JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
External Affairs Manager
Location:
London
Reports To:
Senior Public Affairs Manager
Salary:
£33,451 plus £4,000 London Weighting
Date Prepared: March 2013
PURPOSE
To deliver NHS Employers’ public affairs strategy, building and maintaining its profile and
reputation with stakeholders and the media. To deliver a stakeholder relations contact
programme for senior figures in the NHS Confederation and to contribute to the Confederation's
overall public affairs strategy.
NATURE & SCOPE
Including Dimensions
The post reports to the senior public affairs manager as part of NHS Confederation's public affairs
team , the wider NHS Employers’ communications team and the NHS Confederation
communications directorate.
The postholder will manage media and stakeholder relations activities for NHS Employers,
working closely with the Director of Engagement and Media Officer for NHS Employers and with
public affairs colleagues within the NHS Confederation.
The postholder is responsible for building and maintaining NHS Employers' reputation and profile
with stakeholder organisations and the media by promoting the views of employers on key
workforce issues and the work of NHS Employers. He/she is also responsible for delivering a
stakeholder relations programme for the chairman of the NHS Confederation and for ensuring that
NHS Employers are represented in the NHS Confederation's broader public affairs and policy work
programme.
Success will rely on strong working relationships with colleagues internally in particular with NHS
Employers’ directors, communications managers, the NHS Careers PR manager, the programme
team heads and the NHS Confederation’s public affairs team. This will enable the postholder to
maintain an overview of all work which might be of interest to stakeholders and the media and to
develop appropriate handling plans and lines.
STRUCTURE CHART
Senior Public Affairs
Manager
External Relations
Manager
Public Affairs
Manager
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Main activities will include:
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build, maintain and protect the reputation of NHS Employers; provide advice to senior
colleagues to ensure our stakeholder and media work strengthens our positioning and
profile
manage NHS Employers’ relationships with stakeholder organisations; devise and
implement the stakeholder relations strategy; understanding stakeholder priorities,
building contacts in their organisations and providing opportunities for them to get
involved in our work and us in theirs
generate positive and proactive media coverage for NHS Employers by feeding into the
wider work of the organisation's communications team
preparing a party conference programme of meetings and speaking opportunities for the
CEO of NHS Employers
identify and plan for potential risks to protect NHS Employer’s reputation
work with the senior public affairs manager on parliamentary and government relations
strategies, building relationships with target politicians and their advisers and drafting
consultation responses and briefings on our work areas as appropriate
develop and maintain a stakeholder relations programme for senior figures in the NHS
Confederation and to input into the public affairs functions of the organisation
any other duties as may be reasonably required
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Including Career Path to role (how did you get there)
A communications all-rounder, the external relations manager will have a strong track record of
working in either a communications, policy or political function in a role which makes use of
stakeholder relations and media relations skills. The post holder will have good knowledge of
public affairs techniques and will be able to write clearly, concisely and fluently. The role requires
an individual with well-developed influencing skills and the ability to forge strong relationships
with contacts internally and externally. They will have good political awareness, solid news
judgement, good knowledge of the health sector generally and will be able to work under pressure
and to prioritise and manage competing tasks.
SAFETY
Health and Safety at Work Act
The jobholder is required to take reasonable care for the safety and health of themselves and
others who may be affected by their acts; and to co-ordinate with management in the promotion
and maintenance of health and safety measures.”
SIGNATURES
Jobholder Name
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Signature
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Date
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Manager Name
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Signature
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Date
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Director Name
………………………………………………………..
Signature
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Date
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
External Relations Manager
ATTRIBUTES
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
Experience
A strong track record of working in a communications, political
or policy function which makes use of stakeholder relations
and media relations skills
Ability to devise and deliver influencing and stakeholder
relations strategies
Experience of a political environment
Knowledge
Knowledge of media and stakeholder relations techniques
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
Experience of working in the
health sector. .
Application form and
interview
Application form and
interview
A good understanding of NHS
workforce issues.
Skills
DEMONSTRATED BY
Interview
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Application form,
interview and assessment
Well-developed influencing skills and ability to forge strong
relationships with contacts internally and externally
Good awareness of the health agenda
Interview
Solid news judgement
Interview
Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
Interview
Ability to prioritise and manage competing tasks to meet
deadlines
Ability to work within a team
Interview
IT literacy
Application form
Interview