Head of Communications & Campaigns

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative and strategically minded Head of Communications & Campaigns to join YMCA South Midlands at an exciting stage of our growth.

This isn’t a role where Communications simply shares updates, creates content and responds to requests. You’ll help shape how we tell our story, strengthen our reputation, engage our audiences and ensure our communications make a genuine difference to the people and communities we serve.

You’ll work closely with our CEO in a high-support, high-challenge relationship, helping to shape our strategic direction and raise the profile of YMCA South Midlands. You’ll have autonomy, creative freedom and the opportunity to genuinely influence how our organisation is seen, heard and understood.

We want someone who can see the bigger picture, challenge our thinking and turn ambitious ideas into compelling campaigns that deliver results. Someone who understands that great communications aren't just about what we say, but how we connect with people, inspire action and build lasting relationships.

The opportunity

We’re an ambitious organisation with plans to continue growing our impact, income and reach.

Alongside leading our Communications & Campaigns function, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in some genuinely exciting work, from strengthening our brand and reputation to supporting major strategic projects, developing impactful campaigns and helping us reach new audiences.

You'll play a key role in telling the story of YMCA South Midlands, showcasing the difference we make to young people and communities, celebrating our successes and ensuring our voice is heard.

We’re looking for much more than someone who can deliver great content.

We want someone who can think strategically. Someone who understands different audiences, spots opportunities to raise our profile, brings fresh ideas and knows how to turn communications activity into measurable impact.

A key part of the role will also be working closely with our Fundraising & Social Enterprise team to develop campaigns that inspire support, strengthen engagement and contribute to our fundraising ambitions.

You'll build trusted relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders, ensuring our communications are joined up, consistent and aligned with our values and strategic priorities.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll lead our Communications & Campaigns function and take ownership of:

• Developing and delivering our communications, marketing and campaigns strategy
• Strengthening our brand, reputation and organisational profile
• Creating engaging, creative and impactful campaigns that inspire action
• Leading our digital communications, website, social media and content strategy
• Developing compelling stories that demonstrate our impact
• Working closely with Income Generation to support fundraising and supporter engagement
• Managing media relations, PR and external communications
• Leading internal communications that connect, inform and engage our people
• Supporting major organisational projects, partnerships and strategic initiatives
• Measuring campaign performance and using insights to continuously improve
• Developing and leading our Communications & Campaigns team

Just as importantly, you'll work collaboratively with leaders across the organisation, helping them communicate effectively, reach their audiences and bring our strategy and values to life.

You won't simply wait for a brief. We'll want you to bring ideas, spot opportunities, challenge thinking and help us achieve more.

About you

We value creativity, curiosity, ideas and healthy debate. You'll be a Head of Communications & Campaigns who brings fresh thinking, strong professional judgement and the confidence to challenge assumptions when necessary.

You'll understand that excellent communications leadership is about more than producing great content. It's about understanding people, influencing perceptions, building relationships and inspiring action.

You'll be comfortable working with our CEO, senior leaders and external stakeholders, able to turn complex messages into clear, engaging communications and confident advising others on how best to communicate.

If you like being given a narrow brief and simply delivering what's asked, this probably isn't the role for you. But if you enjoy autonomy, creativity, pace, challenging thinking, building trusted relationships and making things happen, you will thrive here.

You'll bring significant experience in communications, marketing or campaigns, with a strong track record of developing strategies and delivering creative, measurable results.

You'll be someone who:

- Thinks strategically while bringing creativity and fresh ideas

• Understands how to build and protect a strong brand and reputation
• Can turn complex messages into compelling stories
• Enjoys working in a growing, changing organisation
• Is confident challenging and influencing senior leaders
• Understands different audiences and how to engage them
• Can develop campaigns that inspire action and deliver measurable results
• Brings solutions rather than simply identifying problems
• Enjoys taking ownership and being accountable
• Builds strong relationships across teams and with external stakeholders
• Can move comfortably between strategy and hands-on delivery
• Is curious, commercially aware and always looking for ways to improve
• Wants to make a difference

Experience of leading integrated campaigns, digital marketing, brand development, PR, fundraising communications or organisational change would be particularly valuable.

Charity-sector experience is welcome, but it isn't essential. We're more interested in finding someone with the right communications expertise, creative mindset and ambition to help us grow.

Why Join YMCA South Midlands?

Because this is an opportunity to use your creativity, expertise and leadership for something that matters.

You'll join an ambitious organisation where Communications has a genuine voice, where good ideas are welcomed and where you'll be trusted to make an impact.

As well as joining a supportive and collaborative team, you'll have the opportunity to:

- Make a genuine difference in a purpose-driven organisation

• Shape how we tell our story and communicate our impact
• Lead creative campaigns that inspire people and drive change
• Influence our brand, reputation and strategic direction
• Work directly with our CEO and senior leadership team
• Bring fresh thinking and help us reach new audiences
• Develop and lead a talented and collaborative team
• Play a key role in the next chapter of YMCA South Midlands' growth

Everyone is Welcome Here

At YMCA South Midlands, we believe everyone should feel they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve and where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

As a Christian heritage charity, our faith inspires our values and our commitment to serving others. We welcome people of all faiths and none and appointments are made on merit.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best throughout our recruitment process.

If you have a disability, long-term health condition or are neurodivergent and would benefit from any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us at any stage. We'll be happy to discuss how we can support you.

Ready to Apply?

If that sounds like the kind of Head of Communications & Campaigns role you've been looking for, we'd love to hear from you. Click Apply Now and submit your application.

A note to recruitment agencies: We are managing recruitment for this role directly and are not seeking support from recruitment agencies. Please do not submit speculative CVs or contact us regarding this vacancy.