Director of Communications, Campaigning and Communities, The Wildlife Trusts

About the role

This brand-new role will bring together our skilled campaigns, community organising, and media and communications teams to take our impact in these disciplines to the next level, helping many more people to take action for wildlife. You will lead a directorate that mobilises people and communities to create lasting impact through embedding community listening techniques, designing and delivering strategic campaigns, identifying opportunities in the political, funding, and public engagement landscape, and achieving media visibility for The Wildlife Trusts’ work.

You will lead the implementation of ‘Wilder’, The Wildlife Trusts’ shared new Communications Strategy, providing strategic oversight for evidence-led communications and brand management, creative content, and public relations that strengthen our relevance, influence, and reputation among diverse audiences, and drive impact, engagement, and income generation.

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape our strategic direction, influence organisational culture, and strengthen the impact of community-led action and communications across the federation of Wildlife Trusts.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver bold, strategic campaigns that secure meaningful wins for nature, climate, and communities.
• Lead a directorate spanning content creation, social media management, media relations, campaigning, youth-led leadership, and community organising.
• Mobilise people-powered action and inspire communities across the UK to create lasting change.
• Champion collaboration, co-creation, youth influence, and community organising to support locally relevant, accessible, and impactful change for nature.
• Develop The Wildlife Trusts’ voice, brand, reputation, and storytelling to engage diverse audiences and inspire action.
• Promote authentic storytelling and lived experience, ensuring meaningful representation while avoiding tokenism.
• Grow a confident and diverse network of advocates for nature.
• Influence local and national policy by strengthening understanding of nature’s role in addressing societal challenges.
• Champion access to nature, promote nature-based solutions, and support efforts to improve health, wellbeing, and resilience, particularly in communities with limited access to green space.
• Identify opportunities in the funding, policy, and stakeholder landscape to accelerate impact.
• Work closely with fundraising colleagues and partners to build compelling propositions and secure support for strategic priorities.
• Ensure campaigns, communications, and community action are positioned to attract investment and deliver meaningful outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with 46 independent Wildlife Trusts to shape and deliver a shared vision that inspires society to champion nature.

Requirements

• Proven track record of designing and leading strategic campaigns that deliver measurable outcomes, influence decision-makers, and create lasting change.
• Strategic leadership experience with the vision, energy, and ambition to mobilise people-powered action and inspire communities.
• Expertise in developing campaign strategies, building trusted relationships, and bringing people together around a shared purpose.
• Ability to navigate complexity with confidence and empathy.
• Strategic outlook and inclusive approach to working with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
• Well-developed understanding of the funding, policy, and stakeholder landscape.
• Passion for inspiring others to take action and building a movement that places people and communities at the heart of the work.
• Authentic and inspiring leadership with resilience and determination to win support for nature.
• Commitment to championing The Wildlife Trusts’ unique contribution to addressing the nature, climate, and health crises.

About Us

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from diverse backgrounds who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have over 945,000 members, 33,000 volunteers, 4,100 staff, and 600 trustees. The federation consists of 46 independent Wildlife Trusts, each a place-based charity formed by local groups working to make a positive difference for wildlife and future generations.

The Wildlife Trusts are a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity founded in 1912 and a founding member of the IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The next few years will be critical in reversing wildlife loss and putting nature into recovery at scale to prevent climate and ecological disaster.

Schedule

Permanent, full-time role (35 hours per week). There is currently a requirement to attend in-person monthly team meetings at the Newark office. Office facilities are available at The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT, and there may be opportunities to occasionally work from a local Wildlife Trust office.

Key Dates

• Closing date for applications: 20 September 2026
• Shortlisting: 21 – 22 September 2026
• First interview (online): 1 October 2026
• Second interview (in person, London): 7 October 2026