Communications Manager

The job requirements are detailed below.

Job title:

Change Communications Manager

Job reference: BEDS
2952

Date posted: 08/07/2026

Final date to receive applications: 24/07/2026

Location:

Luton

Salary Grade: 7, £39,906 to £47,389

Contract:

FTC - 2 year

Contractual hours: 37

Basis:
Full time

Job category/type:
Professional services

The Marketing & Communications directorate sits at the heart of a major institution-wide transformation programme and the delivery of the University’s new strategy. Working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, the team ensures staff, students, and wider stakeholders are informed, engaged, and connected to institutional priorities.

The Communications team covers staff and student communications, media relations, corporate events, change communications, crisis communications, and leadership communications. It works closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to deliver clear, consistent, and impactful communications that support engagement and organisational change.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to high-profile projects and play a key part in enabling successful transformation across the institution.

This is a newly created role within the Communications team. The Change Communications Manager will lead the development and delivery of communications supporting the University’s transformation programme and new strategy. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the postholder will provide strategic communications advice to senior leaders and project teams, develop clear and engaging communications, manage competing priorities, and evaluate the impact of communications activity.

The role also includes building change communications capability across the organisation through training, guidance, and support.

Responsibilities include developing and delivering internal communication strategies, engaging employees in change initiatives, influencing senior leaders, and measuring communication effectiveness.

Candidates should hold an undergraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience. A professional qualification in change management, communications, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience, is desirable.

Significant experience of internal communications, employee engagement, and supporting organisational change within a complex organisation is essential, together with excellent stakeholder management, influencing, planning, and communication skills.

Experience with in the higher education sector and knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint are desirable.

Post will be based at Luton (hybrid, 3 days on campus), with travel to other campuses as required.

Benefits include a generous pension and annual leave entitlement, free fitness classes and gym membership, flexible working arrangements, personal and professional development, and family-friendly policies.

The University is committed to equality of opportunity and values the diversity of all its workforce and student population. At the University of Bedfordshire, inclusivity is a key University value, and we are committed to creating an environment in which we celebrate and value the diversity of our staff and student community and provide fair opportunity and outcomes for all.

We recognize that diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent and benefit from opportunities that the diversity of talent and thought creates.

We, therefore, particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in the University of Bedfordshire’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds (particularly in roles in grades 7 and above), disabled people; LGBTQ+ people; and women in some senior grades.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.