Head of Communications and Engagement NEW

Church of England
About the Department/Role
The Reconciling Leaders Network (RLN) has a vision for the church to be a reconciling presence in conflict and communities, with a purpose to mobilise a generation of reconcilers, pursuing a just and flourishing world. RLN works across the Anglican Communion and ecumenically, supporting a ministry of peacebuilding and reconciliation, with a small and agile team (currently six team members).
Reconciling Leaders Network (RLN) has developed Difference, growing a cohort of global champions and a network of leaders focusing on reconciliation as a mission.
Difference (difference.rln.global) aims to encourage, support and mobilise a generation to live out their calling as peacemakers and reconcilers, pursuing a just flourishing world. This role will seek to deliver significant growth and engagement of Difference.

What you’ll be doing
The Head of Communications and Partnerships (for Reconciling Leaders Network) will lead RLN’s communications, marketing, and digital engagement strategy, ensuring our message is clear, compelling, and consistent across all channels, extending the reach and engagement of Difference. This role is central to shaping how RLN and Difference are experienced by audiences in the UK and globally.

The successful candidate will bring understanding of the reconciliation and peacebuilding sector, as well as the geo-political and church contexts in which RLN operates. They will be a strategic thinker, a skilled marketeer, theologically astute and a relationship builder who is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and justice, and brings cultural sensitivity to their work and leadership.

The post holder will support the bold objectives for this reconciliation ministry. They will have budgetary and line-management responsibilities and work with external agencies and freelancers to deliver outcomes.
You will work with and through Anglican systems, structures and networks as well ecumenically across different Christian denominations and other organisations – reaching a global audience. As well as working with civic, community and multinational organisations and networks.

Key role requirements
– You will need experience working with senior leadership to translate strategic goals into measurable communication plans and outcomes
– This is a 2-year fixed-term contract or secondment for internal NCI staff (extension dependant on funding)
– An enhanced DBS check (with child barring) will be required as part of our pre-employment checks
– The successful candidate will need to spend 2 days per week in Church House, London
– This post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.
– A willingness and availability to occasionally work outside normal office hours is required
Flexible to meet the demands of the post (attending events, including weekend events when required)

Strategy and Delivery

• Develop and deliver RLN’s communications strategy in alignment with organisational goals.
• Share in Christian practice (through prayer, faith development and formation) with external stakeholders, diocese colleagues, course participants, and within the team.
• Create and implement campaigns and tactics, working with all forms of media, to grow a network of reconcilers, extending the reach and engagement with Difference and RLN initiatives.
• Strategically contribute to the sustainability of RLN & Difference through fundraising efforts and income generation.
• Oversee the user journey and experience across all channels (website, resource hub, social media, emails etc.), ensuring they are optimised and effective.
• Develop strategic external partnerships and collaborations to increase engagement with reconciliation and the Difference course.
• Shape and steward RLN’s narrative within the church and reconciliation sector, in alignment with the organisations vision and purpose.
• Lead on storytelling and content creation across digital, print, and social media (including copy writing- Christian prayers, devotionals).
• Ensure brand consistency across all platforms, reflecting RLN’s visual identity and invitational tone of voice.

Team and Project Management

• Commission and manage external suppliers and consultants, including contracts and delivery against objectives.
• Prepare and manage the communications budget.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, procedures and with regulatory and charitable organisational requirements.
• Future line-management responsibility. Setting objectives and supporting the delivery of the communications plan.
• Oversee and implement workstreams, for example, emails, social media, and the day-to-day communications schedule of Difference.

Product Development

• Provide strategic insight and implement future developments of Difference resources and RLN initiatives.
• Manage updates, amends and edits to the Difference courses and training materials, (including translations, copywriting bible studies)
• Ensure distribution channels are integral in the development of new resources.
• Ensure all resources faithfully express the values, theology and branding of RLN and Difference.

Impact & Insights

• Monitor and evaluate the impact of the Difference course and recommend improvements.
• Optimise Difference website, social media and the Training and Resources hub
• Track and report on key indicators.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts, write impact reports for the director, governance structures and funding grants.

The team works closely and collaboratively, providing assistance across portfolio areas at times when extra capacity is needed. As such, an important part of this role will be to help out other team areas as required and as capacity allows.

Essential

Skills/Aptitudes:

• Strategic thinker with creativity, adaptability and a proactive approach to ideas generation.
• Ability to develop and implement a communications strategy, allocating budget and staff resources.
• Highly developed communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal).
• Excellent stakeholder management with the ability to build relationship and trust with diverse audiences and a range of stakeholders including senior figures.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, working to tight deadlines and often under pressure.
• Skilled in shaping messaging for church engagement (e.g. themes of reconciliation, polarisation, Christian discipleship, forgiveness, following Jesus, justice).
• Ability to communicate theological concepts in an accessible and engaging way.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and digital communication platforms.

Knowledge/Experience:

• Experience of working with senior leadership to translate strategic goals into measurable communication plans and outcomes.
• Good understanding of international relations, geo-politics and current affairs.
• Experience in leading in faith-based or values-driven contexts.
• Experience in income generation.
• Experience in budget planning and management.
• Track record of delivering growth, reach and engagement through strategic campaigns.
• Experience in product development and innovation in a faith-based or values-driven sector.
• Experience managing projects, suppliers and stakeholders – delivering on time, target and budget
• Line management experience.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Christian faith and theology, and the ability to write and shape messaging/content for a Christian audience.
• Good knowledge and/or relationships with sector related organisations, denominations and networks.
• Familiarity with the Anglican church and other Christian denominations, with appreciation of diverse traditions.

Personal Attributes:

• Passionate about the ministry of reconciliation and equipping people as peacemakers and reconcilers.
• Operate with discretion, trust and integrity.
• A self-starter with initiative.
• Enthusiasm to learn and practise values of Christian reconciliation
• Share in Christian practice in relevant Christian contexts, internal and external relationships
• Team orientated, investing in healthy working relationships
• Committed to personal wellbeing and good self-management.
• Proactive and committed to achieving results.
• Adaptable and responsive to meet the responsibilities of the post.
• In sympathy with the aims and ethos of the Church of England.
• A member of a local church – this post is subject to an occupational requirement that the holder be a communicant Anglican or a member of a church denomination that is part of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.
  Circumstances:
• Whilst the NCIs are committed to wellbeing and work/life balance, a willingness and availability to occasionally work outside normal office hours is required, on occasion.
• Flexible in order to meet the demands of the post (attending events including weekend events when required).

Desirable

• Training and/or experience in reconciliation related sectors (such as interfaith, social cohesion, racial justice, trauma-informed practices, mediation, restorative justice). . click apply for full job details