Campaigns and public affairs manager jobs in Manchester, greater manchester

Purpose of the Role

The Director of External Affairs and Growth is an SLT role responsible for leveraging the voice and power of the eoa's network to influence and accelerate the growth of the employee owned sector.

The role leads the eoa’s external affairs, policy and insights, marcomms and events, shaping the external environment for employee ownership and securing the funding and commercial income needed to support sustainable sector growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs strategy, building the relationships and influence needed to shape policy, remove barriers and expand EO.
• Build strategic relationships and secure grant funding and commercial partnerships, generating income to support advocacy, events and sector growth initiatives, including the UK EO Growth Strategy.
• Oversee our policy and insights work, engaging key stakeholders to co-produce content that influences EO practice and policy and strengthens the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee the delivery of a mar-comms strategy that delivers commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading authority on EO.
• Oversee our events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development
• and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables and public affairs events,
• championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership and Operations to align advocacy and external
• engagement with member needs and priorities.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across income generation, advocacy, policy, events and mar-comms activities

Knowledge, Experience, and Attributes

• Proven expertise in external affairs, advocacy, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, grant funding and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programming, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

What Constitutes Success in This Role?

Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth of the employee-owned sector, strengthening the eoa’s influence and increasing the adoption of “great EO”. Stronger stakeholder relationships, greater advocacy impact and improved commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of grant funding, sponsorships and strategic partnerships will also be key indicators of success.

Key outcomes for the role 

• Outcome - Growth of the employee ownership sector
  • Measure - Increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness

• Outcome - Strengthened corporate engagement
  • Measure - Growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement

• Outcome - Strong Commercial Sustainability
  • Measure - Increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships

• Outcome -Increased policy influence
  • Measure - Policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement

• Outcome - Enhanced sector insight and intelligence
  • Measure - Utilisation of high quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs

• Outcome - Development and adoption of best practice
  • Measure - Creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.

• Outcome - Successful events programmes
  • Measure - Increased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit:

• A two-page CV
• And one of either:
  • Cover letter setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role
  • Video (maximum 10 minutes) setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role

Applications should be submitted before 9:00am 17 August 2026. We will close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interviews will be in two stages. The first stage will be a virtual interview via teams on
26 August. For those who successfully move to stage 2 there will be an in-person
discussion w.c. 31 August.

The eoa welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those
who are under-represented. We recruit based on values, skills, and contribution to our
purpose.

Do you understand how financial systems influence climate outcomes?

Are you excited by the prospect of using that knowledge to help accelerate the transition to more sustainable food and agricultural systems?

Prospectus are delighted to be supporting our client in the search for a Global Climate Manager (Financial Systems) to join its Protein Transition Team.

This role sits at the intersection of climate advocacy and financial systems change. Working across campaigns focused on agricultural methane, deforestation and nature, you engage with investors, financial institutions, regulators and corporate stakeholders to drive meaningful environmental progress.

You'll contribute to advocacy campaigns, develop partnerships, produce research and briefings, engage with shareholder and investor groups, and identify opportunities to influence policy and regulation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver advocacy campaigns focused on climate, nature and financial accountability.
• Engage with investors, banks, asset managers and shareholder groups.
• Develop briefings, reports and campaign materials.
• Support research into corporate climate commitments and financial systems.
• Identify opportunities for regulatory and policy intervention.
• Support shareholder engagement and AGM activity.
• Build relationships with partners across finance, policy and civil society.

The successful candidate may come from sustainable finance, responsible investment, policy, public affairs, ESG, advocacy or financial regulation.  We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• An understanding of financial institutions and financial systems.
• Experience influencing decision-makers through advocacy, engagement or campaigning.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of climate, nature or sustainability issues.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to translate complex issues into compelling messages.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach.

Experience in sustainable finance, stewardship, corporate accountability or environmental campaigning would be particularly valuable.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this leadership position, please submit your CV and a covering letter in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon

Community Fundraising Assistant – East

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - East, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in our East Region (which includes Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex)?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 30th August 2026 

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.