Change Communications Manager

Newcastle City Library; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution is seeking a Change Communications Manager. This role involves leading communication strategies during significant transformations, ensuring colleagues understand and engage with new processes. Ideal candidates should possess excellent communication skills, experience in stakeholder management, and the ability to handle multiple priorities. The position includes a supportive team environment, a hybrid working model, and the opportunity to contribute significantly to organizational change efforts. Apply to make a real difference!

Benefits

Generous holiday package

Great pension schemes

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering internal communications within large or complex organisations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience developing communication strategies for change management.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Shape how we communicate change across the institution.
• Help colleagues understand and engage with new ways of working.
• Play a key role in major transformation programmes.

Skills

Excellent writing and storytelling skills

Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing abilities

Proactive and flexible mindset

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Knowledge of digital communication tools

Education

Educated to degree level

Internal communications or change management qualifications

Tools

Content management systems

Email campaigns

Social media platforms

Job description

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Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 04 Janaury 2025

The Role

Are you a strategic communicator who thrives on making change happen? Do you have a passion for storytelling that brings people with you on a journey? If so, we want to hear from you.

At Newcastle University, we’re embarking on an exciting period of transformation—and we’re looking for a Change Communications Manager to help us bring our people along with us.

This is your chance to play a key role in shaping how we communicate change across a world‑class institution. You’ll be at the heart of major transformation programmes, helping colleagues understand, engage with, and embrace new ways of working that align with our Vision and Strategy.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a confident communicator with a proven track record in change communications, ideally in a large or complex organisation. You’ll bring:

• Excellent writing and storytelling skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing abilities.
• A proactive, flexible mindset and a passion for collaboration.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Be part of a supportive, forward‑thinking team that values creativity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Work in a hybrid environment with flexibility to balance campus and home working.
• Make a real difference to how we engage and support our people through change.

If this sounds like you and you’d like to chat informally about the role, please contact Carolyn Laws at [e-mail].

How to apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria in the role description.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 4 January 2026. Interviews will take place week commencing 19th January 2026.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Proven track record in delivering internal communications within large or complex organisations, with a strong focus on change or transformation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with an ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling, and accessible content.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, including experience of influencing senior leaders.
• Experience of developing communication strategies and campaigns that support change management and drive behavioural adoption.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Competence with digital communication tools and platforms (e.g., email campaigns, content management systems, social channels).

Desirable:

• Knowledge of higher education or public sector environments.
• Experience of producing multimedia content (e.g., video or podcasts).

Attributes and Behaviour

• Diplomatic and professional, with a high degree of political awareness and sensitivity.
• Confident and approachable, able to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organisation.
• Well‑organised, self‑motivated, able to exercise initiative and prioritise workload independently, while also working as part of a collaborative team.
• A creative approach, with the ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues and manage conflict effectively.
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring communications are inclusive and accessible.
• The ability to contribute to a collaborative team culture committed to continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, or with equivalent professional communications experience.
• Internal communications or change management qualifications (e.g., CIPR, Prosci) desirable but not essential.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.