Communications Lead

We are working towards a day when every community, whatever the socio-economic background of its residents, can thrive without being fearful of crime. We are looking for talented, committed and mission-aligned individuals who will drive us towards achieving our ambitions. Police Now recruits and trains graduates and career changers with leadership potential to become inspirational police officers and outstanding crime fighters on our National Graduate Programme. Graduates can pursue a variety of specialisms working in Neighbourhood Policing, as a Detective or within Counter Terrorism or Economic Crime units. Police Now aims to create systemic change. We need highly capable impactful staff to support the recruitment and development of our officers and to cultivate strong relationships with partner forces and the wider sector.

The purpose of your role

The Communications Lead will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Police Now’s communications strategy, ensuring our messaging is clear, consistent, and impactful across all audiences. You will lead on external communications, working with media to secure positive coverage, tell compelling stories, and manage reputation risk. This role also supports internal communications and participant, alumni, and candidate communications, ensuring engagement and alignment with our mission. You will be a key point of contact for crisis communications, helping to protect and enhance Police Now’s reputation during sensitive situations. This is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional who thrives on storytelling, relationship‑building, and strategic thinking, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead external communications activity, including media relations, press releases, and securing positive coverage.
• Develop and deliver storytelling strategies, showcasing the impact of our programmes through participant and alumni stories.
• Manage communication risks, including crisis communications planning and response, ensuring timely and accurate messaging.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media contacts and key stakeholders to enhance brand reputation.
• Support internal communications, ensuring staff are informed, engaged, and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Oversee participant, alumni, and candidate communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with our values.
• Collaborate with the Brand & Communications Manager to ensure brand consistency across all communications.
• Collaborate with marketing team on communications across the candidate journey from attraction to onboarding.
• Monitor and report on communications performance, using insights to inform strategy and improve engagement.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on communications opportunities and risks.
• Support the delivery of high‑profile events and campaigns, ensuring communications plans are in place and executed effectively.

Key Requirements

• Significant experience in communications, PR, or media relations, ideally within policing, public sector or a complex mission‑driven business.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver communications strategies that achieve measurable impact.
• Strong experience in media engagement, including securing coverage and managing crisis communications.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style for different audiences and channels.
• Experience managing internal communications and engaging diverse audiences is desirable.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with ability to engage at senior levels.
• Ability to work under pressure and respond quickly to emerging issues.
• Awareness of diversity and inclusion principles and a commitment to ensuring inclusive communications.
• A proactive, creative mindset with the ability to bring new ideas and challenge the status‑quo.

What you’ll get from us

• A bright, airy and modern office in Zone 1.
• Competitive salary of £46,500 - £50,000 per annum, pro rata (dependent on experience and inclusive of London weighting).
• Flexible working and a hybrid working model with both work and home and office.
• One month paid sabbatical every 5 years service.
• 27 days annual leave each year, plus bank holidays and typically close between 25th December to 1st January.
• A range of hospitality discounts.
• Access to coaching through our online platform, Kinhub, to support your wellbeing and career goals.
• Access to our health cover provider, which includes healthcare benefits, an Employee Assistance Programme and discounts.
• Staff development fund that employees can access to support their ongoing training and development.
• 3 'Growth and Giving' days per year which can be used for study leave, wellbeing or volunteering.
• Annual EDI training, including e‑learning and additional EDI training opportunities.
• Participation in a pension scheme (with 6% employer contributions and 2% employee contributions).
• Salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work, technology and gym membership, to help spread the cost of expenses.
• Regular cultural awareness initiatives and events to celebrate diversity of our team, seeking opportunities to learn, share experiences and engage in meaningful dialogue.

We cannot provide sponsorship for applicants. Applicants must have the relevant right to work for the UK before applying.