Communications Manager

Job summary

ESRC
Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type: Open ended – programme funding is fixed term until 31 March 2031
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (Minimum 0.8 FTE).
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available. Regular travel to London office required.

Closing Date: Monday 27th April 2026.

Job description

About the role

ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UK’s wealth of public sector data, to enable better informed policy decisions that improve people’s lives. The programme is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The partnership is coordinated by a UK-wide Strategic Hub which promotes the benefits of administrative data research to the public and the wider research community, engages with UK Government to secure access to data, and manages a dedicated research budget. During this new investment period, policy impact will also be a growing area work for the programme.

This post is part of an established and growing Communications and Engagement team within the ADR UK Strategic Hub. The team has oversight and strategic responsibility for the full range of ADR UK’s communications activities, including digital (website content, social media channels and audio visual), publications, events and media relations, as well as stakeholder, and public engagement. The team is also responsible for supporting all ADR England-funded grant holders and related projects.

Reporting to the Senior Communications/Content & Engagement Managers, the Communications Managers will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the daily delivery of a variety of ADR UK communications workstreams and projects, with the opportunity to take on some projects end-to-end. The roles also offer the opportunity to bring forward new and innovative ideas to help us improve every aspect of what we do.

These are exciting opportunities to develop your skills and help us further develop our communications function in a busy, supportive environment.

Your Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Project manage activities on behalf of the team to ensure we deliver on time and at high quality for a busy set of workstreams
• Manage daily and medium-term evaluation and reporting processes
• Help maintain and improve our Teams site, websites and digital channels
• Day-to-day management of our media, journalist and other stakeholder outreach lists
• Support our press inbox monitoring
• Support with issuing press releases, media opportunities and with reactive enquiries
• Support our news and comms planning gird process
• Co-ordinate with other teams in comms to represent the team at suitable events and activities
• Produce communications content both written and in other formats with support from Senior Managers
• Support with the organising and running of ADR UK and/or ADR England events.
• Support the ADR UK Strategic Hub to map and manage ADR UK and/or ADR England stakeholders.

You may be required to undertake other appropriate duties to support the delivery of the ADR UK and ADR England Communications and Engagement Strategy.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential Criteria

• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and partners. (S&I)
• Resilience, multi-tasking and ability to work autonomously to tight deadlines. (S&I)
• Ability to absorb, evaluate and communicate information appropriate to the audience. (S&I)
• Attention to detail. (S)
• Good problem-solving skills and lateral thinking. (S)
• Flexibility to adapt to change and new challenges. (S)
• Project management experience. (S&I)
• Experience of working in a communications or engagement setting. (S&I)
• Experience of working on digital channels and/or website content manage systems, or an interest to learn to do so. (S&I)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,841, UK Research and Innovation contributes £10,962 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
• Flexible working options

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

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

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

Job contact :

• Name : UKRI Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@ukri.org