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- Tasks: Lead strategic communications and engage with stakeholders to enhance our charity's impact.
- Company: Thrive at Five, a growing charity focused on early childhood development.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, generous leave, and professional development support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping our communications strategy.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategic communications and people leadership.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team during an exciting period of growth and expansion.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Communications to come and join our team providing maternity cover until January 2027 during a period of organisational growth.
Location
This role is mainly working from home with one day a week in our London office (usually a Monday). Occasional travel to our other programme sites (currently Stoke‑On‑Trent, Redcar, Middlesbrough and Scotland) will also be required.
Salary
Circa £60,000
Employment Type
Fixed term until January 2027, 35 hours per week
Team
Communications team
About you
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following:
- Strong experience in strategic communications, ideally within a start-up, growing, complex or place-based organisation.
- Experience setting up and embedding communications functions, including establishing foundations and building approaches as priorities evolve.
- Significant experience in people leadership, including developing others and building a strong, collaborative working culture.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and working with an SLT, including supporting government policy, media, funding and influence related activity.
- Strong content, storytelling and copywriting expertise and the ability to communicate a clear organisational narrative.
About the role
The responsibilities of this role include:
- Overseeing and ensuring the delivery of national and local communications strategies and plans, including national content activity and priority local campaigns and stakeholder engagement.
- Leading the set‑up and embedding of new place‑based communications functions.
- Leading and overseeing the planning and delivery of Thrive at Five’s 2026 Impact Report, communications relating to evaluations and learning, and our fifth‑year anniversary, working closely with evaluation and fundraising colleagues.
- Maintaining and strengthening relationships with key national and local stakeholders in line with our communications strategy and goals.
- Providing professional and operational leadership and coaching to the wider Communications team to ensure they deliver to a high standard.
About us
Thrive at Five is a national charity focused on giving every child the best possible start in life. We know the foundations for life and learning are built in the earliest years, from pregnancy to five. By working alongside families, communities and local partners, we help build stronger, more connected support for parents, so more children get what they need to thrive and reach a good level of development by age five.
Thrive at Five is a relatively young organisation but with an already strong national and political profile, having been called out in Parliament for our ways of working in Stoke‑on‑Trent and invited to be interviewed at the 2025 Civil Society Summit by the Secretary of State for Education. We have grown rapidly in our first four years, with a growing team of nearly 40 across the country. 2026 will be a year of further growth and milestones for the charity as we celebrate our fifth‑year anniversary and expand into our third and fourth regions. This will involve recruiting for new teams, establishing our programmes and beginning to co‑design and implement our work in partnership with communities.
About our benefits
- Pension contributions – We will contribute 3% and you can contribute 5% towards your pension through NEST.
- Hybrid working with one anchor day a week in our central London office near to Victoria train station, coach station and underground.
- 25 annual leave days per year plus bank holidays.
- In addition to your laptop and phone provided by us, you can also receive a £100 contribution towards your home‑working set up.
- £100 contribution towards your professional body membership.
Please note that as this role is subject to a successful Basic Level Disclosure check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). If you have any unspent convictions, but wish to apply for this role, please advise us in your application. The successful candidate will also need to provide satisfactory references and current right to work in the UK.
To apply for this role, please submit your cover letter and CV by following the Apply Now button. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received. While the closing date is midnight on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, we may close the vacancy earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact people@thriveatfive.org.uk.
Head of Communications in London employer: Thrive at Five
Contact Detail:
Thrive at Five Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Communications in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the communications field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your storytelling skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share compelling stories from your past experiences that highlight your strategic communications expertise. Make it memorable!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation's current communications strategies. Bring fresh ideas to the table that align with their goals, especially around community engagement and stakeholder relationships.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Communications in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Head of Communications role. Highlight your strategic communications experience and how it aligns with our mission at Thrive at Five. We want to see your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your CV, emphasise your people leadership experience. We’re looking for someone who can develop others and foster a collaborative culture. Share specific examples of how you've influenced teams or stakeholders in the past.
Demonstrate Your Storytelling Ability: Since strong content and storytelling skills are key for this role, include examples of your copywriting or communication strategies. We want to see how you can craft a compelling narrative that resonates with diverse audiences.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application via our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your materials and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thrive at Five
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Thrive at Five's mission and recent projects. Familiarise yourself with their communications strategies and how they align with their goals. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the organisation and how your experience can contribute to their growth.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in people leadership and building collaborative cultures. Think about specific instances where you've influenced senior stakeholders or led a team through change. This will show them you have the right skills to lead their communications team effectively.
✨Craft Your Narrative
As a Head of Communications, storytelling is key. Be ready to discuss how you've developed compelling narratives in previous roles. Bring along examples of your copywriting and content strategies that have successfully engaged audiences, as this will showcase your expertise in communication.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about Thrive at Five's future plans and how the communications function will evolve. This not only shows your interest in the role but also your strategic thinking. It’s a great way to demonstrate that you’re already considering how to contribute to their success.
