Senior Advocacy and Communications Manager; FTC)

• Closing:12:00pm, 23rd Oct 2026 BST

8.54 (11616)

Please note this is a hybrid role based on the successful candidate working at least two days a week in our London office. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role.

Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.

This senior role will oversee and deliver strategic communications and influencing agenda under the Shifting the Power civil society strengthening programme, co-funded by UK Aid. Through the Shifting the Power programme, Comic Relief intends to disrupt the power imbalance in our sector and start funding fairer, and to shift mainstream narratives amongst the British Public about aid. We collaborate with a set of local partners, who we refer to as ‘Anchor Partners’ working in Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi.

They’re bringing local expertise and knowledge to co-create and shape the direction of the programme and co-lead on communication activities.

With oversight and support from the Head of the Shifting the Power Programme and cross organisational colleagues, and through quality relationship management with a diversity of stakeholders within and outside of Comic Relief, the postholder will drive transformational change in the international development funding ecosystem by influencing donors, policy makers and the British public to embrace locally led development approaches. They will ensure all deliverables for the advocacy and comms element of the programme are completed on time, to a high quality, and driven by the programme’s values.

• Improving donors’ perception of locally led development, practices and policies by demonstrating positive impact of local organisations’ capability and expertise and undertaking strategic influencing activities

• Increasing understanding among the British public about the impact locally led development achieves

• Support, coach and collaborate with Anchor Partner colleagues to catalise robust, locally rooted communications ecosystems across all programme countries, increasing understanding, commitment and support amongst programme country citizens for the programme objectives.

• Strategically steer the co-design and coordinated implementation of an advocacy agenda and collective influencing strategy together with FCDO and Anchor Partner colleagues to influence traditional funders, donors, philanthropist and the wider sector to change who and how they fund.

• Spearhead and drive initiatives with internal and external partners to secure tangible policy and advocacy outcomes around the power of communities and organisations.

• Identify proactive and reactive opportunities for effective influencing of international programming.

• Represent Comic Relief and the Shifting the Power programme at high level national and global forums, conferences, and panels, articulating the case for locally led development to high-level audiences.

• Influence key UK ministers, parliamentarians, and high-level decision-makers through strategic engagement, briefings, and targeted advocacy interventions.

• Engage with internal and external partners to secure tangible policy and advocacy outcomes, including measurable changes in donor funding practices.

• Oversee strategic engagement with local and national partners in priority countries, including delivery of advocacy strategy work-plans for Ghana, Zambia and Malawi.

• Guide and advise partner organisations to build and sustain local platforms and alliances.

• Design, lead and deliver the StP Communications Strategy, including setting…