Programme Officer (Knowledge, Learning and Communications)
This opening has now closed.
View other opportunitiesThe Commonwealth Foundation is committed to bringing Commonwealth civil society and its citizens into the centre of discussion and decision-making around critical issues that affect their lives. As Programme Officer, Knowledge, Learning and Communications, you will work closely with the Manager in the Knowledge, Learning and Communications (KLC) team, and you will engage with civil society issues throughout the Commonwealth. You should have relevant experience in developing innovative digital content, including copy and visual media for a range of online channels. You will need to be able to produce and schedule quality content related to the Foundation’s programmes to build engagement with civil society audiences.
This position is only open to applicants with an existing right to work in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Foundation does not sponsor work visas.
The organisation
The Commonwealth Foundation is mandated by its Member States to advance the interests of Commonwealth civil society. The Foundation seeks to nurture the growth of vibrant and free societies: championing the active and constructive participation of people in all aspects of governance. Our key focus areas are climate justice, health justice and freedom of expression. Our cross-cutting themes are gender equality, small and vulnerable states, and young people.
The Foundation’s Strategic Plan, detailing what we are doing, how and why, can be accessed here. You can get a good idea of what we are currently working on in our latest Annual Report.
The programme
The Knowledge, Learning and Communications (KLC) programme captures, distils and shares knowledge and learning to strengthen the Foundation’s impact and effectiveness. The programme brings together a range of functions critical to the Foundation’s identity, coherence and visibility, including the facility to learn internally; management of information and infrastructure; leadership of the Foundation’s monitoring and evaluation work; and all aspects of our communications and outreach, including reporting.
The role
The Programme Officer (PO) will support the effective delivery of the KLC workplan. Working under the supervision of the KLC Programme Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining our websites; planning and creating content for online channels that communicates meaningful results and tells an engaging story; event coordination, facilitation and promotion; supporting media relations; supporting annual reporting and results monitoring; and supporting Foundation staff in the optimal use of communications tools and IT.
Key tasks and responsibilities
The postholder will undertake the following key tasks:
- Plan and create content for all social media channels, monitoring and reporting on social media reach and digital metrics
- Manage content for the Foundation’s websites and work with web developers to develop functionality as needs evolve
- Play a leading role in event coordination and promotion
- Work collaboratively with the other programmes, identifying opportunities to maximise synergies towards the Foundation’s vision and mission
- Guide staff in the effective use of information technology, including Zoom Webinars and databases like Airtable
- Generate writing and other media that capture ideas and best practices from our work and communicate this effectively with wider audiences
- Coordinate and support data collection and results monitoring
- Prepare copy and content for briefing notes, reports and presentations
- Guide and support staff in their communication
- Monitor and engage with sector news, trends and discussions
- Actively promote the values and aims of the Commonwealth
The individual
We seek an individual with communications experience gained in a comparable field, especially in social media, digital marketing, and website content management systems. The ideal candidate will have experience using the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. They will also have a good understanding of the Microsoft Office suite and platforms for hosting virtual meetings and webinars. They will have strong writing skills and experience in storytelling and reporting, as well as an ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders. They should have an awareness of how to ensure brand and style guidelines are reflected across communication activities. They should be comfortable acting as a first point of contact for media enquiries, as well as liaising with colleagues and external suppliers.
What we offer
Salary expectations: £32,076 – £35,605 per annum
The Foundation is proud of our welcoming and accommodating working environment. We strive to be a great place to work.
We offer generous holidays of 30 days (plus 8 bank holidays and 4 privilege days).
Fifteen per cent of your salary is payable tax-free at stipulated periods in lieu of a formal superannuation scheme.
Foundation staff have access to our private health scheme, including dental cover.
We are based in Marlborough House, Pall Mall, central London. We currently operate a flexible working policy requiring all staff to work from the office at least five days per fortnight, including every Wednesday. Applicants must be able to affirm their capacity and willingness to work within this policy.
Our commitment
The Foundation celebrates diversity, and we are proud of our diverse and welcoming team. All qualified applicants who are eligible to work in the UK will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status or pregnancy.
If you need us to make any special accommodation in the recruitment and selection process because of a protected characteristic, please let us know.
The process
Interested candidates should apply online through the link below.
The application requires you to provide a comprehensive CV as well as a motivation letter that clearly addresses the criteria as outlined in the person specification and the competencies framework.
You must possess and declare the right to work in the UK at the time of application submission for your application to be considered.
Closing date:
Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 9 am.
Interviews:
First-round interviews will be held online, in the week beginning 8 September 2025.
Second-round interviews will be held in person in the week beginning 15 September 2025 at Marlborough House, central London.
