Current vacancy
Type: Fixed term contract
Duration: 2 years
Location: A mix of working remotely and in the McPin office (Bethal Green, London)
Salary: Starting from £46,637 per annum FTE (point 22)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Do you want to ensure mental health research has a real-world impact?
Can you lead strategic communications that influence researchers, policy makers and the public?
Are you an experienced, values-led communications leader who can support and inspire a busy team?
The McPin Foundation is looking for a Senior Communications Manager to lead our communications function at an exciting point in our growth. This strategic, hands-on role suits someone with excellent communications skills and strategic leadership and communications experience.
McPin is a mental health research charity working to transform how research is done by putting the expertise of people with lived experience at its heart. We believe this makes research more relevant, meaningful and likely to create real-world change. Recent work has included young people’s mental health, digital mental health and virtual reality, inequalities, data sharing and artificial intelligence.
As Senior Communications Manager, you will ensure McPin’s work reaches the right audiences and has the greatest possible impact. You will lead our communications strategy, support influencing and impact work, and help colleagues translate complex research into engaging and accessible content.
You will manage and develop a communications team (two people), oversee consultants for specific projects, and work closely with colleagues, partners, people in our networks and external stakeholders. As part of the charity’s senior leadership, you will help shape organisational strategy, strengthen internal working practices and support other McPin colleagues to develop their own media and communications skills.
You will support delivery of McPin’s communications strategy, strengthen how we capture and demonstrate impact and grow our supporter base. You will bring strategic confidence, creativity and practical delivery skills, whilst working in a way that reflects McPin’s values.
Currently, most staff at the McPin Foundation are working remotely, although office spaces in London are open and available for use. This post will involve a mix of working remotely and working in London.
Our team is committed to transforming mental health research through collaboration, inclusion and a belief in equity and anti-oppressive behaviours. We strongly encourage applications from Black people, People of Colour, people who are LGBTQIA+, those with a disability and those who identify themselves in marginalised groups, as well as people with lived experience of mental health issues.
We offer benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid/flexible working, a NEST Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, wellbeing support and mentoring scheme, an individual training budget and access to an Employee Assistance Programme and healthcare cash plan with Hospital Saturday Fund.
The closing date for applications is Monday 21st September 2026 at 9.00 am.
The first stage of Interviews will take place week commencing 28th September.
To apply please download the job description and application form. In line with our values, McPin does not use AI in its recruitment processes, all applications will be read by our team.
Queries to [email protected] if you have any questions about the post.
Why work at McPin
Here are just a few reasons to join the team.
- Pension scheme with NEST with an employer contribution of 6%, and a choice of funds including an ethical and Sharia fund
- A longstanding organisational commitment to wellbeing at work
- Mentoring scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 helpline and up to eight counselling sessions if needed
- Sick pay commensurate with length of service, up to 16 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay after five years
- Access to external advice and support through Occupational Health and Access to Work
- Specsavers eye test vouchers
- Annual employee wellbeing survey (but feedback is welcome anytime)
- Induction programme with introduction to our mission and values, as well as the McPin team. Programme also includes training courses in safeguarding and lived experience at work
- Individual training budget for all core staff, which can be spent on courses, webinars, workshops, conferences or other training opportunities relevant to you
- Access to McPin internal training sessions and external speakers programme
- Social groups including presentation club, book club and a meditation group
- Annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays, with extra days given in your third, fourth and fifth year, up to a maximum of 28 days plus bank holidays
- Hybrid working as standard, with our office near Bethnal Green/Cambridge Heath available with bookable meeting room allowance
- Flexible working options with ability to set working hours that suit you around our core hours of 10am-4pm
- Ability to apply for sabbatical/extended leave after two years with us
Disability confident
The McPin Foundation has signed up to Disability Confident Scheme. As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we have committed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as required and support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long–term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.
Nothing catch your eye?
You can still contribute to mental health research – just visit our Get Involved page to check out our lived experience involvement and participation opportunities. No research experience needed!
