Senior External Affairs Manager

VMA Group; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Exchange for Change in Northern Ireland is seeking a Senior External Affairs Manager to shape and deliver high-impact public affairs campaigns around the UK deposit return scheme. This role offers the opportunity to influence national environmental policy and engagement across government, industry and the public.

Reporting to the Head of External Affairs, you will build relationships with government, industry and stakeholders, craft policy briefings, and guide communications strategies that

Qualifications

• Proven experience in public affairs, policy, communications or stakeholder engagement.
• Strong understanding of the Northern Irish political system and policy landscape.
• Strong relationships with government, industry, and external stakeholders in relevant sectors to DRS.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence and represent an organisation effectively.
• Experience developing engagement strategies and building advocacy networks.
• Strong policy, briefing, and consultation response-writing skills.
• Ability to identify emerging issues, manage reputational risk, and provide strategic advice.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver high-impact public affairs campaigns for DRS in NI.
• Collaborate with peers across the UK to raise the profile of Exchange for Change.
• Develop engagement strategies and advocacy networks.
• Provide strategic policy advice and liaison with government and stakeholders.
• Monitor NI political landscape and identify emerging issues for proactive engagement.

Skills

Public affairs

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Communications

Advocacy networks

Briefing writing

Risk management

Collaboration

Job description

Senior External Affairs Manager – Northern Ireland, at Exchange for Change

VMA Group is excited to partner with Exchange for Change to find a highly skilled Senior External Affairs Manager – Northern Ireland, to shape and deliver high-impact public affairs, industry engagement programmes and campaigns to raise awareness of, and engagement with, the new UK deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers.

Exchange For Change is the industry-led organisation appointed by the UK governments to design, build and operate the DRS. Launching on 1 October 2027, the UK’s DRS will the largest DRS in the world and one of the UK’s most ambitious environmental infrastructure programmes.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape communications and engagement for a nationally significant environmental initiative that will transform recycling across the whole of the UK.

The role:

Reporting to the Head of External Affairs you will collaborate closely with peers with similar remits in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as wider teams across the organisation, to raise the reputation and profile of Exchange for Change and the implementation of the DRS across Northern Ireland.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience in public affairs, policy, communications or stakeholder engagement.
• Strong understanding of the Northern Irish political system and policy landscape.
• Strong relationships with government, industry, and external stakeholders in relevant sectors to DRS.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence and represent an organisation effectively.
• Experience developing engagementstrategies and building advocacy networks.
• Strong policy, briefing, and consultation response-writing skills.
• Ability to identify emerging issues, manage reputational risk, and provide strategic advice.
• A collaborative, proactive approach and passion for making a positive environmental impact.
• Experience in environmental policy, circular economy or large-scale programme delivery would be beneficial, but not essential.

If you're an experienced external affairs professional looking for a role with real purpose and impact, we'd love to hear from you.