Communications Manager - Strategic Partnerships

Communications Manager – Strategic Partnerships

Contract type: Fixed Term (six months) - 35 hours per week

Location: London, UK.
UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40% of working time is spent face‑to‑face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at Water Aid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: £44,168 - £46,493 with excellent benefits

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. Water Aid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

The Brand and Strategic Communications team is a strategic, collaborative and creative function focussed on driving Water Aid’s advocacy, engagement and fundraising objectives. We lead the development of brand and communications strategies to inspire audiences and support organisational goals, working closely with colleagues across the Communications and Fundraising directorate and with external partners.

As our Communications Manager, you will manage the delivery of communications strategies for corporate partnerships working closely with Water Aid’s Communications and Fundraising directorate and key partners to drive sustainable change.

In this role, you will:

• Manage the delivery of Water Aid’s corporate partnership marketing communications strategy to maximise influence and income‑raising potential from the private sector.
• Lead a cross‑functional delivery group and collaborate across Water Aid’s Communications and Fundraising directorate to deliver integrated corporate advocacy and partner communications activities, primarily targeting a private sector audience.
• Act as the primary communications contact for partnership managers, advising on communications opportunities, strategic messaging, content and tactics that deliver value for Water Aid and partners.
• Champion in‑sight led and on‑brand messaging and creative which resonates with target audiences.
• Advise on best use of project budget to meet objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of communications activity, fostering a proactive and positive approach to learning and improvement within delivery teams.
• Champion Water Aid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.

To be successful, you will need:

• Demonstrable experience in developing, leading and executing high impact communications strategies for corporate partnerships, ideally for a non‑profit organisation.
• Expertise in business‑to‑business or corporate advocacy communications, and an understanding of trends in corporate sustainability and social responsibility.
• Experience working in, or in partnership with, the private sector, advising on communications approaches to engage a range of audiences and delivering communications plans with shared objectives.
• Highly collaborative and able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent time management skills, able to drive projects forward while navigating competing priorities.
• Ability to generate and develop creative and innovative ideas, with a good eye for brand, design, film and photography.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Experience of international development issues and/or working in the voluntary sector in a communications role.
• An understanding of the ethical issues surrounding communications for international development.

Closing date: Applications close 12:00 PM UK time on Friday 6th March. Interviews may be scheduled on a rolling basis, and the role may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.

How to apply: Click Apply to complete the pre‑screening questions and upload your CV only.

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