Senior Digital Projects and Communications Specialist

Senior Product & Content Manager— Parental Leave Cover (Contract) This role will support projects within R4D and EdTech Hub from October 2026- March 2027 Overview We’re looking for a creative, highly organised Senior Product & Content Manager to join our team on a fixed-term basis covering parental leave. This is a senior role for someone who can combine strategic communications and digital product expertise with hands-on delivery and strong project management. The Senior Product & Content Manager will work closely with team leads, researchers and technical experts to advise on best-practice approaches to content, design, user experience, dissemination and platform use. The role will sit at the heart of major R4D projects across the EdTech Hub programme and R4D’s Tech Community of Expertise (TCOE Helpdesk), helping translate complex technical work into accessible, engaging products and ensuring that knowledge and insights reach the audiences who can use them. For EdTech Hub, you will help manage a high-volume, high-touch content production pipeline and plan and design content across the Hub’s website, newsletter, social channels and other communications products. You will help manage and develop the platforms that host this content, including EdTechHub.org and the Evidence Library, and work across teams and partners to shepherd complex products from inception through publication and dissemination. For TCOE, you will support communications and knowledge-sharing across the programme, including helping package technical Helpdesk outputs for different audiences, developing the programme’s digital presence and knowledge resources, and supporting communications around emerging insights, events, partnerships and programme activities. A key part of the role will be designing and developing engaging communications products that help research and technical evidence travel further. This will include creating and adapting graphics and visual assets and developing practical products that researchers and partners can use to share and disseminate their work at events, webinars and peer-to-peer. Examples might include WhatsApp sharing cards, concise research summary two-pagers, posters, presentations, event materials and other digital or print-ready assets. You will liaise between technical experts, external partners and our design, development, copywriting and promotion functions. The role requires a consultative approach and the confidence to provide strategic guidance to colleagues, while also being comfortable with hands-on delivery — whether designing a graphic, advising on User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX), building a custom WordPress page or coordinating multiple stakeholders against a deadline. You will receive a comprehensive handover and training from the current postholder before they go on leave and will work closely with the Director of Impact Communications. This role is offered on a fixed-term basis to provide cover during a period of parental leave. We anticipate the contract will run for approximately 6 months, with a scheduled review closer to the end date. Primary Responsibilities Percentages are estimates and may shift during the contract in response to programme priorities and delivery needs. Digital Products, Platforms & User Experience — approximately 30% Manage and develop key digital platforms across EdTech Hub and TCOE, including WordPress, the EdTech Hub Evidence Library and SharePoint environments, coordinating with technical partners where required.Co-design and advise on user experience and user interface approaches, providing strategic guidance on content structure, platform decisions, digital formats and user journeys for different audiences.Build and adapt digital products and web pages within existing brand and technical frameworks, including custom WordPress pages and HTML blocks where needed.Support effective management of digital tools, platforms, permissions and shared resources across programme teams. Content Production, Design & Dissemination — approximately 30% Lead and support production of accessible, engaging communications products across formats including reports, blogs, social media, infographics, presentations, videos, two-pagers, event materials and other digital and print assets.Work with researchers and technical experts to translate complex evidence and technical content into clear, visually engaging products tailored to different audiences and channels.Plan and produce content for web and social channels, particularly LinkedIn, using tools including Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.Advise teams on appropriate formats, channels and dissemination approaches to help research and technical outputs reach priority audiences. Content Pipeline & Project Management — approximately 25% Manage high-volume content and publication pipelines across EdTech Hub and TCOE, shepherding complex products from inception through editorial, design, strategic and web review to publication and dissemination.Coordinate inputs, approvals and delivery across researchers, technical experts, communications colleagues, external partners and donors, often working across organisations and time zones.Maintain effective production systems, workflows and trackers, ensuring priorities, resources, milestones and deadlines are visible and appropriately managed.Liaise across design, development, copywriting and promotion functions to ensure products are delivered efficiently, consistently and to a high standard. Communications Strategy, Learning & Programme Support — approximately 15% Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting, and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by managementContribute to communications strategy and planning across EdTech Hub and TCOE, advising teams on audiences, channels, formats, campaigns and emerging communications needs.Help establish and maintain consistent approaches and standards for communicating TCOE and EdTech Hub work, including around key programme milestones, events, partnerships and launches.Use platform analytics, SEO/AEO insights and performance data to inform improvements to communications products, channels and audience engagement.Collaborate with communications, programme and MEL colleagues on reporting, dissemination and impact storytelling, while providing additional communications and programme support as priorities evolve. Qualifications 7+ years of relevant professional experience preferred, particularly in communications, digital strategy, digital products, content production or related fields. Creative agency experience is a plus.Confident working in Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder communications or digital projects from inception through delivery.Experience managing a WordPress environment and building simple, custom pages outside standard templates, this includes being able to build and test custom HTML blocks where needed (using AI support, such as Claude, where necessary).Experience designing and collaborating within SharePoint.Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical or research content into clear and accessible communications for different audiences.A strategic and creative problem solver, adept at developing efficient systems and decision-making processes.Excellent project management and coordination skills, with experience tracking and managing the resources a project needs.Comfortable working across multi-partner and international programmes, coordinating inputs and approvals from colleagues, technical experts and external stakeholders across organisations and time zones.A high level of organisation, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability.Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex, detailed information clearly to team leads.Ability to prioritise and manage work across multiple projects and workstreams with competing time and resource demands, in a fast-paced environment.Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.A highly collaborative, approachable team member who's enthusiastic about supporting others and working closely across the organisation. Contract Details & How We Work This position is open to candidates based in the UK or US, with a strong preference for candidates based in London, Washington, DC, or NYC. Our team works fully remotely. If you're based in Washington, D.C. or London, there's the option to co-work from our office spaces, but this isn't required. This is a fixed-term position for approximately 6 months covering a period of parental leave, with a start date of 15 October and an expected end date in March 2027. The contract will be reviewed closer to the anticipated end date. This role will support both EdTech Hub and TCOE with the balance of responsibilities evolving in response to programme priorities during the contracting period. The target base salary pay range is $81,000 – $98,500 USD for a US-based position per year or £56,000 - 68,166.67 per year for a UK-based position. R4D aims to provide an equitable and consistent starting salary for all new hires based on the responsibilities and qualifications required for the position. The full salary range allows for future career and earnings growth, and hiring above the mid-point of a salary range would not be typical for a new employee. Base salary is only one component of our total rewards package. R4D offers a generous benefits package that includes a 401K plan with up to 9% employer contribution, medical, dental and vision insurance, 25 paid vacation days, 15 days of paid sick leave, 10 paid US holidays, paid parental leave, flexible spending accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, commuter benefits, free access to an onsite gym, free headspace membership, an employee assistance program and a flexible work environment. Please visit our R4D Careers page for more details. International hiring ranges and benefits packages will differ based on location.