Senior External Affairs Manager (Maternity cover)

Key Responsibilities

• Shape NatCen’s external affairs strategy — develop and deliver a clear, joined‑up approach to public affairs, stakeholder engagement and communications that raises NatCen’s profile and impact.
• Build senior stakeholder relationships — strengthen trusted relationships with government, parliament and wider policy stakeholders to ensure NatCen’s research reaches the right audiences.
• Drive meaningful engagement — lead stakeholder mapping and horizon scanning, tailoring engagement and communications so complex evidence is accessible, relevant and influential.
• Strengthen how NatCen shows up externally — work with colleagues across the organisation to present research clearly and confidently to policy audiences and the media.
• Lead a high‑quality events programme — plan and deliver events including British Social Attitudes events, receptions and partner activity that build visibility and credibility.
• Provide senior‑level input — contribute strategic advice to senior leadership and deputise for the Director of External Engagement when required.
• Work with pace and purpose — manage multiple priorities, lead cross‑functional activity and keep delivery focused on impact.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Significant experience in external affairs, public affairs or stakeholder engagement, with a track record of delivering successful engagement strategies.
•  Strong understanding of the UK political and policy landscape and confidence engaging senior stakeholders across government and parliament.
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into clear, engaging messages.
•  Experience working in or with research institutes, foundations, government departments, parliament or public affairs/communications agencies.
•  Experience of managing events and engagement activity.
•  A confident, collaborative style, comfortable working independently and influencing at senior levels.
•  Media engagement experience is desirable, as is experience providing strategic input to senior leadership.
•  Line management experience is desirable.
•  A clear commitment to NatCen’s values and the importance of independent social research.
• If you enjoy shaping influence, strengthening external engagement and helping evidence reach the people who matter, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) increasing to 30 days after 3 years of service 
• Generous company pension scheme
• Life insurance and health cash plan
• Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loan
• Career development, professional subscriptions support and mentoring from industry‑leading experts

• Uses data to improve field performance and delivery
• Explores new approaches to workforce management

• Drives delivery against operational targets
• Aligns workforce planning to demand

• Ensures fair and compliant field practice
• Maintains quality and ethical standards

About
At The National Centre for Social Research we believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping services that can make a difference to everyone. And as an independent, not-for-profit organisation we’re able to focus our time and energy on meeting our clients’ needs and delivering social research that works for society.