External Affairs Director - Urban & Rural FTC

The Crown Estate; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A national organization in Greater London seeks a policy and public affairs expert for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract. The role involves developing external affairs strategies, engaging with stakeholders across political spheres, and overseeing communications. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in public affairs, a track record of effective communication on complex national issues, and strong relationship management skills. The position offers a competitive salary, pension, and extensive benefits including flexible working and private healthcare.

Benefits

Flexible working

Competitive salary

Private healthcare

Performance-related bonus

28 days holiday with option to buy more

Qualifications

• Proven experience working in government or public affairs.
• Outstanding communication on complex national issues.
• In-depth knowledge of government policy making.
• Experience advising senior leaders at board level.
• Proven ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in managing agency resources and budgets.
• Ability to prepare impactful materials for political audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee stakeholder engagement and public affairs strategy.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders across political parties.
• Shape positions on policy matters and identify opportunities.
• Prepare for stakeholder meetings and draft consultation responses.
• Understand business strategy to identify stakeholder engagement opportunities.
• Manage external agencies and associated budgets.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder Engagement

Public Affairs Knowledge

Government Policy Knowledge

Strategic Advice

Relationship Management

Project Ownership

Presentation Skills

Job description

Advert Close date: 19th December 2025

Purpose of Role

We are seeking a policy and public affairs expert, who is driven by working in a purpose based organisation, to address key social, economic and environmental challenges facing the country. This includes leading in supporting the UK towards a net zero carbon and energy secure future, investing to create thriving communities and renewing urban centres, leading in stewarding the country’s natural environment, and supporting economic growth. The successful individual will help to shape our urban, rural and innovation strategies, build our policy positioning in response to the evolving policy and regulatory regimes we operate within, and build strong and dynamic external relationships to support our business.

This role will be responsible for developing and leading the external affairs strategy for urban and rural, including public affairs, policy positions and advocacy, and overseeing project level communications & engagement strategies to shape and enable the delivery of our ambitious strategy, aligned with The Crown Estate’s purpose, values and overarching Group strategy.

This is an opportunity to play an integral role as part of the External Affairs and Policy leadership team to enable the sustainable development of the urban and rural portfolios, alongside shaping the changing external policy and political landscape to help the UK meet national needs in these areas.

This role will also work as part of an integrated External Affairs team supporting the organisations’ public affairs engagement strategy and corporate communications strategy, shaping The Crown Estate’s reputation with a variety of political and stakeholder audiences as a purposeful business that delivers value for the nation. The role holder will manage a small team of in house experts and a number of agency resources.

Main accountabilities

To lead and oversee the implementation of stakeholder engagement and public affairs strategy; to build trusted relationships with key national, regional and devolved administration stakeholders across political parties and with officials on the urban and rural portfolio.

Shape TCE positions on policy matters, horizon scanning and identifying gaps, risks and opportunities relating to the land and property portfolio.

Preparing for select committees and stakeholder meetings, drafting consultation responses and policy positions, particularly in relation to housing, planning and communities.

Understand and input into the business’s strategy to identify stakeholder engagement opportunities and inform management of reputation risks.

Build relationships with key external stakeholders to support the business’s objectives and how it in turn, helps stakeholders to achieve their goals.

Establish strong relationships with senior TCE colleagues, including supporting the CEO and Managing Directors, on your portfolio, offering strategic counsel to supporting decision making.

• Work closely with TCE colleagues from across the business to identify opportunities for engagement and communication, ensuring a coordinated and a consistent approach to integrated campaign delivery.

Accountable for external agencies and associated budgets, ensuring high performance in line with project briefs, contracts and procurement guidelines.

Most Important Skills based requirements

Significant experience working in government, public affairs role or similar.

Track record of outstanding communication and engagement on complex topics, especially issues of national significance or government priority.

In depth knowledge of Government policy making and priority areas for the Devolved Administrations.

Experience in providing strategic advice to senior leaders up to board level.

Proven experience of building meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders internally and externally.

Experience motivating and inspiring people and managing agency resource (eg. procurement, fees, budgeting, and performance).

Ability to take ownership of projects and work collaboratively in a fast paced and ambiguous environment.

Ability to prepare presentations, briefings and impactful materials translating complex information in a compelling and credible way to political audiences, senior leaders and the board.

This is a 12 month Fixed Term Maternity Cover Contract.

Our Offering / benefits

As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work.

Disability Disclaimer

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us on [e-mail].