Talent Lead (12 month FTC)

Our vision is that no-one feels like suicide is their only option.  Our brand and communications are a vital tool to achieve this. Through bold, targeted campaigns and marketing, we want to continue to expand our reach, so that more people know about our life-saving services and we continue to break down the stigma that prevents people seeking and offering help. 

The Talent Lead will be the driving force behind CALM’s Ambassador and Talent work, ensuring our high-profile supporters are deeply integrated into our mission to prevent suicide. 

This role is the bridge between our influential voices and our core impact areas of campaigns, press, content, social, fundraising and service delivery. This is a strategic, leadership position that requires a high level of collaboration, expert relationship management, robust operational oversight, and a passionate commitment to CALM’s life-saving work.

Responsibilities

Recruitment and retention 

• Lead on maintaining and strengthening existing relationships with talent and their management teams, working with the Communications Officer to ensure seamless and efficient stewardship and comms that streamline updates and inbound requests 

• Work closely with the Head of PR & Comms to develop and realise an Ambassador strategy that aligns with our overarching organisational goals and an ambitious targeted recruitment strategy 

• Lead proactive outreach and attend industry events to elevate CALM’s profile. Identify talent with lived experience that aligns authentically with our cause

• Oversee the digital evolution of our talent community, working closely with the Communications Officer to develop new and existing comms channels that connect us with our Ambassadors and their teams, management of contact data within Salesforce, and ongoing monitoring of Ambassador social, press and partnership activity

• Beyond the creative and relational, you will oversee the operational excellence of the department. This includes:

  • Leading on impact reporting and ongoing monitoring of Ambassador activity to measure success.

  • Managing the full lifecycle of talent engagement, from creating and managing contracts to ensuring all activity is integrated with our Stories and Safeguarding protocols to support both Ambassadors and their teams.

Collaboration 

• A key part of this role is high-level collaboration with the Fundraising team. You will ensure that corporate partnerships, challenge events, major and individual giving initiatives are fully supported, managing the high volume of Ambassador requests with a strategic lens

• Lead on the Talent integration with Fundraising to realise our contractual commitments with funders, and deliver added value to income-generating activity across the full Fundraising mix

• Work collaboratively with the Communications Officer and Social Media Manager to deliver industry-leading collaborative content, providing regular, high-impact updates to keep our supporters engaged and informed.

• Work with the wider MarComms team to advise on our wider creator strategy, ensuring a cohesive approach to how we engage public figures 

• Support the Head or PR & Comms to manage Talent-specific press requests, including scheduling and briefing 

Your profile 

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience in talent management, artist relations, or high-level PR/communications

• Proven track record of building and maintaining high-level relationships with celebrities, influencers, and their management teams (agents, publicists, and assistants)

• Extensive experience in talent-led PR, end-to-end media campaign management, and protecting brand integrity through strategic reputation oversight 

• Ability to collaborate with multiple teams, managing multiple stakeholders with competing priorities

• Ability to develop and realise long-term talent and recruitment strategies that align with wider organisational goals 

• Highly professional with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and influencing ability

• Proficient in monitoring and evaluating talent activity, using data to produce high-impact reports for senior leadership and stakeholders

• Comfortable acting as a public-facing representative for an organisation at high-profile external events and networking opportunities

Desirable Criteria

• An existing, active network of contacts within the UK entertainment, sports, or digital creator industries

• Experience working alongside Marketing & Comms teams to brief and deliver industry-leading collaborative content and campaigns  

• Demonstrable experience in drafting and managing talent contracts, service level agreements, and data management (ideally using Salesforce)

• Experience working collaboratively with fundraising teams to leverage talent for corporate partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel public appeals

• An understanding of the charity, mental health or suicide prevention sector and the key issues for communication with stakeholders, supporters and the broader public

• A robust understanding of safeguarding protocols and the ethical considerations involved when working with high-profile individuals sharing lived experience of mental health or suicide

Reports to: Head of PR & Communications 

Contract: Full-time

Benefits: Unlimited annual leave, Healthcare cash plan, 6% pension contribution, therapeutic services (after completion of probation), hybrid working & nine day fortnight

Based: London Waterloo twice a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays) / Remote Working (Mon, Tues & Fri), 9.30am - 5.30pm.

Salary: £50k-£55k

A work environment that values creativity, personal growth and collaboration.