Employment Type: Full time

Location: Hybrid, London, UK

Based in Kings Cross, we operate hybrid working with a minimum of 40% per week in the office

Salary: £54,000 (GBP)

Team: Communications

Seniority: Senior

Closing: 11:59pm, 9th Mar 2026 GMT

Job Description

Introduction

Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. He left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest grant-making foundations in the UK.

We use our resources to support social change, working towards a just and equitable society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.

Our vision is for a just society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.

Our mission is to be an effective and independent funder, using all our resources to create opportunities and support social change. We partner with inspiring organisations and individuals to put them at the heart of leading change and designing solutions to overcome inequality.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation. This commitment drives how we work, who we work with and how we make decisions. You can read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) here.

We have five funding priorities where we wish to see change for our work in the UK:

Investing in young people
Migration
Arts
Arts Education
Nurturing ideas and people

Our values are important to us and we work to and carry them through all our activity.

Role Overview

Background

We are looking for a Head of Communications, someone with ambition and commitment to shape our approach to communications, internally and externally, and to help us understand how we talk about and demonstrate our impact as a funder.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Learning, Insight and Influence, and a key member of our Management Team, you will be part of a small team that helps to communicate the work of the Foundation externally, drives internal communication, and promotes the work of those we support. The post sits within the wider Strategic Learning, Insight and Influence team which has responsibility for research, evaluation, advocacy and communications.

The Head of Communications is a critical post, drawing together our shared story across the different areas of our work and communicating this to key audiences in support of our mission and vision.

What will be my main contribution?

You will be responsible for oversight of our external and internal corporate communication. This means paying close attention to our digital platforms and regular communications as well as being thoughtful about how staff stay connected to our wider work. Your role will be to help align our communications with our values and sustain a clear focus across the different platforms.

The communications team plays a crucial role in advancing our commitment to being an anti-racist funder and working towards greater diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. You will lead on how this is embedded into all of our internal and external communications activity.

The Foundation seeks to advance social justice and this means that at times we take positions which can be seen as controversial. You will help us navigate these complexities (alongside the Senior Leadership Team and trustees) to get the best outcome.

You will lead on implementing our corporate approach to reputation and communications risk management, helping us stay prepared for issues as they arise and working through any incidents when they occur.

You will have a keen sense of how communications activity can help support and enhance our influencing work, helping the Foundation set out clear position statements and move forward key agendas in line with our mission and field building.

You will act as a crucial bridge between the Foundation and our various audiences, in particular those people and organisations we are seeking to support through our funding. Your role will be to think about how their needs can be represented within our communication activity and particularly to understand their different requirements – we want the foundation to be as clear and accessible as possible and how we communicate is central to this ambition.

There will be opportunities to lead proactive communication campaigns (for instance to promote our Award for Artists programme or a specific marketing push for a new fund). You will be expected to develop the strategy for these campaigns, liaise with key partners and stakeholders including the media, and direct all activity.

As a manager, you will have a responsibility to help set the culture – one where people feel supported and able to thrive in their work – and support an atmosphere of collaborative working through shared objectives and learning. You will be part of the management team and expected to contribute through this forum to the development of our management approach and cross organisation priorities such as embedding our commitment to antiracism and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Who will I line manage?

You will line manage:

1 x Communications Officer
1 x Communications & Learning Assistant (p-t).

What other key internal relationships will I have?

You will work closely with colleagues in the Strategic Learning, Insight and Influence team to: share intelligence; understand the impact of our funding and activity; highlight and celebrate best practice to help drive the change we would like to see.

You will also work closely with colleagues in the Finance and Resources team to ensure good and effective grant management and develop our annual accounts.

What level of budget responsibility will I have?

The budget for activity in your areas of responsibility is around £250,000 per annum via a mix of contracts and commissions (permanent staff costs are covered elsewhere). Overseen by your Director, you will manage this budget for production of publications such as the annual report and payments to contractors such as designers, consultants, and external commissions. You may also manage one-off budgets for projects such as the website development

You will have input into the Voice, Influence and Partnership fund (currently we allocate around £150,000 a year) and you will have responsibility for managing some of these grants in line with our grant management process.

Person specification

We recognise this is an extensive specification and do not expect candidates to meet every criterion. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds and lived experiences. (Please note we are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.)

Essential experience and knowledge

Senior-level communications experience, including leading or significantly contributing to a communications function.
Experience developing and delivering external communications strategies.
Ability to provide sound communications and media advice to staff at all levels, including senior leadership.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
A track record of proactive engagement with journalists and key external stakeholders.
Thorough knowledge of media channels across digital, print, broadcast, and social platforms.
Strong organisational and decision‑making skills, able to respond quickly and effectively to emerging issues.
Experience specifying, commissioning, and managing external suppliers (e.g. designers, web developers).
Experience overseeing corporate brand values and ensuring they are represented consistently.
Experience managing the maintenance and development of a corporate website.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse and influential stakeholder groups.
Experience managing, motivating, and developing staff.

Essential behaviours and ways of working

Ability to build strong, trusting relationships at all organisational levels, with the credibility and analytical skills to provide thoughtful, supportive advice.
Alignment with Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s values, especially its commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, tackling disadvantage, fighting prejudice, and supporting youth voice and participation.
A commitment to learning and generous leadership, with an awareness of power dynamics and an asset‑based approach to working with grantees, partners, and people with lived experience.
Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide variety of audiences, including trustees, senior staff, grantees, policymakers, practitioners, and young people.
Proactive, confident, and resourceful, with strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to manage competing demands.
Flexible, creative, and collaborative, with a commitment to contributing to a small team and supporting colleagues.
A strong personal commitment to continuous improvement and reflective learning.

Desirable

Experience working in the charitable or not‑for‑profit sector.
In‑depth knowledge or experience of risk management and crisis communications, including handling complex media stories.
Experience commissioning or working with a contact management system.

The Foundation is based in light and recently refurbished offices near Kings Cross in London and we currently work to a hybrid working model with 40% of time worked in the office and the rest a combination of external grantee visits and homeworking. We offer fantastic benefits including

25 days annual leave,
10% non-contributory pension contributions with optional additional 2.5% matched employer contributions
Enhanced maternity and paternity policies
Income protection and Life Assurance schemes
Complimentary lunch when in the office.

First stage interviews are expected to take place remotely on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th March. Second stage interviews are expected to take place in-person on Tuesday 24th March.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation jobs

Head of Communications