The organisation:

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Ellwood Atfield is thrilled to partner with Drinkaware, a leading charity dedicated tor educing harm from alcohol.

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Drinkaware achieves this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, practical advice and resources, raising awareness of alcohol-related harms, and working in partnership with others to deliver behaviour change through effective tools and interventions.

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The opportunity:

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The Head of Strategic Communications will lead Drinkaware’s strategic communications activity, ensuring the organisation maintains a strong, credible and trusted external profile. This role is responsible for building and safeguarding Drinkaware’s reputation through a cohesive and integrated communications strategy that balances opportunity with risk, while supporting the organisation’s wider mission and objectives.

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Leading a small and skilled media and communications team, the role oversees activity across media relations, PR, stakeholder engagement and internal communications. The postholder will also work closely with colleagues to contribute to social media and content activity, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging across all channels.

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Responsibilities:

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• Lead and deliver Drinkaware’s strategic communications approach and PR activities, ensuring all media, corporate, stakeholder, internal and content activity is aligned with organisational values, goals and designed to enhance our reputation.
• Protect and enhance Drinkaware’s external reputation, acting as a trusted and independent voice on alcohol through proactive and reactive media relations, crisis communications planning and day-to-day reputational risk management.
• Manage and develop media engagement and presence, including leading the press office, amplifying expert spokespeople, building strong journalist relationships across all channels, and maximising high-quality media coverage.
• Oversee key communications projects and outputs, including organisational messaging and Lines to Take, integrated communications campaigns, stakeholder and internal communications, and commissioning the Annual Report and Accounts.

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Person specification:

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• Demonstrable experience leading strategic communications and PR campaigns that raise profile and strengthen the reputation of a social impact organisation.
• Excellent and adaptable writing and editing skills across a wide range of formats, from press releases and communications plans to Annual Reports and digital content, with the ability to brief and manage internal and external writers.
• Proven ability to manage reputational risk and lead crisis communications and escalation processes, advising senior executives and organisational leaders.
• Strong media expertise, including managing a press office, identifying and selling media opportunities, building trusted journalist relationships, and a strategic understanding of the UK media landscape and public concerns.
• Effective senior-level stakeholder engagement skills, including advising the CEO, Chair and Chief Medical Advisor, building internal and external relationships, and delivering internal, corporate and stakeholder communications grounded in research and evidence.

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Benefits and Additional information:

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• Salary up-to £66,755
• Office based in London (EC1Y 4SE)
• Hybrid working (2 days per week in the office)
• 9 Month contract
• 30 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
• Bupa health cover
• Matched company pension scheme
• Life assurance cover
• Wellbeing and learning grants

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How to apply:

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To apply, please submit the form below and include a copy of your CV.

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Closing date: January 12, 2026

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We will only be able to consider applications submitted via the online link attached and not sent via email.

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Ellwood Atfield is the leading headhunter for corporate affairs, communications, policy, and advocacy. An employee-owned boutique search firm, we help you hire the most senior leaders and everyone who reports to them. We promise to connect talented people, smoothly and efficiently.

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Our purpose is to create important and enduring relationships. We are an equal opportunities employer and promote diversity across our profession to ensure every individual has the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.