Head of Communications and Engagement

Region

London

Category

External Affairs
(External Affairs)

Job Summary

Job Title: Head of Communications and EngagementAssociation of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) – External AffairsSalary:£60,000 per annumGrade: 7Job Type:PermanentHours:35 hours per weekLocation:London WC1H(We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 20% of your time per month being office based)

Join the ACU as Head of Communications and Engagement and use your expertise and experience to help us in our mission to be the voice of Commonwealth universities, supporting them to collaborate and to advance their contribution to sustainable development.

Working at the intersection of higher education and international development, The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 400 members in more than 40 countries, and our official role within the Commonwealth and United Nations affords an impactful platform for advocacy and strategic partnerships.

The role

The Head of Communications and Engagement leads ACU's external voice and its member engagement function, ensuring that our member universities experience ACU as a present, credible and valuable partner. This role is the primary custodian of how ACU communicates with the world and how relationships with members, stakeholders and partners are built, maintained and deepened.

You will develop and lead an integrated communications and engagement strategy, ensuring all activity is strategically aligned, well-coordinated and delivered with maximum impact.

Working closely with the Director, you will provide leadership in shaping the external affairs of the ACU, finding new and creative ways to communicate ACU's work and impact, strengthen our position with key audiences and platform our advocacy messages within the sector and with key decisions makers including at major multilateral forums. You will oversee marketing efforts to drive participation with our member opportunities and for our managed programmes and will be responsible for contract fulfilment for a range of external clients. You will also lead on internal communications in support of our people and culture agenda.

Working with the Head of Membership and Events and Head of Policy and Research, you will be jointly responsible for the membership strategy, leading an international engagement team to ensure that our offer is visible to members, and our diverse and geographically dispersed network feel engaged and see the value of membership.

Who are we looking for:

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can bring a strategic and an integrated approach to communications and engagement, enjoys working in a collaborative international environment and who will foster creativity and innovation to deliver maximum impact.

You will:

• Bring a track record of leading integrated communications strategies in complex contexts, alongside experience of membership engagement or institutional relationship management at a senior level.
• Have worked at senior level in marketing or communications, be skilled in devising and implementing successful communication strategies and plans, audience segmentation, content creation, delivery and the use of the various channels for effectiveness
• Be comfortable holding the strategic and the relational in equal measure, and understand that in a membership organisation, communications and engagement are two sides of the same endeavour.
• Be a strategic thinker, know how to use data and insight to direct a team's activity, and understand how to design an engagement model that utilises personalised account management and varied communications channels to reach diverse audience segments with targeted messages
• Be comfortable leading a small, dispersed team- including a network of regional engagement leads across ACU's core geographies - setting strategic direction and supporting consistent standards and autonomous delivery
• Be energised rather than daunted by breadth: moving between brand strategy and member retention, hands-on delivery and team leadership

What to expect:

We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website by clicking

here). We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata - part time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

To find out about our benefits, flexible working, health and wellbeing and professional development, click

here.How to apply:

Apply via our recruitment portal, submitting your CV (maximum 2 pages) and online application form (250 words / 1,250 characters maximum) outlining how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria for the role. Please include your motivation for applying.

For further information and details of how to apply, click

here.Closing date:27/08/2026 @ 23:45

Interviews will take place on 07/09/2026

First stage interviews will take place virtually. A second stage will be conducted in-person at our London office in the week commencing 14/09/2026

Job Profile

Job Profile document