Communications Officer

National Housing Federation

Hours
35 hours per week

Length of contract
August 2027

About the Organisation

National Housing Federation (NHF) is a prominent membership organisation in England representing independent, not-for-profit housing associations. These housing associations are responsible for providing affordable homes to people in need and play a crucial role in addressing housing challenges across the country.

National Housing Federation plays a pivotal role in shaping the housing landscape in England. By representing housing associations and advocating for their interests, the NHF ensures that affordable housing remains a priority on the national agenda. It also supports the broader goal of creating equitable, sustainable, and thriving communities.

About the role

As a communications officer, you will plan and deliver high-quality material that informs, engages and influences the NHF’s audiences. Under the strategic leadership of the Communications and Digital Manager, you will create and implement communications strategies that expand our reach further than ever before and feel relevant at every turn. Your exceptional writing and editing skills will be applied to your own work and used to advise colleagues on messages and approach.

You will have the confidence to constructively challenge where necessary, ensuring consistency and quality in every output we produce. You’ll deploy your expertise in prioritisation to react to fast-paced projects, and work flexibly to support colleagues. This will require both the ability to work autonomously, using initiative and proactivity, and collaboratively across the wider Communications and Marketing team, to strengthen our voice.

Your enthusiasm for communications will be displayed by the creativity and innovation you bring to every project – putting our members at the heart of your work and finding new ways to spread our messages that fulfil the NHF’s mission.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Project plan and deliver external communication plans.
• Advise colleagues on all aspects of communication as part of a joined-up strategic corporate communications strategy, including tone of voice, marketing, website, and social media.
• Use strong writing skills to reach different audiences, adapting where necessary to suit our different channels.
• Summarise housing policy and complex information into clear, coherent messages that different audiences can understand.
• Work with colleagues to craft clear messages and objectives that support the NHF’s business strategy.
• Guide colleagues on the appropriate use of the corporate identity.
• Produce creative materials and content, in partnership with colleagues and external designers.
• Develop feedback and evaluation in line with key communications metrics to improve our effectiveness and reach.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• At least 2-3 years of experience in communications, digital, and similar fields.
• Experience in developing and implementing communications plans to support projects and campaigns.

Skills & Abilities:

• Devising and delivering content and communications plans.
• Excellent writing and copywriting skills.
• Ability to advise colleagues on how to communicate effectively with target audiences.
• Skilled in summarising complex information into clear, coherent messages that different audiences can understand.
• Capable of measuring communications impact and evaluating reach.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working for a membership body.
• Experience in supporting excellent digital communications and engagement.
• Confident using web content management systems and email platforms.
• Skilled in using design software.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices.
• Broad understanding of housing policy.
• Political acumen.

Compensation & Benefits

• 27 days’ annual leave + statutory holidays + three closure days over the Christmas period.
• Flexible working for all staff, including working from home/hybrid working, and flexitime/TOIL scheme.
• Attractive family-friendly policies.
• Private healthcare cover.
• Season ticket loans.
• Employee awards, training, and development opportunities.

Conditions of employment

• You must have the right to work in the UK. Please note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply for this role, please complete our online application form.
• Our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that they feel may affect their performance during the recruitment process. Please email the People team at [email protected] with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Interviews

• The interview dates w/c 8th June 2026

Policies

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are core values at the NHF, and all employees are expected to demonstrate their commitment in line with our EDI strategy. Who we are. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all staff. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with others, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

All staff at the NHF are responsible for strict compliance with our Health and Safety policies and procedures. All employees are responsible for highlighting concerns regarding health and safety so that suitable action can be taken to rectify the situation.

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