Application Guide

How to Apply for Head of Communications

at Thrive At Five

🏢 About Thrive At Five

Thrive At Five is a place-based organization focused on early childhood development across multiple UK locations. The company is experiencing organizational growth and operates in complex, community-focused environments, making it unique for professionals seeking to drive social impact through strategic communications during a critical expansion phase.

About This Role

This part-time Head of Communications role provides maternity cover until January 2027, overseeing national and local communications strategies during organizational growth. You'll lead the communications team, establish and embed communications functions, and influence senior stakeholders while supporting government policy, media, and funding activities—making this role impactful for shaping the organization's narrative during a pivotal period.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning virtual team check-ins with your communications team, developing national content strategy for early childhood initiatives, afternoon meetings with senior leadership on policy influence activities, and preparing for weekly in-person collaboration in the London office. You'll balance remote leadership with occasional travel to program sites to understand local communications needs.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Thrive At Five

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Thrive At Five Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years in strategic communications within start-ups, growing organizations, or place-based initiatives, with proven experience setting up communications functions from scratch
  • Demonstrates significant people leadership experience, specifically in developing team members and fostering collaborative cultures in remote/hybrid environments
  • Possesses strong storytelling and copywriting expertise with ability to craft clear organizational narratives for diverse audiences including government stakeholders
  • Has experience influencing senior leadership teams and supporting policy, media, and funding activities in complex organizational structures

📝 Tips for Applying to Thrive At Five

1

Highlight specific examples of establishing communications functions in growing organizations, not just maintaining existing ones

2

Emphasize experience with place-based or multi-location organizations, given the travel requirements to Stoke-On-Trent, Redcar, Middlesbrough, and Scotland

3

Demonstrate understanding of fixed-term leadership roles by showing how you've built sustainable systems and developed team capabilities for continuity

4

Include metrics showing how your communications strategies have supported funding, policy influence, or organizational growth

5

Address the hybrid work arrangement directly by showing experience leading remote teams with occasional in-person collaboration

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your experience setting up communications functions in growing organizations and how you'd establish foundations at Thrive At Five", 'Specific examples of influencing senior stakeholders and supporting policy/media activities in complex environments', "How you've developed team members and built collaborative cultures in hybrid/remote settings", 'Your approach to crafting organizational narratives for place-based initiatives across multiple locations']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Thrive At Five's current program locations and communities (Stoke-On-Trent, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Scotland)
  • → UK early childhood development policy landscape and potential government stakeholders
  • → The organization's growth trajectory and how communications might support expansion
  • → Current public presence and media coverage to identify narrative opportunities

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would establish and embed communications functions during our growth period
2 Describe your experience supporting government policy and funding activities through communications
3 How would you manage a hybrid team with weekly London office days and occasional travel to program sites?
4 Share a specific example of developing a team member's skills and building collaborative culture
5 How would you craft and communicate our organizational narrative to diverse stakeholders across different locations?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only corporate or large-organization experience without demonstrating adaptability to growing/start-up environments
  • Focusing solely on maintaining existing communications functions rather than establishing new ones
  • Neglecting to address the fixed-term nature (until Jan 2027) and maternity cover aspect in your application

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Thrive At Five !

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →