Communications and Engagement Manager (Maternity cover)

Role summary

About Abitas Group

Abitas Group provides services for schools, individuals and organisations across the world. Our mission is to support young people, adults and organisations to be safe, well and included. We deliver services for 4,500 organisations and individuals in 50 countries, including membership, professional development, CPD, events and conferences, guidance, advice, lobbying, accreditation, consultancy and related services.

Abitas Group is a trading name of The BSA Group Services Limited and comprises the British Association of Independent Schools with International Students (BAISIS), the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), the Health in Education Association (HIEDA), the Inclusion, Equity and Leadership Association (IELA), the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA), The Institute of Boarding (TIOB) and also includes the subsidiaries BSA Group Legal Services Ltd (trading as BSA Legal) and The Athena Programme Limited.

Working at Abitas Group

Abitas Group is a remote-working organisation and is seeking an experienced, commercially minded and collaborative Communications and Engagement Manager (Maternity cover) to support the communications team.

The post-holder must have the right to work in the UK, be based in the UK, and work from, the UK. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. The postholder must also be willing to travel for meetings, conferences, media opportunities or customer visits as required. Out-of-hours work will be required from time to time.

Alongside a competitive salary, benefits include 25 days’ holiday per year plus bank holidays, three days at Christmas, a birthday day off, an excellent pension scheme with 10% company contribution, phone contribution, volunteering days and private healthcare.

The role

Abitas Group is seeking a creative, organised and commercially aware Communications and Engagement Manager to lead the day-to-day customer communications and engagement programme across the Group’s brands.

Reporting to the Head of Communications, the role turns Group priorities into high-quality, audience-focused communications that deepen engagement, strengthen reputation and encourage customers and members to take action. It combines planned delivery with the capacity to respond quickly to emerging opportunities, media activity, website changes and new organisational initiatives.

The role is central to promoting the Group’s services. A key priority is to develop more engaging, dynamic and useful content – using audience insight, storytelling, strong creative formats and effective channel planning to make communications feel relevant, timely and distinctive.

Main purpose of the job

To lead and continuously improve Abitas Group’s customer and member communications and engagement activity, ensuring campaigns, content, channels and engagement initiatives are coordinated, creative, measurable and aligned to business priorities.

Key responsibilities

Customer and member communications

• Own the delivery and quality of regular member and customer communications, including newsletters, alerts, updates and invitations across relevant Abitas Group brands.
• Develop clear editorial plans and content journeys so communications are useful, varied and engaging rather than overly promotional or repetitive.
• Work with Directors, Heads and subject specialists to shape messages, identify strong stories and translate complex information into accessible, audience-focused content.
• Support priority campaigns for CPD, events and services where agreed, with a focus on segmentation, compelling content and customer journeys rather than routine volume-led promotion.
• Maintain high editorial standards for tone, accuracy, accessibility, brand consistency and customer experience.

Engagement programmes and campaigns

• Lead established engagement initiatives such as association awards, National Boarding Week, International Boarding Day and World Boarding Staff Day, from concept and planning through to delivery and evaluation.
• Create new engagement ideas, content formats and participation mechanics that encourage members, customers and partners to contribute, share and return.
• Develop case studies, member stories, user-generated content, interviews, short-form video, podcasts or other formats where they add value.
• Review the impact of engagement activity and recommend what to stop, improve, scale or introduce.

Websites and digital content

• Oversee the day-to-day upkeep and content quality of assigned Group websites, ensuring information is current, audience-focused and aligned to business priorities.
• Brief and coordinate website changes and content improvements, working with the Communications Executive and external web supplier as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to improve user journeys, engagement and conversion through better structure, content and calls to action.
• Support larger website projects, migrations, redesigns or launches as required, including content planning, stakeholder coordination, testing and implementation.

Content, editorial and creative development

• Commission, edit and create high-quality content for websites, newsletters, campaigns, publications and partner channels.
• Develop a strong pipeline of engaging evergreen and timely content that reflects member needs, sector issues and Group priorities.
• Work closely with the Head of Communications and Communications Executive to connect editorial, media, search, social and campaign activity so content travels effectively across channels.
• Champion creative experimentation and new formats while ensuring activity remains purposeful, accessible and measurable.

Supplier management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with external suppliers such as designers, web agencies, freelancers, printers and specialist communications partners.
• Write clear briefs, agree timelines and deliverables, monitor quality and value for money, and escalate performance or budget issues to the Head of Communications.
• Coordinate internal and external contributors so work is delivered consistently, efficiently and to agreed standards.

Performance, insight and continuous improvement

• Set practical measures for communications and engagement activity and report on reach, engagement, participation, traffic, conversion and other relevant outcomes.
• Use data, audience feedback and channel insight to improve content, timing, format, targeting and customer journeys.
• Share learning with colleagues and make clear recommendations about what should change as a result of performance evidence.

Reactive communications and project work

• Maintain capacity to respond quickly to emerging issues, media opportunities, urgent member communications or reputational matters, working with the Head of Communications and senior colleagues.
• Lead or support communications for new initiatives, organisational changes, partnerships, launches and cross-Group projects.
• Provide practical communications support for major events, new services, website changes or unexpected priorities where rapid coordination is required.
• Contribute fully to wider Abitas Group priorities and undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

 Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following experience, skills and personal qualities.

Essential

• Strong experience in a communications, content, marketing or engagement role, with responsibility for planning as well as delivery.
• Excellent written and editorial skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging content for different audiences and channels.
• Experience of managing newsletters, member or customer communications and multi-channel engagement campaigns.
• Evidence of developing creative content or campaign ideas that improve engagement rather than relying on repetitive promotional messaging.
• Experience of managing website content and coordinating website improvements or digital projects.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, stakeholders and competing priorities while retaining space for reactive work.
• Experience of briefing and managing external agencies, freelancers or other suppliers, including quality, timescales and value for money.
• Confidence using data, reporting and audience insight to evaluate activity and improve performance.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to work with senior colleagues, subject specialists and external partners.
• A calm, practical and solutions-focused approach, with sound judgement when priorities change quickly.
• A high level of digital confidence and the ability to learn new systems and communications tools quickly.

Desirable

• Experience working in a membership body, professional association, education organisation, training provider or similar environment.
• Experience using WordPress, CRM/email platforms such as Salesforce and Campaign Monitor, and analytics/reporting tools.
• Experience of awards, participation campaigns, publications, podcasts, video or other engagement-led content formats.
• Experience supporting media, reputation or sensitive communications.
• Experience contributing to website redevelopment, migration or digital transformation projects.
• Understanding of the education, boarding, safeguarding, inclusion or health education sectors.

Equal opportunities

Abitas Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive working environment.

We support flexible and remote working. All employees working remotely are expected to have a suitable working environment and arrangements in place that allow them to carry out their role effectively during working hours. Remote working is not a substitute for childcare or other caring arrangements.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general duties and responsibilities of the post and may vary from time to time according to the needs of Abitas Group. It does not form part of the terms and conditions of employment.

Apply now

To join our team, please send a CV and covering letter to info@abitasgroup.com.

Should you wish to have an informal conversation about this role or Abitas Group, please contact us.

Interviews will take place W/C 2nd November 2026, with second round on 10th November 2026.

Abitas Group

+44 (0) 20 7798 1500
info@abitasgroup.com
abitasgroup.com

Our mission is to support young people, adults and organisations to be safe, well and included. 

Abitas Group is a trading name of The BSA Group Services Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 4676107. Registered address: 50 Princes Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1RJ.