Welcome to our charity job spotlight series, where we shine a light on people and their great work in the charity sector. The series covers why they work in the sector; what their job involves; and career advice for those looking to either come into the sector or progress in their career.
Why have you chosen to work in Marketing/Communications in the charity sector?
I’ve worked in this sector for 15 years and I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s incredibly varied – over the course of my career, I’ve lobbied for more renewables, equal treatment for people with mental health conditions, fair wages, free school meals for vulnerable children and raised money to fund vital services for people with learning disabilities. For me, it’s the people who work in the charity sector that make it so special. They’re tough, compassionate, smart and strategic – fighting for the very best outcomes for the people they support.
What do you think makes someone successful in your profession?
In a MarComms role, I think it’s really important to keep your knowledge up to date – especially when it comes to digital. Someone once told me: your organisation’s competition isn’t other charities, it’s anything someone can spend their money on. You have to work out how to reach your online audience just as effectively as a huge, multinational corporation – but with only a tiny fraction of their budget. Luckily, across the sector, people are really generous with their time and there’s plenty of support and advice out there – in online forums, Facebook groups or through mentoring schemes.
Being able to trust your instincts is vital for comms, but to be confident you’re making the right call you have to stay attuned to what’s happening ‘on the ground’. That means taking the time to have honest, in-depth conversations (ideally face-to-face) with everyone from your service users to the senior leadership team. It’s a huge cliche, but listening really is the most important part of communication.
What skill/s have you learnt in your career that have proven to be the most valuable?
My first comms role was in an incredibly busy trade association press office. I had to learn how to read, then draft a response to a budget statement in under 45 minutes, pitch to national newsdesks at a moment’s notice (could anything be more terrifying to a nervy graduate?) at the same time as copyediting never-ending newsletters and technical guidance papers. Even with a supportive line manager, it was a baptism of fire, but it hardwired in me the ability to prioritise ruthlessly — a skill I’ve used every day since.
What did you personally find as the biggest challenges when making that step up into a Head of Marketing/Engagement role?
I’ve spent the majority of my career working for UK charities so making the move into international development has been my biggest challenge so far. I’m still getting to grips with a completely different landscape – new issues, new conversations, and of course plenty of new acronyms to contend with. Last week I visited some of our farming projects in rural Kenya. Meeting the passionate, self-reliant women entrepreneurs Hand in Hand supports helped everything ‘click into place,’ but I suspect my colleagues will be helping me to fill in the gaps for a few more months.
What is your proudest achievement?
Supporting my team at FareShare to put in a stellar performance during the Covid crisis. We were stretched to the limit, juggling the sudden shift to home working (plus childcare!) yet we achieved some phenomenal things over the course of that year – managing new partnerships with the UK’s biggest brands, helping to triple our volunteer base, and teaming up with Marcus Rashford’s team to secure free meals for children over the school holidays.
I’m also really proud to be a part of the team at Hand in Hand, working alongside some incredibly talented fundraisers and programme managers to help women in some of the world’s toughest places find their own way out of poverty.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to make the move into their first senior leadership role?
Choose your role carefully. Take time to understand the organisation’s culture, and, most importantly, its goals and ambitions, and how you can contribute to achieving them.
Trust your gut, find a role that truly excites you, and don’t be afraid of stepping up – it’s the only way you will continue to learn and grow in your career.
Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us Jen.
If you would like to learn more about our work in the sector or would like to be featured in our series, you can contact us here.
