Communications Manager - Partnerships

Communications Manager - Partnerships

Contract type: 12 Months Fixed-term contract Full Time, 35 hours per week

Location: London, UK

UK hybrid working a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: £47,423 per year with excellent benefits

We offer competitive, market-aligned starting salaries. While most roles are offered at the advertised starting salary, we may adjust this in exceptional cases depending on a candidate s experience, skills, and potential.

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the team

The Brand and Strategic Communications team is a strategic, collaborative and creative function focussed on driving WaterAid s advocacy, brand and fundraising objectives. We lead the development of brand and communications strategies to inspire audiences and support organisational goals, working closely with colleagues across the Communications and Fundraising directorate and with external partners.

About the role

As one of our Communications Managers, you will manage the delivery of communications strategies for corporate partnerships working closely with WaterAid s Communications and Fundraising directorate and key partners to drive sustainable change.

In this role, you will:

• Manage the development and execution of communications strategies for WaterAid s flagship partnerships, specialising in maximising brand impact and income-raising potential.
• Originate and develop stand out creative ideas for partnership campaigns and activations, leading cross-functional project teams to shape and deliver integrated activities that cut through.
• Act as the primary communications adviser for partnership managers and corporate partners, identifying communications opportunities and advising on strategic messaging, content and tactics that meet partnership objectives.
• Ensure insight led and on-brand messaging and creative which resonates with target audiences.
• Advise on best use of project budget to meet objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of communications activity, fostering a proactive and positive approach to learning and improvement.
• Champion WaterAid s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.

To be successful, you will need:

• Proven experience designing and executing high-impact brand or corporate partnership communications strategies, ideally for a non-profit organisation.
• Strong track record of developing and delivering integrated communications campaigns across owned, earned, shared and partner channels, targeting a range of audiences.
• Demonstrable ability to generate creative and innovative ideas, with examples turning audience insight into compelling campaign activity.
• Highly collaborative and able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and motivate others in a cross-functional project setting.
• Ability to brief, critique and develop creative work constructively, with a good eye for brand, design, film and photography.
• Excellent organisation and project management skills, able to drive projects forward while navigating competing priorities.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications impact, using data and insight to drive learning and improvement.

Closing date: Applications close at 12:00 PM UK time on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. First round interviews will be held the week commencing June 8th on Microsoft Teams. Second round interviews will be held the week commencing June 15th in our offices in Canary Wharf.

How to apply: Click Apply to complete the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and cover letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre employment screening: To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

• 36 days holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave
• Employer pension contribution up to 10 %
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Season ticket loan
• Free annual eye tests
• Give as you Earn charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
• Sabbaticals
• One paid volunteer day each year

As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a well-deserved break.

These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances.

Our Global Commitment:

Our people promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change !