Stakeholder Engagement Manager - Office for Students

Office for Students; Harry Stoke; Hybrid; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory agency for higher education is seeking a Stakeholder Engagement Manager to coordinate stakeholder engagement and drive strategic projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of the education sector, excellent communication skills, and a proven ability to implement engagement strategies. The role offers a salary of £56,209 with additional benefits including a pension scheme and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension scheme

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of the higher education sector.
• Ability to make sound judgements and give strategic advice.
• A track record in developing public affairs strategies.

Responsibilities

• Write briefings and speeches for a range of audiences.
• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans.
• Draft correspondence and undertake networking.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Outstanding written communication

Networking and influencing skills

Attention to detail

Job description

Overview

We're looking for someone with existing knowledge of the higher education sector, strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to drive, deliver and implement stakeholder engagement and / or public affairs strategies to join our busy team. Working with the Head of Stakeholder Engagement, you'll work to drive forward and co‑ordinate stakeholder engagement around key strategic projects. As Stakeholder Engagement Manager, you will:

Responsibilities

• Write briefings, speeches and talking points for a range of audiences, ranging from senior OfS staff to parliamentarians
• Work across policy, media, digital, strategic and internal communications colleagues to ensure stakeholder engagement is planned and delivered effectively
• Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans and advise on and implement stakeholder engagement for strategic communications plans and launches
• Track stakeholder engagement across OfS
• Undertake proactive political and sector monitoring and manage timely internal updates and maintain the OfS stakeholder mapping process, ensuring it is up to date
• Draft correspondence and undertake networking and attending external meetings, to support senior leaders and staff in representing the views of the OfS as a regulator. To note you will be required to work some early mornings and evenings to attend external meetings.
• Supporting the management of the programme of visits to universities and colleges and the anticipated engagement interventions, drawing up plans and initiating lines of enquiry where required, to attract the widest possible field of qualified applicants, flexible working – for example job share and part‑time working – apply to this role.

Working arrangements

We love working flexibly because we know that it helps us all to do our best work. We’ve created a set of principles to shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two to three days in a typical week. To note, if your primary location is London there will be occasional travel to the Bristol office. This role will also require some morning and evening work to attend meetings, receptions and network events.

Closing information

Closing date for applications: 1200 24 November 2025

Interviews from 15 December 2025

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
• Further information on nationality requirements

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of the higher education sector
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to use own initiative to pick up work proactively and work autonomously without close supervision
• Strategic thinking, political awareness and an interest in public affairs
• Ability to make sound judgements and give strategic advice
• Outstanding written communication skills, in particular the ability to present complex policy and technical information in a clear, accessible way tailored to specific audiences
• Exceptional networking and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted, effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including senior OfS leaders and parliamentarians
• A track record in developing and delivering high‑quality and impactful public affairs and / or stakeholder engagement strategies

About the Office for Students (OfS)

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England – we regulate higher education on behalf of all students. Our mission is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling higher education experience that enriches their life and career.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,209, Office for Students contributes £16,283 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Comprehensive learning and development – we’re invested in your future
• Generous Civil Service pension scheme
• Health‑related benefits

Working for us

The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.