Strategic Communications Director - Proofing our Climate + Weather; FPCW

Strategic Communications Director - Future Proofing our Climate + Weather (FPCW)

Final date to receive applications: 18 January 2026

Department: Programmes

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: London

Salary: £115,000

Location: Kings X, London;
Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere

Employment Type: 2 years fixed term contract (possibility of extension, depending on the Programme)

Closing Date: 18.01.26

Application: We’d love to hear about your passions and how you’ll make an impact here – please include a CV and cover letter with your application – we consider it an essential part of getting to know you.

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world‑class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more about how we work here.

This role will be embedded within the Future Proofing our Climate + Weather (FPCW) team, serving as the architect of global engagement, communications, and narrative strategy across the opportunity space and its affiliated programmes. You will be the thought partner to the Programme Director, Mark Symes, co‑developing the strategies that ensure this research is conducted transparently, responsibly, and for the public benefit.

• Develop and run, in coordination with ARIA’s Director of Communications and Engagement, the communications and engagement plan for the FPCW opportunity space and Exploring Climate Cooling programme, integrating all external‑facing activities – including public engagement, Oversight Committee communications, and media strategy – to set a global standard for transparent, responsible research.
• Look after a budget, with authority to commission partners, fund novel engagement activities, and deploy resources to advance the opportunity space and the programme’s strategic goals.
• Manage a dedicated communications partner, directing their execution of the ECC programme's communications and engagement core materials. Enforcing a rigorous quality standard, you will partner with this firm to support the:
  • Drafting of all public‑facing communications, including core narratives, FAQs, media handling and briefings.
  • Advising funded Creators on their own comms plans and advising on the delivery of those plans.
  • When necessary, assisting Creator teams with responding to inbound media enquiries.
  • Reviewing and offering constructive feedback on Creator teams’ engagement plans and activities.
  • Development of comms materials or plans for new initiatives in the programme and opportunity space (e.g. opportunity seeds, IP pledge, databases for results.)
• In consultation with ARIA’s central communications team, you’ll pioneer and direct innovative communications strategies that move beyond traditional media. You will be empowered to explore new formats, messengers, and platforms (e.g., targeted digital‑native video, influencer engagement, and new advocate cultivation) to meet diverse audiences where they are.
• Develop and own the opportunity space’s high‑level reputational risk register and crisis communications framework, offering advice to the Programme Director and ARIA management, and ensuring coordination with ARIA’s Director of Communications and Engagement during emerging issues.
• Act as a trusted spokesperson for the opportunity space and the programme in high‑stakes external forums, workshops, updates to the Oversight Committee, and on‑background media engagements, in coordination with the Programme Director.
• Together with the Programme Director and other Programme team members, develop the long‑term legacy strategy for the ECC programme. You will work to mature the public understanding of climate cooling approaches, pushing to create an environment where responsible, transparent…