Strategic Communications Planning Lead

Strategic Communications Planning Lead

Company Description

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 67,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by offices in 44 countries, including the UK and Ireland. These teams recruit staff, organise fundraising, and raise awareness on the humanitarian crises our colleagues are witnessing, as well as running different and diverse support activities. MSF offices are spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK/IE, we support MSF's operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, ensuring MSF staff have access to relevant higher education programmes, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK/IE personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF's values and aims. In addition MSF continues to build upon its presence in Ireland to become a widely recognised, accepted and respected humanitarian organisation among Irish audiences, and within the Irish humanitarian and political sector.

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Position

Are you creative and organised? Do you want to work for an incredible cause and organisation? Do you have experience of juggling multiple projects?

If so, then we have the job for you. We're looking for someone to act as a bridge between strategy and delivery; to embed clear processes for briefing, planning and evaluation; develop and manage communications plans; improve coordination across teams; and champion a culture of collaboration, strategic alignment and best practice in our communications work. You will ensure that lessons learned are captured and shared across teams. Does this sound like the ideal job for you? If so, then please apply.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri

Duration: Permanent

Location: London - hybrid, 2 days per week London Office, to include Wednesdays (and preferably Thursdays)

Salary: £59,739.12 per annum - £73,014.48 per annum | Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.

Job Purpose:

The Strategic Communications Planning Lead is accountable for ensuring that all communications activity across the organisation are strategically prioritised, coherently planned and effectively integrated to advance MSF UK’s strategic objectives, reputation, fundraising performance and advocacy impact.

Working in close partnership with senior leaders and heads of teams across departments, the postholder leads the organisation’s communications forward-planning process and comms calendar; establishes high-quality strategic briefing standards; and oversees the coordination of complex, multi-channel campaigns. They ensure that communications planning and delivery are aligned with organisational priorities, values and ethical standards, and that resources are deployed effectively to maximise impact.

Please download the full job and person specification below for further details.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Strategic communications & planning

• Significant experience in strategic communications, campaigns or marketing roles within a complex organisation, ideally in the charity or international development/humanitarian sector.
• Strong understanding of audience insight, comms planning, and multi-channel communications (owned, earned and paid).

Project & campaign management

• Demonstrable experience in leading multi-stakeholder communications and campaigns from concept to delivery.
• Excellent organisational and documentation skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g. Agile, Prince2, or similar)
• Experience of setting and managing budgets and resource planning across departments.

Cross-organisational collaboration

• Experience of working collaboratively across teams and departments to achieve shared objectives.
• Experience developing or maintaining forward-planning systems, content calendars, or campaign management tools.
• Ability to lead through influence, fostering collaboration and alignment among senior colleagues.
• Skilled at facilitating meetings, building consensus and ensuring clarity of ownership and decision-making.

Communication & interpersonal skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, persuasive messaging.
• Confident in presenting ideas, chairing meetings, and communicating effectively with senior stakeholders.
• Strong relationship management skills, with diplomacy and discretion in handling sensitive or high-profile issues.

Analytical & problem-solving ability

• Able to assess communications performance using data and insights, and to translate learning into actionable improvement.
• Demonstrates sound judgement and the ability to make informed decisions in complex, fast-moving contexts.

Values

• Understanding of global health, humanitarian advocacy, or medical communications
• Commitment to the humanitarian principles and medical ethics of Médecins Sans Frontières
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion in communications and teamwork.
• High personal integrity and accountability.

Other

• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Yammer.

Other information

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation (please upload as one document) by the closing date. The letter of motivation should outline what you’d bring to the role and how your experience and skills meet the above accountabilities.

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close applications before the advertised closing date, or if a suitable candidate is found.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing date for applications: Monday 9 February 2026, 9am (GMT)
• First round interviews: w/c 16 February 2026
• Second round interviews: w/c 23 February 2026
• Projected Start Date: preferably w/c 30 March 2026

Accessibility

We are committed to removing barriers for people with specific accessibility needs. If you need an adjustment to the recruitment process to be considered for the role, please let us know by contacting recruitment.UK@london.msf.org

Examples of adjustments we can make:

• offering you an alternative if you are unable to use our online application system
• providing necessary information, such as the job description or assessment materials, in an alternate format
• allowing you to have someone with you during an interview for example, a Sign Language interpreter.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive organisation. MSF UK thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Please read our Equality & Diversity policy for more information.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 

Safeguarding

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

Right to work in the UK

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Employment sponsorship will NOT be offered by MSF UK for this role

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For questions, issues or further information, please contact Recruitment.UK@london.msf.org.

We look forward to receiving your application!