Events and Communications Manager

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust working to improve social wellbeing through research and innovation. We're seeking a creative and organised Events and Communications Manager to play a central role in helping to make sure our work makes a difference.

In this role, you will lead our ambitious programme of high-profile events, bringing together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, funders and the media to explore and debate the issues that matter most. Events at the Foundation are where ideas are tested, partnerships are built and evidence meets decision-making. From high-profile panel events, and expert roundtables to webinars and hybrid discussions, you'll lead every stage of delivery, from shaping objectives and identifying audiences through to logistics, speaker management, marketing, evaluation and follow-up. You'll continually look for new ways to make our events more engaging, more inclusive and more impactful.

This position also develops and delivering strategic communications plans to support our research funding programmes and topic areas of influence. You'll work with colleagues across the Foundation turning complex research into clear, engaging content, identify opportunities to raise the profile of our funded work and help ensure our evidence informs public debate.

You'll join a collaborative communications, policy and public affairs team at an exciting time as we continue to strengthen the Foundation's external profile and influence. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you'll have the opportunity to shape how we convene conversations, communicate evidence and build lasting relationships with audiences who can drive change.

We're looking for someone with experience managing events from start to finish, whether in person, online or hybrid, and understand what makes an event genuinely valuable for both audiences and speakers. You'll be highly organised, calm under pressure and confident managing multiple projects and collaborators at once.

You'll also be an excellent communicator and writer, with experience developing integrated communications plans and comfortable translating complex information into accessible, engaging stories and enjoy working collaboratively with subject experts to bring ideas to life.

Just as importantly, you'll have an interest in UK social policy and current affairs, enjoy building relationships with a wide range of people and be motivated by the opportunity to help evidence inform better decisions.

This is a rare opportunity to combine strategic communications with high-quality event leadership in an organisation known for its independence, credibility and commitment to improving people's lives. If you're someone who enjoys making things happen, thrives on variety and wants your work to have genuine public impact, we'd love to hear from you.

For further information about the role, please click here to download the full job description (PDF).

About us

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable trust with a mission to advance social well-being.

We achieve this by funding and undertaking rigorous research, encouraging innovation, and supporting the use of sound evidence to improve people’s lives. We tackle pressing, complex questions. Our aim is to open up opportunities and to improve lives for individuals, families and communities, within a just and inclusive society. Our work addresses the inequalities, disadvantage, discrimination and vulnerabilities that people face, and considers the social and ethical implications of scientific and technological advances.

We are the founder and co-funder of Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Ada Lovelace Institute.

We value diversity in background, skills, perspectives and life experiences. Further information on the Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work can be found +.

Further information and how to apply

The closing date for applications is 09:30am (BST) on Tuesday 1st September 2026. A first stage of interviews is then expected to take place on Thursday 10th September 2026.

If you have any questions about the role ahead of applying (or need to make an application in a different format), please email [email protected] and a member of the Nuffield Foundation’s HR team will respond to you.

We use the Applied platform to reduce potential cognitive biases in our hiring process. You will be required to complete some questions as part of this application process, and you are also required to upload an up-to-date copy of your CV. The Applied platform lets you save an application and resume it ahead of submitting before the application deadline.

Please note that for vacancies which receive a high volume of applications, we may undertake an initial screening of CVs.

All recruitment decisions are made by a person (we do not use AI tools to rate or reject applicants). We ask applicants to respond to the questions using their own experience, thinking and opinion, writing in their own tone of voice rather than using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Candidates should ensure that they are representing themselves accurately and authentically.

Further guidance on applying for job vacancies with the Nuffield Foundation and its Centres can be found on our website here.

We are committed to inclusive working practices and during the application process we commit to:

• As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the essential criteria for the job.

• making any reasonable adjustments – for example providing documents in different formats, arranging for a sign language interpreter for interviews etc

• reimbursing reasonable travel costs (and any childcare or care costs) for interviews where in-person attendance is required

Our benefits package includes:

• Genuine flexibility - we are open to requests for part-time hours, compressed working weeks, or job shares.

• 28 days holiday per annum and all public holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (prorated for part time staff).

• A salary exchange pension scheme that offers employer contributions of up to 11%.

• Life assurance scheme.

• Family leave policies that provide an enhanced level of pay.

• Cycle to work scheme, loans towards train season tickets and the option to make charitable donations via your pay.

• Regular opportunities for learning and development – including coaching, mentoring, and dedicated reading days for personal development and reflection.

• Support with your physical, mental and financial wellbeing including an employee assistance provider, a private GP service, personal health reviews with Bupa, a will and funeral planning service and a staff network of trained Mental Health First Aiders.

• A warm and welcoming workplace culture, with active peer groups and social networks to help you connect and belong.