Communications and Engagement Manager

Communications and Engagement Manager

Final date to receive applications: 16 October 2026

Department: Communications and Engagement

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London

Compensation: £60,000 / year

About ARIA

ARIA is a R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. 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.

Our success is shaped by one question: how will ARIA transform the lives of the UK’s future generations? Whether that’s a life‑changing new technology or a burgeoning new industry, it should be obvious that ARIA played a catalytic role.

Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

We are seeking a scientifically fluent, creative Communications and Engagement Manager to help shape how ARIA’s programmes are understood, engaged with, and remembered.

You will lead communications and engagement for a portfolio of ARIA programmes, working in close partnership with Programme Directors, R&D Creators and the Head of Programme Communications and Engagement. Your role will span the full programme lifecycle: helping to build momentum around programme launches and activities; and telling credible, distinctive stories of the research, people, and progress that ARIA enables. This is not a traditional press or corporate communications role.

It combines narrative development, science storytelling, and targeted ecosystem engagement.

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

• Shape the narrative for ARIA’s opportunity spaces and programmes: Partner closely with Programme Directors to distil complex scientific theses into clear, compelling narratives. You aren’t simply translating technical material—you will frame why each opportunity matters, what could become possible and why the right R&D Creators should get involved.
• Drive a step-change in programme storytelling: Develop narrative‑led content across owned and earned channels that brings ARIA‑funded science to life. You will turn research breakthroughs and programme milestones into stories for wider audiences, drawing directly on the experiences and ambitions of our Creator community.
• Strengthen our programme communications practice: You will help ensure that our outputs are consistent, high-quality and flexible enough to reflect the distinctive character of each programme.
• Build momentum across the R&D ecosystem: Act as an ambassador for ARIA, developing targeted engagement strategies that connect our programmes with the right university labs, deep‑tech companies and wider stakeholders. Working closely with Programme Directors, Creators and colleagues across communications, you will use launches, workshops and selected external events to deepen relationships and ensure ARIA is visible where it matters.

A successful candidate will bring many of the following skills and experiences:

Essential criteria

• Proven science communications experience: You have experience in science communications, technical writing or a related field, gained in a research institution, startup, scientific publication, specialist agency or comparable environment.
• Scientific fluency: You hold a degree in a scientific field or have equivalent experience working with complex scientific material. You can understand technical nuance and translate it accurately for both specialist and general audiences.
• Creative storytelling: You can identify the compelling narrative within…