Communications and Engagement Officer (Dormant Assets NI)

The National Lottery Community Fund

Belfast, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Communications

Full time

£27,750 per year

Job summary

Are you a confident communicator who enjoys building relationships and creating engaging content for a wide range of channels?

Are you passionate about the power of community organisations to improve lives?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity in our Communications & Engagement directorate, where you'll play a key role in delivering impactful communications focused on our Dormant Assets funding in Northern Ireland.

Job description

In addition to National Lottery funding, The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding through the Dormant Assets scheme. Dormant Assets funding in Northern Ireland supports community organisations to become more sustainable and resilient, strengthening areas such as governance, digital capability and organisational development.

Background on Dormant Assets NI

In addition to being a distributor of National Lottery funding, The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money released for social purpose as laid out in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 and the Dormant Assets Act 2022.

This legislation enables funds from dormant bank accounts and other financial products to be channelled towards good causes in the United Kingdom through an independent body called the Reclaim Fund.

Funds are distributed to The National Lottery Community Fund, which in turn makes them available for good causes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each devolved administration issues policy directions on how these funds are to be used.

The policy directions issued by the Department of Finance in September 2019 directed The National Lottery Community Fund to establish Dormant Assets NI to build capacity, resilience and sustainability in the third sector across Northern Ireland.

ResponsibilitiesWorking within the Communications Strategy team, you’ll lead communications activity for Dormant Assets NI. You will focus on raising awareness of the programme, engaging with organisations and sector networks, and sharing learning and impact through a range of channels.

The role combines proactive communications, relationship building, and close working with Policy and Engagement colleagues to support meaningful engagement with the voluntary and community sector. Responsibilities will include:

Working with the Communications team, lead on communications activity for Dormant Assets NI, including regular funding announcements and programme milestones, ensuring messages reach the right audiences through appropriate channels
Building and maintaining relationships with sector bodies, networks and specialist media, working closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Policy and Engagement, to amplify awareness of Dormant Assets funding.
Working closely with the Dormant Assets NI team and the NI Customer Engagement team on the planning and delivery of grant-holder and learning events (in-person and virtual).
Working with the Fund’s media team, you will lead on announcements, handle dormant-assets-related press requests, and contribute to reactive communications where required.
Developing impact-focused content, including case studies, newsletters, and web content to demonstrate programme outcomes and learning.
Planning, writing and scheduling social media content to proactively promote Dormant Assets funding, impact and learning.
Working directly with grant holders to gather stories of impact, quotes and visual content, including site visits to supported organisations.
Liaising with the Department of Finance, Reclaim Fund and partners to support programme visibility, stakeholder communications, project visits and photo opportunities.
Contributing to reporting and accountability requirements, including quarterly updates for the Reclaim Fund, reporting to the Department of Finance, and using internal systems and CMS tools to maintain accurate records and project summaries.

About you

You are a confident and engaging communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills.

You enjoy building relationships and working with a wide range of people and organisations.

You may already have experience working with, or communicating with, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, or be keen to deepen your understanding of the sector and the context in which it operates in Northern Ireland.

You can plan and deliver communications activity using a variety of channels and adapt your approach to suit different audiences.

You are organised and proactive, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage a busy and varied workload.

You are collaborative, approachable and motivated by supporting the work of organisations that contribute to stronger communities.

Interview Details:

Interview Date: 29 June 2026

Format: Virtual

Location: Northern Ireland, Hybridwith office based in Belfast

If you would like an informal conversation about the role specifically, please contact: kate.richardson@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

For any questions about the recruitment process, please email: recruitment@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Person specification

How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential

Strong communications skills, both written and oral.
Experience in delivering integrated communications activity, using a variety of channels and methods.
Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders and to develop strong relationships.
Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
A good understanding of Northern Ireland’s voluntary and community sector, public policy environment and the context in which Dormant Assets NI operates.

Desirable

Experience of working in or communicating with the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
An understanding of third sector networks, media and stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
Experience organising both in-person and virtual external meetings and networking events.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,750, The National Lottery Community Fund contributes £8,039 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

A full list of our benefits can be found on our website.

Generous Civil Service Pension Scheme
Flexible working
Enhanced paid maternity/ paternity leave
Paid volunteering leave
Season ticket loan

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the above essential and desirable criteria. We will use this to score your application.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£27,750 per year