Details
Type of Employment: Full-time employee (40 hours/week)
Anticipated Start: January
Starting Salary Range: London: £40,000 – £45,000 per annum (Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location)
Location: UK with ability to commute into London several times per month. All Shift team members work remotely, with occasional in-person engagement. All applicants require existing permission to work in the relevant location.
About Us & The Role
Shift is the leading centre of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Our team works with businesses, investors, governments and civil society worldwide to put respect for people’s dignity at the heart of how business gets done.
We’re looking for a Communications Officer to help us tell that story. Working closely with our Head of Global Communications, you’ll play a central role in shaping how Shift engages audiences, manages its digital presence, and ensures our voice is clear, consistent and compelling.
This is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional who thrives in a mission‑driven environment and wants to use their skills to advance human rights, sustainability and social justice.
A full job description can be found in the text further down but in essence you’ll:
- Create and manage content on Shift’s website, social media, publications and newsletters.
- Shape messaging and campaigns that reach diverse audiences and stakeholders worldwide.
- Write press releases and statements and build relationships with media, partners and external providers.
- Ensure Shift’s brand and identity shine across every channel.
Why Join Us
- Mission driven, highly respected organisation
- Generous leave policy.
- Employer pension contribution of 5%.
- Professional development support.
- Remote‑first working with co‑working support.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At Shift, we believe the strongest teams are built on diversity of skills, backgrounds and perspectives. We know that some people, particularly those from under‑represented groups, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our mission, we strongly encourage you to apply.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio‑economic background, or any other characteristic protected under the Equality Act 2010. We particularly encourage applications from people from under‑represented ethnic groups and others not well represented in our sector.
To Apply
To apply, you will be asked to submit your CV and a one‑page letter of interest.
Deadline: 9am, 20 October 2025.
We encourage early applications, as shortlisting will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy may close once sufficient strong applications are received. We may communicate with you via an HR software application. Please whitelist notifications@app.bamboohr.com to help us avoid your spam filter
Communications Officer Job Description
Reports to: Head of Global Communications
Location: UK (remote, with travel to London on a regular basis for in person workdays)
About Shift
Shift is the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Shift’s global team of experts works across all continents and sectors to challenge assumptions, push boundaries and redefine corporate practice in order to build a world where business gets done with respect for people’s dignity.
Shift is a charitable and educational nonprofit organization with a principal place of business in New York, NY. Shift’s mission is to shape the legal standards, market incentives and leadership practices that embed respect for human rights into business. Shift works with businesses, financial institutions, governments and civil society stakeholders to help put their commitments to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into practice. Visit shiftproject.org and follow us on LinkedIn at @shiftproject to learn more about our work.
Summary / Objective
The Communications Officer is responsible for supporting the Head of Global Communications in the development and implementation of Shift’s communications plan, including managing and coordinating individual communications projects, initiatives and relationships. They help ensure that Shift’s brand is accurately represented visually, orally and in writing through their own work and the work of others, including providing editorial, design, and messaging support for both communications and programmatic initiatives. They coordinate processes to support the delivery of content in an effective and efficient manner, including working with and managing a roster of external service providers to help support delivery of Shift’s organizational strategy. They manage Shift’s websites (including hands-on content planning, editing, publishing and updates via WordPress CMS), social media channels and communications assets.
The Communications Manager will demonstrate Shift’s values in their internal and external interactions:
- Principled Pragmatism
- Purposeful Curiosity
- Respectful Collaboration
Essential Functions
The Communications Officer will carry out the following essential functions of this role:
Strategy:
- Support the Head of Global Communications in the implementation of Shift’s communications plan, including developing appropriate and cost-effective methods and external resources to support successful delivery of the strategy.
- Assist in coordinating input from Shift’s executive leadership and program leads to define and implement strategic communications priorities.
- Support the execution and roll-out of specific communications plans for projects and initiatives within and across Shift’s main programmatic areas.
Delivery:
- Support the Head of Global Communications to develop and operationalize the annual communications activity calendar, liaising with teams across the organization to coordinate and schedule content and outputs.
- Manage Shift’s websites (including hands-on content planning, editing, publishing and updates via WordPress CMS), social media channels and communications assets.
- Manage Shift’s websites (including hands-on content planning, editing, publishing and updates via WordPress CMS), social media channels and communications assets.
- Plan and produce external newsletter distributed to key stakeholders and subscribers.
- Manage a roster of high-quality freelancers and contractors to support the delivery of Shift’s communications plans and specific outputs. This could include, but is not limited to: design support, research support, SEO support, analytics support and website support. It includes management of content, design, publications and web development.
- Where necessary and appropriate, support in-house production of communications outputs (e.g. design, video, audio etc.).
- Coordinate the development of, and establish and execute, promotional plans for public outputs and other collateral, including liaison with Shift’s partners on joint collaborations.
- Draft and edit press releases and public statements on key developments and liaise with media outlets and journalists as required to support Shift’s visibility and reputation.
- Support the Head of Global Communications in monitoring, preparing for and responding to potential crisis communications or reputational risk situations, ensuring timely and coordinated messaging.
- Support the delivery of online events and webinars (e.g. hosting and managing Zoom webinars), ensuring smooth technical delivery.
- Lead the communications implementation of special initiatives (such as the John Ruggie Library), working with external providers as needed.
Brand & Identity:
- Support and collaborate with the Head of Global Communications to ensure that Shift’s brand – both visually and through messaging – is consistently, accurately and effectively represented on Shift’s own channels (e.g., newsletter, website, social media accounts) and in external media. This includes maintaining (and developing in-house or using external consultants as may be required) core assets, including templates, house style guides, guidance on branding, identity and tone.
Organisational Projects:
- Maintain monitoring and evaluation procedures at regular agreed-upon intervals; incorporate and disseminate learnings on best practices as appropriate.
- Contribute to internal organizational projects, including planning and evaluation.
- Ensure that essential administrative tasks are completed on time, including those related to projects.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- This position does not currently include line management responsibilities, but may involve supervising interns, consultants, or vendors as needed.
Person Specification
Required Background, Skills & Experience:
- Professional experience in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a similar area.
- Experience supporting the delivery and implementation of strategic and operational communications plans.
- Demonstrated experience of managing communications projects that reflects organizational skills, attention to detail and process management.
- Experience of using content management systems (ideally WordPress) for website content creation, editing and publishing.
- Strong writing skills with demonstrated ability to translate technical language into compelling content for diverse audiences, including public statements, press releases, web and social media content.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- Copy editing and proofreading experience in English, including correcting and reviewing written materials for accuracy, readability, fitness for purpose and consistency of tone.
- Experience identifying, selecting and managing external contractors or vendors on larger scale projects where additional support is needed.
- Experience with email automation platforms to design and send publications, newsletters and mass (ideally, with Mailchimp or similar).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, namely PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
- Experience working independently and collaboratively with a small team, and comfortable with adapting to changing situations.
Desired Background, Skills & Experience:
- Skills in design (Adobe Creative Cloud) and media production.
- Experience using Creative Cloud programs; such as InDesign, Illustrator, and/or Photoshop to independently and efficiently develop visually appealing layouts, outputs and graphic resources.
- Experience working in human rights, social justice, sustainability or other related fields.
- Budget management experience.
- Other languages (especially French, German, Spanish) are an asset.