Communications and Engagement Manager

CSET Sports Partnership; Alveston, Worle; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust in Alveston is seeking a Communications and Engagement Manager to lead and innovate strategies during a critical merger. This role involves working closely with Trust Leaders to ensure that the vision and values resonate among all stakeholders, fostering a united culture. Ideal candidates will have strong strategic thinking skills and a passion for making a meaningful impact in education. The position offers competitive benefits and a full-time contract with flexible working hours.

Benefits

Generous Local Government pension scheme

Up to 30% discount with Microsoft & Dell

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Life Assurance - 3 x Death in Service

Dedicated counselling service

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic communication and engagement.
• Ability to thrive in complex, high-impact environments.
• Passion for education and organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver innovative communication strategies.
• Build clarity and confidence among staff and stakeholders.
• Lead communications during a significant merger.

Skills

Strategic communication

Engagement strategy design

Adaptability

Trust building

Job description

* Communications and Engagement ManagerNEWFast Apply# Communications and Engagement ManagerEmployerLocation: Alveston, South GloucestershireContract Type: PermanentHours: Full TimeSalary: CSET 5 (£44,075 FTE)Posted: 4th February 2026Start Date: As Soon As PossibleExpires: 22nd February 2026 11:59 PMContract Type: PermanentStart Date: As Soon As PossibleJob ID: 1532997Start Date: As Soon As Possible* Contract Type :Permanent* Job ID: 1532997* Share :**Job title**: Communications and Engagement Manager**Grade**: CSET5 (from £44,075 FTE per annum)**Closing date**: Sunday 22nd February 2026**Interviews**: 3rd March 2026**Working hours**: up to 37 per week. Flexible working hours are welcomed.**Location**: You will work across 2 sites as required; Marlwood and Worle, with some hybrid working supported.Great communication changes culture, and great culture improves student outcomes.We are seeking our first Communications and Engagement Manager to play a pivotal role in bringing together two Multi-Academy Trusts into a single, unified Pathway Trust. This is a rare opportunity to lead communications at a defining moment of change, ensuring our merger is not only operationally successful but genuinely felt, understood, and embraced by our people and communities.**About the role**Working with Trust Leaders, and reporting to the Director of People, you will design and deliver innovative, engaging communication and engagement strategies that bring our Trust’s vision, values, and educational priorities to life. Your work will build clarity, confidence, and enthusiasm across staff, Trustees, community councillors, parents, and wider stakeholders — helping everyone feel part of the Pathway Trust journey from day one.**About You**We are looking for a strategic communicator who thrives in complex, high-impact environments and wants to make a meaningful difference in education. You will be a champion of the belief that communications do not just share information—they shape culture, values, and behaviours.**Ideally, you are someone who:*** Places people at the heart of everything you do.* Is a strategic thinker, capable of designing engagement strategies that align with broader organizational goals.* Is adaptable and resilient, ready to navigate a significant period of organizational change.* Is passionate about building trust and fostering a unified culture.* If you’re a strategic communicator who thrives in complex, high-impact environments and want to make a meaningful difference in education, we’d love to hear from you.Castle School Education Trust (CSET) is a vibrant family of schools united by one powerful ambition: to deliver a great education for every child.Spanning four secondary and five primary schools across South Gloucestershire, we’re proud of our strong track record in school improvement, rising pupil numbers, and consistently improving outcomes. Each of our schools has a distinct identity shaped by the community it serves—and we celebrate that uniqueness while sharing expertise, resources, and support across the Trust.You will be joining us at an exciting time, as we work collaboratively with eleven schools from TPLT in North Somerset, with an aim to join to form Pathway Trust in the future.**We can offer you:*** Commitment to CPD and development of all staff including collaborative support and instructional coaching to allow employees to thrive* Commitment to inclusivity and fostering of diversity* Values and vision that are lived not laminated* Open and honest culture* Generous Local Government pension scheme* Up to 30% discount with Microsoft & Dell* Discounted gym membership* Life Assurance - 3 x Death in Service* Cycle to work scheme* Dedicated counselling serviceIn order to apply for this role please complete an application form by 23.59, 22nd February. Interviews are due to take place on 3rd March. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the process.Please know that depending on the number of applications received we may decide to close the advert early. If you do not hear from us by a week after the closing date then please assume that you have not been shortlisted for an interview.*Join us in Providing a Great Education for Every Child**CSET is committed to equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities, as we recognise the importance and benefit this has for our pupils.*### Attachments### Safeguarding Statement:CSET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.### Castle School Education TrustPart of### Castle School Education Trust