Senior Communications Manager (What Works Hub for Global Education)

About the Blavatnik School of Government

Our vision is of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed. We are a global school committed to improving the quality of government and public policymaking worldwide, through three routes: teaching current and future leaders; generating research with impact; and engaging with governments and practitioners.

What we offer

The School is a collaborative, friendly, and dynamic department based in an award-winning building in Oxford. We host regular events and talks with well-known guest speakers – all of which are open to staff. On the social side, we have regular coffee/cake mornings for staff, a family-friendly Halloween event, and Christmas and summer parties.

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days’ annual leave
• Family leave schemes and a comprehensive range of childcare services
• Cycle loan scheme and discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs
• Opportunities for hybrid working

More information about working at the School can be found on our jobs page.

About the role

Reporting to the Programme Director of the What Works Hub for Global Education, you will communicate the programme’s mission and findings to a range of audiences – from policymakers in target countries, to leading global academics and international organisations. This will involve overseeing and delivering the Hub’s communications strategy, managing the Hub’s website and social media channels, creating and disseminating content, and coordinating with implementation partners in country, as well as offering a range of hands-on support as part of a tight project team. The role will involve working closely with our strategic and consortium partners, to ensure that communications and engagement activities are targeted effectively to different audiences and country contexts.

You will be based within the What Works Hub at the Blavatnik School of Government, as part of the Hub’s central programme team. You will also have strong links to the School’s corporate Communications and Events team, who will provide senior guidance and support on communications and engagement. You will be supported by, and line-manage, a Communications and Projects Officer.

This role is fixed-term until 30 June 2027.

Whilst the role is a Grade 8 position, we would be willing to consider candidates with less experience for which an appointment would be at Grade 7 (£39,424 - £47,779 p.a.) with the job title and responsibilities adjusted accordingly. This would be discussed with applicants at interview/appointment where appropriate.

About you

You will be a communications professional who wants to make a contribution on important global issues and is passionate about improving education outcomes. You proactively support broader team activities, stepping in where needed, while still ensuring you deliver on your core duties. You can get your head around research and policy ideas easily, and are comfortable working with academics. You are responsive enough to deliver fast on their priorities and win trust, but assured enough to offer ideas about more effective or efficient ways to deliver their objectives.

You must be a self-starter who is confident working in a matrix style, can cope with complexity and ambiguity, and can define, schedule and drive your own objectives and activities based on a strong understanding of the programme objectives. The role also demands excellent writing skills, digital fluency, and the ability to get to grips with complex concepts and networks.

You will be able to promote the Hub’s thinking, evidence and stories to a broad audience, including policymakers worldwide, working strategically with partners to build the Hub’s credibility as the go-to place for excellence on learning outcomes.

You will have excellent strategic thinking and interpersonal skills, experience of working with partners globally, experience of writing articles and copy for websites, and demonstrable editorial judgement. Strong project management and proven delivery skills, along with relevant work experience and demonstrable experience using social media in a professional communications capacity, are essential.

Application process

Please upload a supporting statement that outlines how you meet the selection criteria in your own words, along with your CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is at 12 noon (UK Time) on Friday 15 May 2026.

Location: Blavatnik School of Government. Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG

Salary: £49,119 - £58,265 p.a., depending on experience

Pay Scale: STANDARD GRADE 8

Vacancy ID: 185865