About this role
What You'll Do
You will:
Lead Catch22's communications and external affairs strategy, strengthening our influence and reputation across the sector.
Champion the voices and lived experiences of the people we support, ensuring they shape organisational priorities and public debate.
Build trusted relationships with commissioners, funders, policymakers, partners, regulators and influencers.
Strengthen the Catch22 brand, growing recognition, credibility and trust nationally.
Lead communications through periods of change, challenge and opportunity with confidence, judgement and integrity.
Use insight, evidence and storytelling to influence public policy and contribute to meaningful system reform.
Support the organisation's growth ambitions by ensuring that communications activity directly supports strategy, delivery and impact.
Inspire and develop high-performing, inclusive teams while fostering a strong One Catch22 culture.
Click here to view the Job Pack
Experience within the charity/third sector is not required; applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills from other industries are welcomed. We are particularly interested in the following:
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Educated to degree level with a relevant management qualification or equivalentStrong financial and commercial understanding, including assessment of value, risk and long-term sustainabilityA track record of successful political influencing work, including building cross-party support, through relationship-building, advocacy and media workExemplary influencing skills at all levels of an organisation, with the ability to maintain and extend stakeholder and customer relationships and to analyse and provide advice on complex issuesOutstanding written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex issue into clear, compelling narrativesEXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Significant senior-level experience leading communications, policy, campaigning and/or external affairs functionsProven experience of political and system-level influencing, including working with government, commissioners, media and partners.Successful experience of leading, motivating and developing people at all levelsStrategic thinking around marketplaces, audiences, organisations and stakeholdersDemonstrable experience of setting organisational direction, navigating ambiguity and advancing organisational culture and performance.
Salary & Benefits
up to £84,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience33 days annual leave (plus 8 public holidays)Approved workplace pension scheme with a matching employer contribution of 4%3 x salary life insuranceEmployee Assistance Programme & GP helplineLocation
You will be based in our London office at Pear Tree Street. The role will also involve regular travel across our services and office locations.
Working Pattern
This is a full-time (37 hours per week) role, all flexible working arrangements will be considered.
Application
We will stop accepting applications at 5pm on Monday 26 October 2026, so please ensure that you have reviewed all information and completed your application by this time. Please note that, if we receive an overwhelming number of applications, we reserve the right to bring the application deadline forward. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing out.
This role requires a DBS check.
See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.
Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.
We aim to review applications as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of interest we receive, we may not be able to contact all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful this time.
At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.
Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.
Please note, we will conduct an online search as part of our due dilligence checks for successful candidate(s). This will involve a search of all publicly available information online and in social media.
Catch22’s Commitment to Ban the Box
Catch22 is proud to have “Banned the Box”. This means that we do not ask for candidates to disclose criminal convictions at the application stage. Instead, we invite disclosures at interview stage, and encourage them at the offer stage. Please see our statement of commitment on hiring people with convictions for more information.