At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead communications and engagement strategies for a diverse international university network.
- Company: Join the ACU, a key player in higher education and international development.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27 days leave, generous pension, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in global education and sustainable development.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategic communications and membership engagement at a senior level.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Hybrid - London WC1H - we operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 20% of your time per month being office based.
Join the ACU as Head of Communications and Engagement and use your expertise and experience to help us in our mission to be the voice of Commonwealth universities, supporting them to collaborate and to advance their contribution to sustainable development. Working at the intersection of higher education and international development, The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 400 members in more than 40 countries, and our official role within the Commonwealth and United Nations affords an impactful platform for advocacy and strategic partnerships.
The Head of Communications and Engagement leads ACU's external voice and its member engagement function, ensuring that our member universities experience ACU as a present, credible and valuable partner. This role is the primary custodian of how ACU communicates with the world and how relationships with members, stakeholders and partners are built, maintained and deepened.
You will develop and lead an integrated communications and engagement strategy, ensuring all activity is strategically aligned, well-coordinated and delivered with maximum impact. Working closely with the Director, you will provide leadership in shaping the external affairs of the ACU, finding new and creative ways to communicate ACU's work and impact, strengthen our position with key audiences and platform our advocacy messages within the sector and with key decision makers including at major multilateral forums. You will oversee marketing efforts to drive participation with our member opportunities and for our managed programmes and will be responsible for contract fulfilment for a range of external clients. You will also lead on internal communications in support of our people and culture agenda.
Working with the Head of Membership and Events and Head of Policy and Research, you will be jointly responsible for the membership strategy, leading an international engagement team to ensure that our offer is visible to members, and our diverse and geographically dispersed network feel engaged and see the value of membership.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can bring a strategic and an integrated approach to communications and engagement, enjoys working in a collaborative international environment and who will foster creativity and innovation to deliver maximum impact.
- Bring a track record of leading integrated communications strategies in complex contexts, alongside experience of membership engagement or institutional relationship management at a senior level.
- Have worked at senior level in marketing or communications, be skilled in devising and implementing successful communication strategies and plans, audience segmentation, content creation, delivery and the use of the various channels for effectiveness.
- Be comfortable holding the strategic and the relational in equal measure, and understand that in a membership organisation, communications and engagement are two sides of the same endeavour.
- Be a strategic thinker, know how to use data and insight to direct a team's activity, and understand how to design an engagement model that utilises personalised account management and varied communications channels to reach diverse audience segments with targeted messages.
- Be comfortable leading a small, dispersed team- including a network of regional engagement leads across ACU's core geographies - setting strategic direction and supporting consistent standards and autonomous delivery.
- Be energised rather than daunted by breadth: moving between brand strategy and member retention, hands‑on delivery and team leadership.
What to expect
We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance. We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.
We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:
- 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata - part-time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days.
- Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
- Significant investment into your personal and professional development.
- Health and wellbeing programmes.
- Give as you earn charitable donations scheme.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Interest‑free travel season ticket loan.
Closing date: 27th August 2026 at 23.45 pm. Interviews will take place on 7th September 2026. First stage interviews will take place virtually. A second stage will be conducted in‑person at our London office in the week commencing 14/09/2026.
Head of Communications and Engagement employer: The Association of Commonwealth Universities
The ACU is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead communications and engagement within a diverse international network of over 400 universities. With a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, we foster a collaborative work culture that values creativity and innovation, while providing generous benefits such as 27 days of annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and significant investment in personal and professional development. Located in London, our hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring that you can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact in higher education and international development.
Contact Details:
The Association of Commonwealth Universities Recruitment Team
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