"Communications and Engagement Lead"

About Us

The position is based within the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, which is part of the School of Life Course and Population Sciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine. The department is dedicated to studying twins and other longitudinal cohorts to elucidate the genetic and environmental determinants of health and disease. Our comprehensive research portfolio includes studies and analyses of genetics, epigenetics, and the influence of environmental factors - such as lifestyle and diet - on complex diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and osteoporosis. Additionally, the department explores the ageing process and the pivotal role of the microbiome in health, making significant contributions to the fields of genetic epidemiology and public health. The department also benefits from strong collaborative partnerships at KCL, and nationally and internationally, enhancing our research impact and reach.

About the Role

We are seeking an energetic and dynamic communicator with a passion for science communication and engagement. The research programme at the Department is expanding and we are looking for someone to lead on research communications and engagement across multiple new and existing studies. You will lead the development and delivery of external communications across the Department of Twin Research. The role will deliver inclusive strategies to engage underrepresented groups and enhance participant recruitment and experience, while also raising the profile of our resources, researchers and study findings with the public and scientific community.

You will be a strong content creator with experience in multi-channel communication campaigns. You will design and deliver communications across press, newsletters and websites to events, videos and social media. The post also involves developing clear participant communications, supporting recruitment and retention, and helping shape public engagement activities.

A key part of the role will be working closely with our Volunteer Advisory Panel (VAP) and through patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) activity, ensuring participant voices are represented and help guide our engagement strategies.

Alongside this, you’ll work with colleagues across King’s, NHS partners, advisory groups and community organisations to coordinate activities and build networks. You’ll also line manage the Communications and Engagement Officer and contribute to embedding good practice across the team.

This is a full time maternity cover post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for 31 December 2026 or until the return of the substantive post holder.

About You

Essential Criteria

1. Educated to degree level in a relevant area
2. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience with developing campaigns to engage participants in health research
3. Strong presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage the public, participants, partners and stakeholders at all levels, including across multiple studies and affiliated centres
4. Experience in a professional communications and engagement role within research, health or science, including Patient and Public Involvement and preparing sensitive participant-facing communications
5. Thorough knowledge of a broad range of communications disciplines, including content creation, (e.g. websites, events, marketing, social media, podcasts, video, publications) internal communications, digital, social media and public relations, demonstrating excellent IT and digital skills, databases, social media, and web/digital content management
6. Ability to comprehend complex situations quickly, providing creative solutions to ensure results are achieved and objectives are met with tactful interpersonal skills
7. Ability to plan, organise and deliver multimedia outputs such as videos, webinars and online resources in a timely manner, aligned with project needs
8. Highly self-motivated, proactive and able to work independently as well as collaboratively, with strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills

Desirable Criteria

1. Educated to master’s level in science communications or equivalent science communication training/experience
2. Experience working with external contractors such as web developers, producers, film crews and community engagement groups
3. Experience of media relations, including liaising with journalists to promote research
4. Experience of developing communications campaigns and creating content that effectively engages adolescents
5. Line management, training or mentoring experience

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held on or around the 27th October 2025.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.

Grade and Salary: £45,031 - £52,514 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 125626

Close Date: 02-Oct-2025

Contact Person: Vicky Bowyer

Contact Details: Vicky.bowyer@kcl.ac.uk