Governance Officer
Job Title: Governance Officer
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Key Relationships: Trustees, Co-opted Advisors, Senior Leadership Team, Corporate Services
Location: Central London, Hybrid
Term/Hours: 2 years fixed term, 0.5 FTE Over 3 days
Salary: £26,000-30,000 pro rata depending on experience
‘Communication is one of the most important things, and I feel the ESU has set us up for life.’ ESU Schools’ Mace 2024 participant
Oracy gives young people the skills and confidence to shape their lives and to build a more connected and cooperative world.
Both nationally and internationally, public discussion and political debate are increasingly polarised and divided. Social media, fake news and new technologies such as AI can create echo chambers, where claims pass unchallenged, and different views are hard to find. The English-Speaking Union shows that there is a more constructive and collaborative path. The ESU was founded in 1918 to build greater understanding and friendships between people and nations. We are an educational charity with international reach, with an ESU in over 50 countries. Today our work is focussed on training young people in oracy – speaking and listening skills, in critical thinking and self-expression – to build skilful communicators and engaged citizens and leaders.
Overview of the Team
The Corporate Services team provides essential strategic and operational support across the organisation. Our governance function oversees compliance, risk management, and performance frameworks. The finance team manages budgets, financial planning, and reporting. All of this contributes to effective decision making. We are also responsible for looking after our properties, which includes maintaining oversight of two commercial leases, and maintaining Dartmouth House which is a grade II* listed events venue and our Head Office in Mayfair.
Purpose of this role
The Governance Officer will provide high quality secretariat support to the Board of Trustees and its sub-Committees, and effective administrative support to the Chief Operating Officer.
This role will work closely with the Executive Assistant to the Director General.
Closing Date 24 March 2025
For more information, please download the job description.
Please apply by sending you CV and covering letter to [email protected]
If you have any questions or require support with your application, please also contact [email protected].
Marketing & Communications Manager
Job Title: Marketing & Communications Manager
Reports to: Director of Global Engagement
Direct reports: Marketing Coordinator
Location: Central London-Hybrid
Term/Hours: Full-time/ Part- time negotiable, hours to be agreed but ideally 0.6 FTE.
Salary: £50,000 pro rata
About the English-Speaking Union
‘Communication is one of the most important things, and I feel the ESU has set us up for life.’ Schools’ Mace 2024 participant
Oracy gives young people the skills and confidence to shape their lives and to build a more connected and cooperative world
Both nationally and internationally, public discussion and political debate are increasingly polarised and divided. Social media, fake news and new technologies such as AI can create echo chambers, where claims pass unchallenged, and different views are hard to find. The English-Speaking Union shows that there is a more constructive and collaborative path.
The ESU was founded in 1918 to build greater understanding and friendships between people and nations. We are an educational charity with international reach, with an ESU in over 50 countries.
Today our work is focussed on training young people in oracy – speaking and listening skills, in critical thinking and self-expression – to build skilful communicators and engaged citizens and leaders.
The English-Speaking Union and our work is more important now than ever.
Main purpose of the role:
To develop and deliver our marketing and communications plans to engage with customers and key audiences including educators and students, supporters, partners and staff.
- Work with the Director of Global Engagement to define the focused marketing and communications plans that will support the ESU’s corporate strategy and objectives. Define key audiences and work across all channels, including digital, search, social media, email, print, and PR.
- Work closely with the Education function to develop and deliver integrated, audience-first marketing campaigns that use the most appropriate channels to drive engagement with the ESU and sales of our education programmes.
- Work closely with the Engagement function to define and deliver the communications plans needed to recruit, retain, and work with our supporters (members, volunteers, donors, alums) and support the national ESUs and our international work.
- Support our Fundraising function in developing the case for support, communications and materials.
- Lead on capturing and creating compelling content for marketing and communications across all channels, including video and written testimonials.
- Help the Senior Leadership Team create and manage clear, simple, coherent key messages that drive and are reflected in all our communications.
- Maintain, develop, and enhance the ESU website and overall digital presence, as well as manage ESUs digital channels day-to-day.
- Work with the Director of Global Engagement to develop and deliver social media plans that support corporate and functional strategies.
- Continue the development of ESU’s organic and paid-for media strategy across channels.
- Day-to-day liaison with external agencies, for example, web and PR
- Define and deliver our internal communications
- Develop our PR plans as those are developed and directed by the Director of Global Engagement
- Work closely with the ESU’s Editor on all aspects of public facing Communications.
- Report on the performance of marketing and communications campaigns
For more information, please download the job description.
To apply, please email a copy of your CV and a covering letter to [email protected].
If you have any questions or require support with your application, please also contact [email protected].
Other roles
The ESU is always keen to hear from enthusiastic and experienced teachers, debaters and public speakers to:
- help us deliver our debating and public-speaking programmes, workshops and competitions
- support participants during our residential Debate Academy and the International Public Speaking Competition
These are paid roles with training provided. We cover the cost of a Child Protection Level 2 qualification and an Enhanced DBS Disclosure for all teaching staff. These roles are a great opportunity to gain practical experience and to share your skills with young people to improve their communication skills and boosting their confidence so they can realise their full potential. Working for us in this way also means you can can apply for our international debate tours which run every year in countries such as Japan, Denmark and the US. Find out more here.
Safeguarding
The ESU is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include a satisfactory Enhanced criminal record with Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service. Read our safeguarding policy here.
Volunteering
Interested in volunteering for the ESU or applying to be a volunteer judge with us? Then why not out more about our volunteer programme?
I took part in ESU competitions throughout school and I really wanted to give back and become a mentor myself
Constance Collard
ESU alumna and oracy trainer & mentor
Equality and Diversity Monitoring form
The English-Speaking Union is committed to providing equal opportunities in our recruitment process. Completing this form is voluntary and all information you provide will remain confidential, however, it will allow us to assess the diversity of our workforce and ensure equal opportunities for all ESU staff.
Registered charity number: 273136