policy and making a real difference in people's lives.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in public affairs or strategic communications are essential.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to empathy, respect, and systemic change.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
About the role
The Head of Strategic Communications and External Affairs is a crucial role in delivering our mission to redesign the justice system for women and their children. As One Small Thing embarks upon a new organisational strategy, you will lead our public affairs work ensuring our work is seen, our voice is heard, and we are influencing at the highest levels across the criminal justice sector.
You will be a confident strategic thinker, able to devise and lead a new strategic communications strategy and will provide expert advice to the Chief Executive and other senior leaders.
You will work to deliver strong, compelling and evidence-based messages that draw upon our policy, research and frontline work and will play a key part in amplifying our voice across the sector and media, developing narratives and positioning us to advocate for transformational system change.
You will be an inspiring communicator, comfortable with liaising with and presenting to a range of high-profile stakeholders, producing written communications, as well as developing content which strengthens our website, brand and online presence.
Key Responsibilities:
- Devise and lead a strategic communications strategy for One Small Thing, working with colleagues across the organisation and in alignment with our new organisational strategy.
- Use excellent written and presentational skills to develop compelling and evidence-based messages that draw upon our policy, research and frontline work.
- Lead and work collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders to develop our work and partnerships to amplify our messages and push for the key changes we want to see implemented.
- Ensure that the voices and experiences of justice involved women inform and influence all our work and feed into our communications and external affairs.
- Build our external profile and key messages to maximise our reach and spheres of influence across relevant audiences, including developing our website and online content and representing One Small Thing at key forums and strategic meetings.
- Lead media relations and public engagement, driving public understanding of the issues women face within the criminal justice system audiences.
- Maintain and develop excellent relationships, building trust and confidence across our networks, from women impacted by the justice system to senior civil servants and ministers.
- Lead and provide effective line management support to the Influence Team.
- Manage team resources and coordinate with colleagues to support our income generation activities.
- Support the implementation of One Small Thing’s new strategy
- Contribute as required to the wider work of the team.
- Act in a manner that is in keeping with One Small Thing’s values.
- Undertake any other duties as required and commensurate with the level of this post.
About One Small Thing
One Small Thing is striving for positive change across the justice system by implementing small things in a big way.
We provide gender responsive, trauma-informed programmes within the prison and community sectors that consider the individual caught in a cycle of crime and incarceration, with the aim of humanising their experiences. We want to shift the voice of blame and judgement and the ‘what’s wrong with them?’ line of questioning to a kinder, respectful and healing approach that asks, ‘What has happened to them?
Our vision is a justice system that recognises, understands, and responds to trauma.
Our mission is to redesign the justice system for women and their children by:
- Redesign the way the justice system responds to women and their children in a way that can be replicated and scaled nationally.
- Educate people within the justice system on the impact of trauma and draw on our knowledge and expertise tohelpbuildcapacity within organisations.
- Influence politicians and policy makers to encourage culture change across the justice system and the people who work within it.
Our name reflects the value of those small things – empathy, compassion, respect – and their combined power to make a big difference to the individual – and to society as a whole.
Our Values
One Small Thing is built on six core values of trauma-informed care that underpin the way we work.
- Safety
- Trustworthiness
- Choice
- Collaboration
- Empowerment
- Cultural Competency
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Head of Strategic Communications and External Affairs employer: One Small Thing
Contact Detail:
One Small Thing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Communications and External Affairs
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the current issues and challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system. Understanding these topics will help you engage in meaningful conversations and demonstrate your commitment to the mission of One Small Thing.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of strategic communications and external affairs, especially those who focus on social justice. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with like-minded individuals and gain insights into best practices.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your strategic thinking skills by developing a mock communications strategy for a hypothetical campaign related to women's justice issues. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also your proactive approach to the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research One Small Thing's previous campaigns and public engagements. Understanding their past efforts will allow you to propose innovative ideas that align with their mission and show that you are genuinely interested in contributing to their work.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Communications and External Affairs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, take time to thoroughly understand the responsibilities and expectations of the Head of Strategic Communications and External Affairs role. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their mission to redesign the justice system for women and children.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the cause and demonstrate your strategic thinking abilities. Use specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your expertise in communications and public affairs, particularly in relation to social justice or similar sectors.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasise your experience in developing strategic communications strategies and managing public relations. Include any relevant achievements that illustrate your ability to influence stakeholders and drive change within complex systems.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since the role requires excellent written and presentational skills, consider including samples of your written work or links to presentations you've delivered. This will provide tangible evidence of your communication prowess and ability to engage diverse audiences.
How to prepare for a job interview at One Small Thing
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, make sure you fully grasp One Small Thing's mission to redesign the justice system for women and their children. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with this mission and how you can contribute to achieving it.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
As the Head of Strategic Communications, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to devise and lead a strategic communications strategy. Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully developed and implemented similar strategies.
✨Communicate Effectively
Since the role requires excellent written and presentational skills, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Consider preparing a brief presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your communication style during the interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
The position involves liaising with high-profile stakeholders. Be ready to discuss your experience in building relationships and trust with various audiences, including civil servants and community members, and how you would approach these interactions at One Small Thing.
