Marketing and Communications Manager
Who we are
People First is an independent customer-led charitable organisation that has worked in Cumbria for over 35 years.The Well Communities is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, led by people in recovery from substance misuse.This role will work across both People First and The Well communities, who work in Partnership across the North of England.
We are passionate about our values of equality, respect, and inclusion. We provide a wide range of support and information services across Cumbria, Lancashire, and Teesside, all aimed at helping people to live informed, respected, healthy and fulfilled lives.
Purpose of job
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work for our organisations during a time of growth and development. This newly created role will manage the Marketing and Communications function within the central Business Team. Main tasks involve supporting all departments within the organisations, such as the Advocacy team, UDirect Support service, Inclusion, Employability, Healthwatch, The Well Communities and core business through a wide range of communications methods in line with an organisational Marketing and Communications Strategy.
The person
As a prerequisite, the successful candidate must believe in the core values of People First and The Well Communities and be driven by their missions.
We are looking for an experienced Marketing and Communications Manager to be part of shaping a new communications strategy for People First and The Well Communities. You will be undertaking communications, including all digital activities, across the business as well as supporting all marketing initiatives across the organisation.
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and versatile marketing and communications professional with the skills and experience to deliver communications and marketing strategies for distinct audiences across all geographical locations in which we work.
You’ll be as comfortable working with technical data driven content as you are drafting internal and external communications for our customers and staff.
You’ll have experience managing websites, professional social media accounts, and working at the interface of communications and marketing campaigns. You bring an evidence-based and data-informed approach to your work.
You’ll be a confident negotiator, adept at building strong professional relationships and working effectively across a complex, networked organisation.
You will be equally committed to ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion are foundational to our activities.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
Essential
- Relevant communications and marketing experience
- Ability to write online content and manage social media accounts
- Experience in using social media management platforms
- Basic website maintenance (uploading content, video, pictures etc)
- Strong communication and relationship building skills and ability to communicate effectively with people and maintain positive relationships, deliver presentations and facilitate group discussions
- Experience in public speaking
- The ability to work at pace on multiple projects, staying organised at all times
- Ability to effectively plan and organise workload
- Strong attention to detail and able to quality check all work in line with agreed deadlines
- Discreet and able to maintain confidentiality
- A high degree of personal motivation and willingness to learn new skills, taking on challenges with enthusiasm
- Proactive can-do attitude and commitment to organisational excellence
- Capacity to work with a diverse range of people and organisations and networks
- Ability to work as part of a team by supporting colleagues and sharing knowledge and expertise as well as working unguided
- Able to work well under pressure
Current driving licence and access to own transport
Desirable
- Experience of using web content management systems to create and publish web content
- Ability to manipulate images and text for use in both on and offline communications
- Picture management (image research, sourcing pictures, liaising with picture libraries)
Duties will likely include:
Leadership and Management
- Lead effective operational delivery
- Working with the Head of Communications and Enterprise to develop a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy to support the organisation’s 5-year strategy
- Support the wider team to ensure communications content is produced across all areas in which we work, promoting our services
- Promote the marketing and communications function across the whole organisation
- Ensure all staff and volunteers are SAFER recruited and are supported through 1:1s and appraisals
- Complete an annual training matrix for all staff and co-ordinate team meetings, peer support sessions, training and development sessions
- Ensure all risk assessment processes, health and safety and safeguarding concerns are recorded, reported and escalated appropriately
- Take part in quarterly quality and performance processes
- Create and manage P&L’s for all commissioned work
- Manage relevant and appropriate departmental budgets
- Lead, advise and support with cross organisational internal and external events supporting organisational reputation and brand
Delivery and Performance
- In consultation with our Head of Communications and Enterprise annually review the Marketing and Communications Strategy to inform an annual schedule of work stream activities
- Manage the day-to-day running of our Communications and Marketing activities, with the purpose of undertaking various digital marketing and administrative tasks
- Take responsibility for reviewing and producing content for the ogranisation’s websites, digital marketing campaigns and the management of social media accounts (Facebook, and Instagram etc.)
