External Affairs, Research and Strategy Manager

About Our Client

Not-for-Profit

• Ensure that our corporate plan and strategies are aligned and responsive to the external operating environment.
• Monitor the external operating environment including regulatory and public policy changes to ensure our strategies are contemporary.
• Support the effective communication and interpretation of the corporate plan and strategies into the business
• Support the Executive Team in strategic reviews providing appropriate analysis and insight
• Ensure whg's approach to stakeholder management is up to date, effective and fit for purpose
• Develop and lead on stakeholder management (including mapping and engagement) to support delivery of our Corporate Plan
• Undertake focused horizon scanning of the external operating environment to understand emerging risks and opportunities
• Monitor parliament, local and devolved governments for updates on relevant policy areas and provide timely briefings to senior leaders and board members
• Strategically analyse insight to determine the impact on the business and brief appropriate colleagues to support their decision-making
• Build a network of senior contacts across the sector and key regional stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for our voice to be heard in regional and national forums and research projects
• Provide prompt and regular briefings (briefings may be written or verbal) to senior colleagues on the latest news and information about influential individuals, partners and target organisations
• Support senior leaders with briefings/presentations for external engagements e.g. conference appearances
• Working with specialist colleagues, including the Head of Communications, and external agencies, to support the development of a strategic PR programme, including thought leadership and speaking opportunities, to position whg appropriately
• Working with others, contribute to the management of our reputation, focusing on the stakeholder and media audiences, in real-time (crisis comms) and proactively.
• Create networks and forums (e.g. roundtables), primarily externally, to support delivery of our Corporate Plan
• Attend sector and political conferences, networking events, webinars and research seminars to ensure you are well informed and up to date
• Working with a specialist external agency, lead on whg's stakeholder perception survey
• Manage the External Affairs budget, including setting and monitoring spend

• Have a communications and/or external affairs professional qualification
• Have experience working with and advising colleagues at all levels, up to and including executive level
• Be strategically minded and able to analyse insight and intelligence
• Excel at building and maintaining professional relationships
• Possess well developed networking and influencing skills
• Have strong written and verbal communications skills and present a professional style
• Be able to provide clarity from complexity and have excellent attention to detail

What's on Offer

Salary up to 55,500pa + attractive benefits

Hybrid working - typically 2 days office based, 3 days remote