Senior External Affairs Manager

IOSH; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional safety organization in the UK is seeking a Senior External Affairs Manager to lead external strategic initiatives. This role involves developing effective communication strategies, enhancing public visibility, and engaging diverse stakeholders to influence occupational health and safety standards globally. The ideal candidate will have a background in external affairs and public relations, accompanied by strong communication skills and the ability to manage complex relationships effectively. The position offers a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and various benefits including annual leave and medical insurance.

Benefits

Hybrid working and flexibility

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Salary sacrifice pension scheme

Performance related pay scheme

Paid volunteering days

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in external affairs, PR, and reputation management within complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of public affairs and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Exceptional communication skills, including public speaking.

Responsibilities

• Lead IOSH's external affairs strategy and maximize influence globally.
• Develop messaging framework and oversee stakeholder management.
• Engage with stakeholders, governments, and NGOs for positive change.

Skills

External affairs

Public relations

Reputation management

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Written communication

Education

Degree in public affairs, PR, communications, or related field

Job description

Job Title: Senior External Affairs Manager

Salary: £45,000-£50,000 (based on experience)

Hours per week: 35

Location: At IOSH, we embrace hybrid working because we believe it's the key to achieving work‑life balance, strategic success and fostering our collaborative culture. You'll be required to work from our head office in Wigston, Leicester a minimum of 2 days per week. The remainder of your working hours will be undertaken from home.

The successful applicant must have the pre‑existing right to both live, and to work in the UK.

Closing date: 9 January 2026

Interview date: TBC

About The Role

We are seeking a dynamic Senior External Affairs Manager to lead IOSH's external affairs strategy and maximise our influence and impact globally. This is a pivotal role that integrates public relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management to ensure IOSH's voice is compelling, consistent, and outcome‑driven across all platforms and audiences.

In this role, you will shape and deliver IOSH's external affairs strategy, ensuring clear and impactful messaging and advocacy that is evidence‑led. You will develop our messaging framework and oversee our stakeholder and partnership management and PR and media relations to raise IOSH's profile on a global stage. Building strong relationships will be key, as you will engage with a variety of stakeholders including governments, policymakers, regulators, NGOs, partners, and industry bodies to influence good occupational health and safety and worker wellbeing to drive positive change internationally, nationally, within workplaces and with workers. You will lead reputation and crisis management strategies, safeguarding IOSH's standing and credibility. Representing IOSH at high‑level meetings, committees, and conferences, you will be a trusted voice and ambassador for the organisation.

What You'll Bring

You are an experienced professional with a strong track record in external affairs, public relations, and reputation management within complex, global organisations. You understand the power of public affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, and you know how to build strategies that measure and make an impact.

Confident and articulate, you thrive in public speaking and produce written content that inspires and informs. You bring the ability to design and deliver integrated external affairs strategies, using digital platforms to amplify advocacy efforts. With experience leading teams and driving measurable outcomes, you combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.

Your background includes a degree (or equivalent) in public affairs, PR, communications, or a related field, and you're committed to continuous professional development, such as CIPR membership.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in external affairs, PR, and reputation management within a complex, global organisation.
• Strong knowledge of public affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Exceptional communication skills, including confident public speaking and high‑quality written outputs.
• Ability to design and deliver integrated external affairs strategies and leverage digital platforms for advocacy.
• Experience in managing teams and delivering measurable outcomes.
• A degree or equivalent in public affairs, PR, communications, or a related field, plus commitment to CPD (e.g., CIPR membership).

What's in it for you?

• Hybrid working and flexibility to ensure a positive work‑life balance.
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) increasing with length of service, with the option to buy more.
• Private medical insurance and healthcare cash plan covered by IOSH.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme, minimum of 3% employee contribution whilst IOSH contribute 5%.
• Individual performance related pay scheme.
• Up to five paid volunteering days per year.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support you and your dependent's wellbeing.

About Us

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the world's Chartered body for safety and health professionals.

We understand that diversity of thought, culture, perspective, and background is essential to our vision. We believe in creating a personal environment where everyone is treated as they wish to be treated. At IOSH, you can be yourself, no matter who you are.

We are proud to be a disability confident employer, and are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum essential criteria for the vacancy.

Find out more about how we advocate for, and support health and safety professionals worldwide to create a safer and healthier world of work by visiting www.iosh.com.

How To Apply

To apply, you'll need an up‑to‑date CV and some additional time to complete the application questions so we can find out more about you and your experience. Just click on the apply button below.

If you want to find out more about IOSH please visit our website. If you have any queries about the role or require any reasonable adjustments to support you with the recruitment process please reach out to [e-mail].

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.