Head of Communications & Engagement

Our Offer to You

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme (subject to terms)
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,100 employees and over 20,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, and Young Responders programmes).

Job Summary

Communications shape how an organisation is understood, trusted and experienced. At St John Ambulance, they also help unite thousands of employees and volunteers behind a shared purpose: to save lives through first aid, health and wellbeing. We're looking for an exceptional communications leader to help tell that story, strengthen engagement across our organisation and ensure every audience understands what matters most and why.

As our Head of Communications and Engagement, you'll lead the strategic direction of organisational communications, employee and volunteer engagement, corporate messaging and reputation management. Working at the heart of the organisation, you'll partner with senior leaders to develop compelling narratives, deliver clear and consistent communications, and create an inclusive approach that helps colleagues, volunteers and stakeholders feel informed, connected and inspired.

This is a highly influential leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with excellent judgement and a passion for engaging people through change. You'll oversee the planning, prioritisation and delivery of audience-focused communications, ensuring the right messages reach the right people at the right time. You'll also act as a trusted adviser on communications and reputation, equipping the organisation with the governance, tools and approaches needed to communicate with confidence and consistency, while working closely with our Brand and Communications team on our wider organisational reputation.

About You

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience, with additional professional development in communications, organisational development or leadership (desirable).
• Significant experience leading internal and external communications and engagement within a complex organisation.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering communications strategies, frameworks and plans that support organisational priorities, change and engagement.
• Experience managing multiple competing communications priorities, ensuring effective coordination, prioritisation and delivery in complex environments.
• Strong background in providing trusted communications advice to senior leaders, including on sensitive, high-profile or reputationally significant issues.
• Experience leading organisational responses to issues, crises or reputation management challenges, with effective governance and decision‑making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate teams, alongside strong planning, strategic thinking and judgement in complex situations.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills, with the ability to build alignment, use audience insight, and create engaging, two‑way communications approaches.

About the Role

• Lead the development and delivery of a strategic communications and engagement approach, ensuring activity is prioritised, coordinated and aligned to organisational strategy.
• Oversee a cohesive internal communications function that keeps employees and volunteers informed, connected and engaged through clear, consistent and two‑way communication.
• Lead integrated internal and external communications for strategic risks, issues and crises, ensuring robust governance, preparedness and effective response.
• Ensure communications are tailored to diverse audiences using insight, segmentation, co‑production and feedback to improve relevance and impact.
• Partner with senior leaders and subject matter experts to develop clear narratives, position statements and delivery plans for key priorities, change and emerging issues.
• Provide expert advice and support for leadership communications, particularly on sensitive, high‑profile or reputationally significant issues.
• Oversee communications systems, tools and governance (including intranet platforms), ensuring standards, frameworks and compliance are in place.
• Work collaboratively across Brand, PR and Marketing while leading a high‑performing, values‑driven team and building organisation‑wide communications capability.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and ensure an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.

St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre‑employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role.