Borne
Head of PR and Communications
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About Borne
Prematurity is the leading cause of childhood mortality in the world today. It leaves many babies with lifelong disability, and it can destroy the joy of parenthood, replacing it with fear and anxiety for the future. The reason why babies are born too soon is often unexplained. Preterm labour, once established, cannot be stopped. Borne’s mission is to invest in research that can make medical breakthroughs possible, so that new treatments can be found to make childbirth safer and give babies the healthy start they deserve.
Strengthening the research base is key to bring about lasting change. Borne is determined to fund the most promising scientific ideas that can advance our knowledge and lead to new interventions and treatment protocols that can delay or halt preterm birth. We are encouraging cross-disciplinary scientific collaboration on a global scale and investing in big science, leveraging the latest technology and bioinformatics expertise to accelerate progress towards breakthroughs. We have established funding collaborations with likeminded funders including the UKRI’s Medical Research Council to attract more of the best scientific and medical minds to this area of research.
Over the last ten years, Borne has grown from a successful research appeal within the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, into a dynamic and ambitious medical research charity focused on harnessing the research talent and expertise at leading universities around the world. The charity is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) with strength of scientific governance to ensure that funds raised are directed to research projects of the highest quality, and Borne is transparent and open about the way decisions are made about the work that we support.
We are committed to creating an environment where research into pregnancy and childbirth can truly flourish. We have continued to diversify our funding base, giving us the means to move forward at pace with significant discovery science initiatives, as well as the appetite to fund the translation of discoveries into potential life-changing new treatments that can delay the onset of preterm labour.
About the Role
We are looking for a strategic, hands-on communications leader with strong press relations experience who can help raise Borne's profile, lead our strategic communications, grow awareness of our mission to prevent preterm birth, and reach new audiences.
This is a key leadership role in a small, but ambitious charity at a moment of real momentum, growing in terms of reach and influence. Marketing and communications will be central to helping Borne take our next steps forward.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead mission-focused communications that raise Borne’s profile, grow awareness of our work and inspire support for our ambitions.
- Use the new marketing strategy to strengthen Borne’s voice, reach new audiences and support organisational growth.
- Lead Borne’s World Prematurity Day campaign, coordinating a high-profile programme of activity across our audiences, channels and partners.
- Develop and lead a proactive press relations strategy, building strong journalist relationships and securing high-quality coverage that increases Borne’s visibility and influence.
- Make full use of Borne’s refreshed brand and revamped website across digital channels, social media and email campaigns.
- Create compelling content and stories that bring Borne’s research, people, partnerships and impact to life for different audiences.
- Support fundraising and research colleagues to communicate impact clearly and confidently.
- Shape messaging for programme launches, campaigns, events and key organisational moments.
- Support Borne’s international growth by helping build a coherent global narrative as Borne develops its presence across the UK, USA and Australia.
- Uphold high standards of accuracy, accessibility and responsible storytelling, ensuring communications are evidence-led, sensitive and appropriate, particularly when communicating about premature birth, pregnancy, childbirth and the experiences of affected families.
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About You
You are a collaborative, strategic communicator with the confidence and experience to raise the profile of a growing charity. You combine excellent judgement with strong press relations expertise and know how to turn organisational ambition, scientific progress and human stories into compelling public narratives.
Person Specification
- Outstanding written communication skills and meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to develop clear, compelling and consistent messaging for a wide range of audiences and channels.
- Significant press and media relations experience, with a strong track record of building trusted journalist relationships, identifying opportunities and securing impactful coverage that raises profile and influence.
- The ability to translate complex scientific or health-related concepts into accessible, engaging stories, with the intellectual curiosity to understand the substance behind the research and the judgement to communicate it accurately and appropriately to different audiences.
- Experience using communications and marketing strategy to build profile, grow audiences and support organisational growth, with the ability to connect communications activity to wider organisational objectives, fundraising ambitions and impact.
- A strategic and proactive approach, able to see the bigger picture, identify opportunities and develop communications plans that anticipate organisational needs rather than simply responding to them.
- Creativity, curiosity and sound judgement, with the confidence to develop new ideas, test different approaches and find distinctive ways of communicating Borne’s work while maintaining the credibility and integrity of the organisation.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects at pace, balancing longer-term strategic activity with the demands of a busy and fast-moving organisation.
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues, researchers, clinicians, trustees, donors, ambassadors, partners and external agencies, and to bring people together around a common communications objective.
- A collaborative, hands-on approach, comfortable working as part of a small and ambitious team and willing to get involved in the detail as well as providing strategic leadership.
- A strong understanding of reputation and brand, with the judgement to ensure that Borne’s communications are consistent, distinctive and aligned with its values across different audiences and platforms.
- Commitment to inclusive, ethical communications and to Borne’s mission, with an appreciation of the sensitivity required when communicating about premature birth, pregnancy, childbirth and the experiences of affected families.
- A genuine passion for Borne’s mission and the potential of research to drive change, with the enthusiasm and ambition to help build Borne’s profile and influence as it develops into a leading global charity focused on preventing premature birth.
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Why Join Us?
- Play a senior role in a purpose-led charity tackling one of the most urgent challenges in maternal and infant health.
- Join at a pivotal moment, with a refreshed brand, revamped website and new marketing strategy already in place.
- Help take Borne to the next level by raising our profile, increasing awareness and supporting ambitious plans for growth.
- Work closely with a committed team, expert researchers, supporters, ambassadors and partners.
- Shape a communications function that is inclusive, ethical, ambitious and rooted in real-world impact.
Salary: Up to £55,000
Contract: Permanent, full time, upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period
Location: Persons Green, SW6, Hybrid
Pension: Generous employer contribution
Annual Leave: 25 days, plus bank holidays, plus birthday leave
Bonus Scheme: Discretionary performance based bonus of up to 10% in the bonus cycle after completing 12 months’ service
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter setting out your interest in the role, your relevant experience and how you would contribute to Borne’s mission to careers@borne.org.uk
Closing date for applications: 5pm, 5th October 2026
Interview Dates: 1st interview, week commencing 12th October 2026, 2nd interview, week commencing 19th October 2026
Recruitment Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. The process may include an initial conversation, a formal interview and a task or presentation relevant to the role. We will provide further details in advance, so candidates have time to prepare.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Borne is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and welcoming applications from people of all backgrounds. If you require any adjustments at any stage of the process, please let us know and we will do our best to support you.
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