- Deal effectively with feedback and enquiries received through social media and be responsible for optimising, analysing and reporting on web and social media activity as well as growing the online community and raising the awareness and profile of our clients.
- Manage effective communication throughout the organisation
- Ensure all correspondence and documents are produced in line with corporate brand guidelines
- Ensure quality compliance
- Ensure excellent customer service is offered, and all customers are dealt with in a timely and courteous manner
Quality check presentations for adherence to corporate guidelines as required
Lead external, digital, and internal communications activities for all departments
- Analyse opportunities, prioritise approaches and articulate strategies to Department Heads and relevant internal audiences to attain buy-in by all stakeholders and effectively deliver approaches to raise internal and external awareness of the Department’s work
- You will take responsibility for proactively identifying opportunities and will work with teams across both organisations to create efficient, effective ways to capture and publicise activities and achievements, using a range of media as appropriate
- Create press releases to promote the work both organisations do, building a strong relationship with local media
Growth and Development
- Develop, implement and sustain a strong volunteer offer
- Attend and contribute to local and national forums
- Seek out / identify additional work and funding streams Reporting and Communication
- Provide quality and performance reports including internal and external targets and key performance indicators as required and appropriate
- Produce communications reports detailing project performance to the Senior Leadership Team, Board of Trustees or contractual Managers/Commissioners
- Produce monthly internal newsletters for both People First and The Well Communities
- Lead the team to think about how both organisations publicise the impact of the services we deliver and the impact on our customers and communities
Networking and Relationships
- Identify and nurture effective relationships with external stakeholders and commissioners
- Network with relevant media partners including sub-contracting work to graphic designers when required
- Act as a senior ambassador for the organisation
- Work closely with our CEO and Senior Leadership team to ensure their Indeed accounts reflect the values of the organisations and reflect their perspective on national changes within the sectors we work.
Crisis Communications
- Manage, diffuse, and navigate through public relations crisis situations and ensure that communications during a crisis are handled effectively and efficiently
- Develop and implement crisis communication plans and strategies – continually review and suggest improvements
- Provide advice and guidance to senior leadership on potential public relations risks and opportunities
- Co-ordinate with all departments to manage the timely dissemination of information
- Monitor media coverage and public reaction, adjusting strategies as needed, this includes establishing and managing relationships with media outlets
- Train staff and other stakeholders in crisis communication protocols and procedures
- Co-ordinate with legal team to ensure all communications are within legal parameters
- Prepare statements, press releases, and other communications materials during a crisis
Other duties
Evening and weekend work may be required.
- The duties outlined above are not intended to be exhaustive and may change as the needs of the organisation alter in line with current agendas. Due to the developing nature of our organisation, we require staff to remain highly flexible in their approach, and work to meet the changing needs of the projects.
- Please note that the successful candidate will be required to subscribe to the DBS update service which requires all People First staff to pay an annual subscription fee.
Driving
A current driving licence and access to own transport is required for this role.
This post requires you to have the appropriate ‘business use’ insurance in place as occasional business use of your car is required to carry out tasks, such as (but not limited to) the following:
- Travel to customer or business meetings
- Running business errands during the day
- Travel between different People First business sites
- Transporting colleagues/volunteers/members/customers or business contacts, for example, to business meetings or self-advocacy groups
- Making deliveries or collections
- Carrying extra equipment
For more information
If you’d like any further information about the role or if you have any questions, please contact our Head of Business : [email protected]
To apply
If you’re interested in the role and think you’d be a good fit, we’d like to hear from you.
To apply for this position, please email a copy of your CV including details of two references, to [email protected] or alternatively, you can post for the attention of Barry to People First Conference Centre, Milbourne Street, Carlisle, CA2 5XB
All applications should be clearly marked: Confidential – Marketing and Communications Manager.
To arrive no later than 5.00 p.m. on 23rd February (this date may change depending on the volume of applications).
Interviews to take place 27th February 2026.