Communications and Engagement Manager

ARIA Open · verified Sep 23, 2026

Hybrid London Full-time Manager Communications

At a glance

Mid-level Communications role at ARIA. London · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate £43,500–£51,500.

Estimated pay

ARIA has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.

£43,500 – £51,500

What the middle half of mid-level communications roles in London paid, among postings that did state a salary.

Worked out from 5 postings that stated pay, median £47,423. Last updated Sep 11, 2026.

RoleCommunications

SeniorityManager

LocationLondon

WorkplaceHybrid

EmploymentFull-time

PostedSep 18, 2026 · 5d ago

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Shape clear narratives from complex scientific theses with Programme Directors
Create short- and long-form stories about research breakthroughs, milestones and Creators
Set consistent, high-quality communication practices across ARIA programmes
Build targeted connections with university labs, deep-tech companies and stakeholders
Use launches, workshops and selected events to strengthen programme engagement

What you bring

Science communications, technical writing or related experience from a research or specialist setting
A scientific degree or equivalent experience handling complex technical material
A track record of engaging digital storytelling for specialist and general audiences
Strong project management, accuracy and prioritisation across competing work
Confidence adapting to evolving tools, channels and collaborative ways of working

Who this fits

You’ll suit work that combines scientific understanding, narrative development and ecosystem engagement rather than traditional press communications. The role is based at Kings Cross, London, with attendance at headquarters from Tuesday through Thursday and flexibility to work elsewhere on Monday and Friday. It is a permanent, full-time manager role.

From the employer

Salary: £60,000
Bonus: Discretionary
Location: Kings X, London; Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere
Employment Type: Permanent, full time

Closing Date: 16th October 2026

About ARIA

ARIA is a R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible.From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

Our success is shaped by one question: how will ARIA transform the lives of the UK’s future generations? Whether that’s a life-changing new technology or a burgeoning new industry, it should be obvious that ARIA played a catalytic role.
Learn more about how we work here.

Role Summary

We are seeking a scientifically fluent, creative Communications and Engagement Manager to help shape how ARIA’s programmes are understood, engaged with, and remembered.
You will lead communications and engagement for a portfolio of ARIA programmes, working in close partnership with Programme Directors, R&D Creators and the Head of Programme Communications and Engagement. Your role will span the full programme lifecycle: helping to build momentum around programme launches and activities; and telling credible, distinctive stories of the research, people, and progress that ARIA enables. This is not a traditional press or corporate communications role. It combines narrative development, science storytelling, and targeted ecosystem engagement. The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Shape the narrative for ARIA’s opportunity spaces and programmes: Partner closely with Programme Directors to distil complex scientific theses into clear, compelling narratives. You aren’t simply translating technical material—you will frame why each opportunity matters, what could become possible and why the right R&D Creators should get involved.
Drive a step-change in programme storytelling: Develop narrative-led content across owned and earned channels that brings ARIA-funded science to life. You will turn research breakthroughs and programme milestones into stories for wider audiences, drawing directly on the experiences and ambitions of our Creator community.
Strengthen our programme communications practice: You will help ensure that our outputs are consistent, high-quality and flexible enough to reflect the distinctive character of each programme.
Build momentum across the R&D ecosystem: Act as an ambassador for ARIA, developing targeted engagement strategies that connect our programmes with the right university labs, deep-tech companies and wider stakeholders. Working closely with Programme Directors, Creators and colleagues across communications, you will use launches, workshops and selected external events to deepen relationships and ensure ARIA is visible where it matters.

A successful candidate will bring many of the following skills and experiences:

Essential criteria

Proven science communications experience: You have experience in science communications, technical writing or a related field, gained in a research institution, startup, scientific publication, specialist agency or comparable environment.
Scientific fluency: You hold a degree in a scientific field or have equivalent experience working with complex scientific material. You can understand technical nuance and translate it accurately for both specialist and general audiences.
Creative storytelling: You can identify the compelling narrative within complex research and have a strong track record of producing engaging digital content, including both short and long-form work.
Autonomy and accountability: We trust you to take ownership of your work, identify what is needed and move projects forward. You can manage competing priorities and resolve potential bottlenecks before they escalate.
Strong delivery and attention to detail: You have excellent administrative and project-management skills. You understand that accuracy is particularly important when communicating scientific and technical information.
Agile and collaborative: You learn quickly, adapt readily to new channels and tools, and enjoy working as part of a team in an environment where the right approach may still be taking shape.

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of the UK R&D landscape: You understand the organisations, communities and emerging areas shaping UK research and innovation, and are excited by the opportunity to build new connections across them.
Experience in an early-stage organisation: You have worked in a startup, scale-up or similarly fast-moving environment where priorities evolve and individuals have considerable responsibility.
Systems thinking: You look beyond individual outputs to improve the processes, tools and ways of working that support consistently strong communications.

Above all, you are motivated by the potential of science to improve the world and excited by the opportunity to help build ARIA into a distinctive and trusted presence within the scientific community.