Director of External Affairs

CHM; London; Hybrid; GBP 74,000; Full time

Job summary

An established charity is seeking a Director of External Affairs to lead their transformative initiatives. This pivotal role involves driving policy and public affairs strategies that directly impact the MS community. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in strategic leadership and collaborative working, ensuring the organization effectively advocates for those affected by MS. With a commitment to fostering a vibrant work culture, this organization offers a supportive environment where your contributions will make a meaningful difference. If you are passionate about making a positive impact, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

38 days paid annual leave

Flexible working options

Enhanced sick pay

Free access to a GP

Cycle to work scheme

Death in service scheme

Personalized development plans

Paid leave for volunteering

Discounted season ticket loan

New family-friendly benefits

Qualifications

• Significant experience in external affairs and leading policy functions.
• Ability to drive strategic initiatives and collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs, and PR teams.
• Provide strategic advice to the Executive Group and Trustees.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Policy Development

Public Affairs

Campaign Management

Relationship Building

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Position:Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5

About the employer

This charity makes sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything they do. And it’s this commitment that unites them across the UK.

Their strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told them is important to them. It gives them a clear and determined focus.

Their work is based on the hopes and aspirations of their MS community. Together they campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Their people are their greatest asset and the key to their success. They offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

It is a very exciting time to join the charity as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. The organisation is implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And they have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.

The organisation is looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward their brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. They are looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure their work has a positive impact for the MS community.

With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.

You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the organisation at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.

As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the organisation as a whole.

They are looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.

Closing date for applications:9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025

Anticipated interview date:

First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025

Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025

How to apply:

Please click 'Apply' and follow the job board process. You will receive an email from CHM Recruit containing further information on how to apply for the role.
Please note that although you may be asked by the job board to upload aCV,you are not applying at this stage.

Equal Opportunities

This employer particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

They would be grateful if you completed the supplied equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.

Disability Confident Employer

Our client is a Disability Confident Employer and they’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both this organisation's recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, you will be able to contact the employer. You will also be able to ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format.

More about the charity's employee benefits:

The organisation has a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
• Flexible working options

Caring for you and your family

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
• Enhanced leave for new parents
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
• Cycle to work scheme
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • in the event of miscarriage or still birth
  • to support fertility treatments
  • for antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
• Various opportunities to influence how thischarity internally operates (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for this charity's activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal working hours

Safeguarding

This employer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses their services and they come into contact with.

This is regardless of: Gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy, gender reassignment.

This organisation recognises their particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

They have measures in place to protect everyone they come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK

You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with them. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if they offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. They currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.