Communications Manager – Maternity Cover

Are you a natural storyteller with a passion for impactful communication? We’re looking for a Communications Manager (maternity cover) to lead our content and messaging across all channels. You’ll craft compelling communications, oversee audience engagement, and manage our Digital Marketing and Communications Officer to help bring our mission to life.

Communications Manager maternity cover – Recruitment pack (job description)

BENEFITS – Why Work With Us?
• Generous Holiday Allowance – Enjoy up to 32 days off a year (including Bank Holidays), pro rata for part-time hours, with extra days for long service. And after your first year, you’ll get your birthday off too — because cake should be nonnegotiable!
• Real Work-Life Balance – We care deeply about your wellbeing and believe in supporting our teams as much as we do the children and families we serve.
• Training That Grows With You – Plus, every team member gets a personal training budget and access to a holistic learning platform to support your development.
• Perks That Make Life Easier – We’ll cover the cost of your DBS check, and you’ll get access to a NEST pension and Simply Health cash plan for everyday healthcare costs.
• Room to Recharge – After 3 years, you’ll be eligible for a career break to refresh, reflect, or do something amazing.

ABOUT US
Challengers is a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of disabled children and young people through the power of play. We provide inclusive, fun, and safe spaces across the Southeast where children aged 2–18 can make friends, enjoy new experiences, and develop vital life skills. Our unique non-exclusion policy ensures that every child, regardless of the complexity of their needs, is welcomed and supported.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
As Communications Manager, you will be primarily responsible for the Challengers’ communications output. You will coordinate communications to audiences across a range of channels and oversee the production of relevant and engaging content. This role includes the line management of the Digital Marketing and Communications Officer.

You’ll Be Great If…
• You’re a natural communicator who can turn strategy into stories and bring our mission to life across every channel.
• You’re comfortable juggling content plans, press releases, and strategic documents — and still find time to proofread like a pro.
• You’ve led on communications projects and can happily work with everyone from the CEO to service teams (with a few plates spinning).
• You enjoy managing and supporting others, helping your team grow while keeping things fun and purposeful.
• You know your way around websites and email campaigns (or are keen to learn), and love making comms feel clear, fresh, and on-brand.
• You’re organised, enthusiastic, and always up for pitching in to help make great things happen — even if it’s not on the original to-do list.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job, and there is no such thing as the perfect candidate. Challengers is a place where everyone can grow. We follow equal opportunities so however you identify and whatever your background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day.

Close date: 13th May 2025
Interview dates: 20th & 22nd May

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Which role are you applying for?

• Community & Volunteer Manager
• Capital Appeal Manager
• Challenge Events Officer
• Individual Giving Manager
• Trust Fundraising Officer
• Communications Manager (mat cover)
• Deputy Leader (Winchester)

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We require all members of staff to be aged 18 or older.

Disclosure declaration

The position for which you are applying potentially involves significant unsupervised contact with children and is therefore subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. This means that you must disclose details of any convictions, bindover orders or police cautions, warnings or reprimands, including those which are considered “spent” under the terms of the Act. Please use the Disclosure Form below only if this applies to you. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly.

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If you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not "protected" as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198, please complete the information below and return it with your application. This information will not be used to discriminate against you unfairly. For more information on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act please click here.

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Please upload your CV here. In order to process your application we need to have a full history from your secondary education to present day, including any gaps in your study or work. Please make sure your CV is compliant with this. If you fail to provide a full history within your CV, your application may be rejected, this is due to the nature of our work with vulnerable young people, and the strict Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policies we must adhere to.

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Please supply full contact details of TWO people who will provide a reference for you. They cannot both be from the same place of work or education. We cannot accept applications that do not provide two references. ONE MUST BE FROM YOUR CURRENT OR MOST RECENT EMPLOYER, OR IF YOU ARE A FULL-TIME STUDENT, FROM YOUR PLACE OF EDUCATION. REFEREES MAY NOT BE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.

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Equal Opportunities monitoring

Challengers is committed to achieving a Play and Leisure service which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful or unfair discrimination. Our policy covers all aspects of our operations, including recruitment. Please complete this part of the form. This information will be used only in order to monitor our recruitment processes and prevent unfair discrimination on any grounds.

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Communication preferences

We really want to keep you up to date with what is happening at Challengers, all the great news stories and information about events you could come along to which help raise vital funds so that we can support more disabled children and their families

Please tick the boxes below so we know what you would like to hear about

• News
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• Fundraising

Please note you can read our full privacy policy here.

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I confirm that the information which I have given is true and complete. I confirm that I have read and understood the DBS Code of Practice and the DBS Privacy Policy. I consent for Challengers to carry out the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service checks, and to monitor status of a check online using the DBS Update Service if this is subscribed to. I have read and understood the job description and The Challengers Approach. By submitting this application to us you are declaring your consent. Any false statements or omissions may result in dismissal.

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