We are hiring a Communication and Content Manager, Challenge Works

Summary

Challenge Works is a global leader in designing and delivering prizes that incentivise innovative solutions to the world’s biggest challenges in health, climate, cities, and frontier technology. We are looking for a Communications and Marketing Manager to join the communications team, to take the lead on designing and delivering high-impact prize communications strategies, while working in close partnership with the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager to identify opportunities to build, strengthen, and elevate the Challenge Works brand.

A core priority for this role will be building out our creative content capabilities. They will bring proven experience in using video, multimedia, and compelling storytelling to drive deep audience engagement and bring the human impact of our prizes to life.

Working collaboratively with project teams, they will apply their marketing and communications expertise to identify the best tactics to increase profile and brand recognition among target audiences. They will own the delivery of these communication and content projects, while working closely with the wider communications team to provide specialist expertise in areas such as media, events, and digital.

The ideal candidate will be an effective project manager, able to deliver across multiple projects simultaneously, and a collaborative communicator, capable of translating complex messages into clear, compelling narratives. They will thrive in fast-paced environments, and be skilled at juggling multiple priorities, supported by a small but skilled team with a strong culture of collaboration.

The role

• Independently design, project manage and execute comprehensive end-to-end communications and marketing strategies for our portfolio of challenge prizes, working with the programme teams to meet communications objectives and use communications tactics to support the prize’s theory of change.
• Lead the development of Challenge Works’ multimedia storytelling capabilities. Oversee the production of high-quality video, digital, and editorial content that brings the impact and stories of our innovators to life.
• Develop and deliver an always on content strategy across Challenge Works owned channels which identifies narrative arcs within individual prizes that can be leveraged to elevate the global Challenge Works brand.
• Establish and manage a tracking and reporting framework to evaluate the effectiveness of comms activity throughout a campaign, using data to provide actionable, data-informed recommendations based on insights for the Senior Communications and Marketing Manager and prize delivery teams.
• Oversee and curate a pool of external suppliers, ensuring we achieve high-quality outputs and strong value for money. Hold specific responsibility for managing and nurturing the relationship with web developers, ensuring digital products - especially prize microsites - are well-designed, functional, and delivered to spec.
• Equip prize delivery teams with high-quality comms tools and guidance. Develop and maintain practical toolkits, run training sessions, and provide tailored advice so that each team consistently applies best-practice communications and is confident in communicating its prize for maximum impact.

The person

• Significant experience managing multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns (ideally within innovation, tech, policy, or purpose-driven sectors) with demonstrable commercial or reputational impact.
• A strong track record of conceptualising and delivering creative content campaigns, with specific experience in using video and digital storytelling to engage complex audiences.
• Experience briefing and managing external creative agencies or freelancers, ensuring high-quality outputs and value for money.
• Experience developing a range of content formats including graphics, video, and audio, using platforms such as Canva or Adobe.
• Experience in managing a suite of owned channels, including social media management tools, email marketing platforms, and CMS platforms and knowledge of how to maximise the mix of web, socials and newsletters for brand awareness and developing content suitable for use across all.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work with and support multiple teams efficiency and effectively
• A flair for communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively, verbally and in writing, with proven ability to translate complex topics around entrepreneurship, business, technology, and science into clear, accessible and effective communications products

What we offer

Salary: Circa £50,700 plus an array of benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more

Location: Hybrid, with two days per week in the London office. We ask that our team attend the office on Tuesday and Thursday.

Term: Permanent

Hours: We are flexible between 22.5 to 37.5 hours per week, please state your preferred hours in your application

Flexibility: We offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Reports to: Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, Challenge Works

About Nesta

Nesta is a research and innovation foundation that designs, tests and scales solutions for the biggest challenges of our time.

Driven by a vision to improve the lives of millions of people, our focus up to 2030 is on three missions: breaking the link between family background and life chances, halving obesity and cutting household carbon emissions.

We work with partners across the public, private and third sectors to develop high-potential solutions and test them as they evolve, drawing on deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, data science, behavioural science and design.

Once confident in the effectiveness of a solution, we are relentless in the pursuit of scale. We create and make the case for ambitious national policy proposals, develop consumer-facing products and services, spin out and support commercial ventures and harness the power of the arts to shape national narratives.

We extend our impact through two specialised units that help others to solve complex problems and achieve their missions. BIT applies a deep understanding of human behaviour to help clients achieve their goals. Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society.

Together, we are building a powerful ecosystem for innovation that delivers proven solutions to create lasting, positive change.

Find out more at nesta.org.uk.

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter before Wednesday 15th July 2026

Interviews will take place w/c 27th July 2026

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.