Senior Manager - Campaigns & Communications Planning
| Posting date: | 30 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £52,265 to £73,927 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 May 2026 |
| Location: | London, UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Barnardo's |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 22870 |
Summary
Help Change Attitudes towards Childhood
At Barnardo's, we believe in children – and in the power of influencing attitudes to create lasting change. As part of our Strategy & External Affairs department, the External Communications & Engagement function plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of the issues facing children and strengthening support for our work to deliver positive change.
We're looking for an experienced and ambitious Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) to lead our advocacy campaigning activity and help coordinate impactful communications across the charity.
What Will You Be Doing as the Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning)?
Lead and deliver advocacy campaigning activity that supports Barnardo's strategic aim to change attitudes towards childhood
Oversee and manage a single, central communications grid bringing together activity from across the charity to maximise impact and audience experience
Work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across Strategy & External Affairs, Fundraising & Marketing, Children's Services and other departments to plan, prioritise and integrate communications activity
Collaborate with the Voice & Influence team to ensure children, young people, parents and carers help shape our advocacy and campaigning work
Line manage up to five colleagues, providing clear leadership, support and development
This is a senior, influential role at the heart of shaping Barnardo's external voice which combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership. You'll be part of a committed department that shares learning, supports wellbeing and is united in a clear mission: delivering change for children.
What Are We Looking For?
We're looking for a Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) who has:
Significant experience (at least five years) working in communications, advocacy and/or campaigning
Experience of line management and operating effectively within matrix-managed environments
A strong track record of communications planning in a large or complex organisation
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
A creative, curious mindset, with the ability to adapt quickly in fast-changing contexts
You'll also be able to attend in-person meetings at least twice a month in central London, and occasionally elsewhere in the UK.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
At Barnardo's, we believe in children – and in the power of influencing attitudes to create lasting change. As part of our Strategy & External Affairs department, the External Communications & Engagement function plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of the issues facing children and strengthening support for our work to deliver positive change.
We're looking for an experienced and ambitious Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) to lead our advocacy campaigning activity and help coordinate impactful communications across the charity.
What Will You Be Doing as the Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning)?
Lead and deliver advocacy campaigning activity that supports Barnardo's strategic aim to change attitudes towards childhood
Oversee and manage a single, central communications grid bringing together activity from across the charity to maximise impact and audience experience
Work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across Strategy & External Affairs, Fundraising & Marketing, Children's Services and other departments to plan, prioritise and integrate communications activity
Collaborate with the Voice & Influence team to ensure children, young people, parents and carers help shape our advocacy and campaigning work
Line manage up to five colleagues, providing clear leadership, support and development
This is a senior, influential role at the heart of shaping Barnardo's external voice which combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership. You'll be part of a committed department that shares learning, supports wellbeing and is united in a clear mission: delivering change for children.
What Are We Looking For?
We're looking for a Senior Manager (Campaigns & Communications Planning) who has:
Significant experience (at least five years) working in communications, advocacy and/or campaigning
Experience of line management and operating effectively within matrix-managed environments
A strong track record of communications planning in a large or complex organisation
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
A creative, curious mindset, with the ability to adapt quickly in fast-changing contexts
You'll also be able to attend in-person meetings at least twice a month in central London, and occasionally elsewhere in the UK.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
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