RCGPNI Policy & Public Affairs Manager

RCGP Enterprises Limited; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland is seeking a dynamic Policy and Public Affairs Manager with experience in campaigns, policy and public relations. You will work with senior civil servants, politicians and key stakeholders to advance policy priorities and influence public policy in Northern Ireland.

The role requires strong written and verbal communication, political understanding, and line management experience.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent.
• Experience in campaigns, policy and public affairs highly desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to analyse complex issues.

Responsibilities

• Develop policy positions and campaign objectives for Northern Ireland.
• Provide public affairs advice and support to RCGPNI Officers and Head of NI.
• Draft press releases, coordinate media responses, and manage social media activity.
• Build internal and external relationships while handling a varied workload and tight deadlines.

Skills

Campaigns experience

Policy & public affairs

Public relations

Communication skills

Written and verbal communication

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

Full time, 35 hours per week

Fixed Term Contract - 12 months

Grade DN, Salary £44,835.42 per annum

Location: Belfast (Hybrid working – minimum 2 days per week in office)

Closing date: 12.00pm on Friday 02 October 2026

Interview date: TBC week commencing 12 October 2026

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation solely for GPs in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1952, it has over 55,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills, and promoting general practice as a discipline. General practice is the largest branch of the medical profession. It provides some 1 million consultations for patients in the UK every working day and deals with 86% of the health problems experienced by the UK population.

RCGPNI is looking for a dynamic and committed Policy and Public Affairs Manager with experience of the fast-paced world of campaigns, policy and public relations and communications. The post holder will work with senior civil servants, politicians, the NI Assembly, Government, and key stakeholders to advance the College’s key policy priorities and influence public policy in Northern Ireland. They will be responsible for RCGP policy development, campaign objectives, and providing public affairs advice and support to RCGPNI Officers and the Head of NI.

Extensive experience in drafting press releases, coordinating responses to media requests, writing copy, and coordinating social media activity is essential, as well as producing written material (including briefing papers, reports, and summary documents) to inform and develop areas of policy for RCGP Northern Ireland.

As a confident individual with line management experience, educated to degree level or equivalent, with a good political understanding and an extensive knowledge of the key issues facing the healthcare system in Northern Ireland, the successful candidate will have strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to quickly assimilate and analyse complex issues and be able to build strong internal and external relationships. The postholder will need to deal with a varied and demanding workload, meet tight deadlines, be flexible, self-motivated and have the ability to take the initiative.

A clean driving licence and access to transport as and when the role requires is essential.

In return, we offer a varied hybrid working environment, good benefits, and the opportunity to work with elected officers to lead on the public affairs, policy, public relations, and communications function of an influential national organisation.