Communications Manager

ESRC
Salary:37841 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band D.
Contract Type:Open ended programmefunding is fixed term until 31 March 2031
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (Minimum0.8FTE).
Location:Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire - Hybrid working available. Regular travel to London officerequired.

Closing Date: Monday 27th April 2026.

About the role

ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) is a partnership transforming the way researchers access the UKs wealth of public sector data to enable better informed policy decisions that improve peoples 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 UKs 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.

Personal 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

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)

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact

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 or contact