Senior External Affairs Manager

Age UK is offering a fantastic 12-month fixed term contract (maternity cover) for a Senior External Affairs Manager. In this impactful role you will develop and lead the delivery of Age UK's integrated public affairs and campaigning work, with the overarching aim of creating sustainable change for older people in line with our strategy and goals. You will develop and implement effective public affairs and campaigning approaches that really hit home, and produce results. To achieve this, you will work collaboratively with the rest of our high performing External Affairs team, other Age UK colleagues, our network of brilliant local Age UKs, and other charities and organisations that share our campaigning aims. Leading Age UK's public affairs function, you will oversee our influencing work in Westminster and maintain our high profile. You will also have access to one of Age UK's best campaigning assets: several hundred thousand campaigners, many of them older people, who work with us to influence change. We operate a hybrid-working model, a blend of home and office working. This role will include regular days working from our London office. Travel costs to the London office are the responsibility of the post-holder and are not covered by the charity., Please note we're not responsible for the content of job ads, as they're posted by the recruiter. We'll aim to resolve the reported issue and we'll use your feedback to improve the quality of our ads.

• Significant experience of strategic public affairs and/or campaigning work designed to achieve change.
• Strong track record of developing and implementing successful campaigns and project managing influencing activities and leading project teams.
• Excellent all round communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.
• Experience of engaging with senior stakeholders including Parliamentarians, and Ministers.
• Significant experience of working collaboratively, internally and externally.
• Understanding of online and offline campaigning techniques, and knowledge of using campaign planning tools to ensure the success of campaigns.
• Experience of promoting public involvement in campaigns.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of local and national government structures, the UK Parliament and our political, policy and campaigning context, and experience of influencing them.
• Fast, strategic and analytical thinking skills and experience of demonstrating good judgement, including strong political judgement.
• Strong decision-making skills and confidence in making strategic and operational decisions.
• Ability to project manage, including personal time management, planning, implementing, devising and prioritising multiple projects to meet agreed deadlines and targets, overseeing work across teams and monitoring and evaluating quality and impact.
Great to haves:
• Experience of acting as a media spokesperson.
• Experience of managing budgets.
• Knowledge or understanding of public policy issues and how they impact on older people.
• Experience of collaborative working with service users.
• Experience of influencing change from a voluntary sector perspective.
• Experience of working in a political environment.
  
  Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.