Senior Media and External Engagement Manager

The King's Fund; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A health and care policy organization in the UK is seeking a media and external engagement leader. This role focuses on ensuring high-impact media coverage, building strong relationships with journalists and stakeholders, and shaping communications strategies. The ideal candidate has significant experience in media relations, outstanding writing skills, and a commitment to inclusivity. This position offers a supportive environment with generous benefits, emphasizing learning and development.

Benefits

Generous benefits

Flexible working environment

Focus on learning and development

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior media relations with a track record in national coverage.
• Experience in public affairs and parliamentary engagement in health or related contexts.
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead media and external engagement function for high-impact media coverage.
• Build relationships with journalists and support stakeholder engagements.
• Shape and oversee media strategy and communications plans.

Skills

Senior media relations experience

Stakeholder relations

Outstanding writing skills

Strong relationship-building

Experience leading teams

Job description

For over a century, The King's Fund has worked to improve people's health and care. We tackle the thorniest questions facing our health and care system, and in turn society. We do this through our research, analysis and insight; leadership and organisational development with health and care leaders; convening and events; and partnering with others. With bold thinking for better health, we're on a mission to inspire hope and confidence that we can create a world where everyone lives a healthy life.

What you'll do

• Lead and develop The King's Fund's media and external engagement function, ensuring high-quality, high-impact proactive and reactive media coverage.
• Build strong relationships with journalists, and support the organisation's relationships with senior stakeholders, politicians and Parliamentarians, acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders within the Fund.
• Shape and oversee delivery of our media strategy and key communications plans for major policy, research and thought‑leadership outputs.
• Provide expert advice on how the Fund should respond to emerging policy and political developments.
• Oversee delivery of political party conference activity and senior stakeholder engagement events.
• Support the design and execution of parliamentary and stakeholder engagement strategies to help achieve our influencing aims.
• Manage, support and develop a talented team while overseeing budgets and work programmes.
• Promote inclusive practice and ensure diverse voices are represented in our work.

We're looking for someone who brings

• Significant experience in senior media relations, with a strong track record of shaping national media coverage and working directly with journalists.
• Experience of stakeholder relations, public affairs and parliamentary engagement, ideally within a public policy, health and care, or related context.
• Outstanding writing, editing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into compelling, accessible messages.
• Excellent judgement, especially in politically sensitive or fast‑paced situations.
• Strong relationship‑building skills and the confidence to engage senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing people, and managing competing priorities under pressure.
• A commitment to The King's Fund's values and to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture.

You will play a key leadership role within a respected and influential organisation, shaping national debate and helping ensure our work makes a difference to people's lives through our vision that everyone can live a healthy life. We offer a supportive, collaborative and flexible working environment, generous benefits and a strong focus on learning and development.

The Fund has an ambition to increase the diversity of our workforce and introduce careers in health and care policy to a broader range of people. We encourage applicants from all sections of the community, including those from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We believe that diversity of background and experience contributes to a broader collective perspective that will improve the way we influence health and social care policy.