Head of Communications

About this Role

The National Education Union is a powerful force for change in education, representing 500,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff, and leaders. As we undertake an extensive staffing review, this is an exciting time to join us on our journey to becoming a more agile, strategic, and powerfully coordinated trade union—ready to meet the challenges of the future and drive lasting change in education.

The NEU is the largest education union in Europe and the fourth largest union in the Trades Union Congress (TUC). We are an effective and powerful voice – championing everyone who works in education.

We are excited to be seeking a Head of Communications to lead the union’s award-winning communications department and, as a member of the union’s senior management team, to deliver a communications strategy to promote the NEU’s vision and aims to multiple audiences.

The successful candidate will lead and manage teams working on the union’s social media, e-comms, website, design and print, flagship Educate magazine and other digital and print publications.

They will provide operational oversight and leadership to an integrated communications department which recruits, retains and mobilises members, engages and influences stakeholders, and celebrates the union’s success.

We are looking for applicants with excellent people skills, professional experience in communications and a track-record of delivering at a strategic level. Candidates should be able to show an understanding of the labour movement in general and education trade unions in particular, and be passionate about finding innovative ways to promote the NEU’s priority campaigns and key policies to our members and a range of other audiences.

We offer good conditions, including a commencing salary of £89,358 per annum, including 35 days’ annual leave plus four additional paid office closure days between Christmas and New Year, and a generous defined benefit pension scheme. Salary, annual leave and office closure days will be calculated pro-rata for part-time applicants.  

Further information

Further details can be downloaded from our website at https://neu.org.uk/working-neu where applicants will be able to complete an online application on our recruitment portal. Closing date is mid-day Monday 10 November 2025.

We welcome applications from individuals seeking part-time, job-share or other flexible working arrangements.

THE UNION IS FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNIES IN ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICE