Head of Campaign Strategy
Posted 8 days 23 hours ago by Royal College of Nursing
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract
Head of Campaign Strategy
RCN HQ London, 35 hours per week, 12-month fixed term contract
Salary range per annum: £79,482 to £89,238 plus a London weighting of £5,094
We're looking for a dynamic Head of Campaign Strategy to lead our influencing work to transform the future of nursing. In this high-impact role, you'll be responsible for setting the strategic direction of RCN campaigning, addressing the most pressing professional and trade union issues that affect our diverse and growing membership.
As the driving force behind our campaigning efforts, you'll create a bold, long-term plan that identifies tactics to help tackle the systemic problems within the nursing profession. You'll work across departments to unite communications, public affairs, activism, policy, nursing and employment relations colleagues under a common vision-one that aims to secure fair pay, improve safety-critical staffing levels, and end unacceptable working conditions.
In this leadership role, you'll manage a small team of strategic campaign specialists, fostering collaboration and innovation. By steering the creative development of a new, overarching campaign brand, you'll ensure our message reaches diverse audiences and builds strong alliances across political, public, and professional spheres.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in health policy and political influencing, with proven experience in health care, professional membership organisations, or sectors like NGOs, trade unions, or government, and a track record of delivering successful campaigns and public engagement.
They need to be a creative strategist, capable of working with policy teams to drive impactful advocacy, and skilled in lobbying, public mobilisation, and campaign communications. Experience managing complex projects with large budgets, leading high-performing teams, and collaborating across departments is essential.
Applicants should be adept at using data and research to shape strategy, with strong interpersonal skills to build trust-based relationships. If you're an experienced leader in strategic campaigning, with a deep understanding of how to drive political and policy change, this is your opportunity to lead a movement that will shape the future of nursing.
What we offer you
We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.
We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.
We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results whilst having a good work life balance. Our hybrid working model allows for up to 60% of your working time to be carried out from home. At least 40% of your working time will be spent working in person.
Our selection process
Please click the 'apply now' button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don't. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections.
We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.
Equal opportunities for everyone
Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients.
As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Contact details
For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Kimberley Scott, Associate Director of Communications, by email:
For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact
Opening date: 02 December 2024
Closing date: 11.59pm on 06 January 2025
Selection dates
Assessments: 22 January 2025
Interview: 29 January 2025