At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a national community to enhance internal communications and engagement.
- Company: Join St John, a charity focused on improving communication and connection.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, training opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Work virtually with occasional meetings across the UK for collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of communication within a respected organisation and inspire others.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading communities and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you committed to driving excellence and innovation? Do you have experience leading a community of practitioners nationally?
We know that clear, two‑way communication is essential to performance, trust and belonging – and it’s a key area St John employees and volunteers have told us to improve. This Community of Practice will help us improve our reach and engagement by translating national messages into local contexts – supporting a stronger shared voice, and helping people feel informed, involved and connected.
As a Community of Practice Lead, you will play a crucial role in establishing and guiding a national community of practice. You will provide strategic leadership, coordination, and oversight across the community of practice, ensuring that efforts within the community across the country align with national standards and priorities while avoiding duplication of efforts. You’ll lead the Internal Communications & Engagement Community of Practice, a volunteer‑led community designed to strengthen how we communicate and engage with St John people. You’ll shape the community’s ways of working, coordinate activity across members, and create a constructive space for advice, feedback, and real‑world testing of messages and campaign ideas. A core part of the role is helping national communications travel further by enabling members to cascade and amplify key messages across their own local networks.
As the Internal Communications & Engagement Community of Practice Lead, you will:
- Support and lead the national community of practice.
- Inspire and guide community members to deliver impactful initiatives.
- Foster collaboration, strengthen professional engagement, and champion inclusivity and support.
- Play a critical role in shaping the future success of our organisation.
To succeed in this role, you will be expected to organise and lead regular meetings with your team of Internal Communications & Engagement Officers, as well as liaising regularly with the central Internal Communications & Engagement Team and the National People & Culture Advisor. Connection and liaison with County Commissioners, Community Projects Officers, Deputy County Commissioners and those in their teams (for example Network Leads) will also be a key part of the role to enable the two‑way communication needed for effective internal communications. Attendance at the annual conference for Community of Practice Leads is also required, to ensure you are connected with the other Community of Practice Leads and engage in supporting delivery of the strategic aims of the charity.
The majority of the role can be undertaken virtually from anywhere in the UK, but there may be a need to attend occasional in person meetings that may be held in London, Birmingham, Manchester or other St John locations across England.
This role requires the completion of the 9 mandatory online training courses for all St John people. Any additional training necessary for the role will be discussed with the successful applicant by the National People and Culture Advisor following appointment to the role.
For more information about this role, please see the role description. The closing date for this vacancy is the 11/05/2026.
For more information on this vacancy, please contact Natalie.Miller@sja.org.uk
Community of Practice Lead - Internal Comms & Engagement employer: St John Ambulance
Contact Detail:
St John Ambulance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Community of Practice Lead - Internal Comms & Engagement
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at St John through LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the community of practice model. Think about how you can inspire and guide others, and come up with examples from your past that showcase your leadership skills in similar roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for internal communications! Be ready to discuss how you would translate national messages into local contexts and engage with diverse teams. This will demonstrate your commitment to fostering collaboration and inclusivity.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the resources you need to ace your application process.
We think you need these skills to ace Community of Practice Lead - Internal Comms & Engagement
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for internal communications and community engagement shine through. We want to see how committed you are to driving excellence and innovation in this space!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience leading communities or teams. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and guide others, so share specific examples of how you've done this in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: Remember, clear communication is key! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points if it helps to make your skills and experiences stand out.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at St John Ambulance
✨Know Your Community
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding the community of practice you’ll be leading. Familiarise yourself with St John’s mission and values, and think about how you can translate national messages into local contexts. This will show your commitment to driving excellence and innovation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading communities or teams. Think about times when you inspired others or fostered collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you would guide community members to deliver impactful initiatives and strengthen professional engagement.
✨Emphasise Communication Strategies
Since this role is all about effective internal communications, come prepared with ideas on how to enhance two-way communication within the organisation. Discuss how you would facilitate regular meetings and liaise with various stakeholders to ensure everyone feels informed and connected.
✨Be Ready for Real-World Testing
Think about how you would create a constructive space for feedback and testing of messages and campaign ideas. Be prepared to share your thoughts on how to enable members to cascade and amplify key messages across their local networks, demonstrating your strategic thinking and practical approach.