NACCOM is recruiting a new permanent External Affairs Manager to lead the work of our small but highly impactful External Affairs team.
About the role:
NACCOM is a national network of over 135 frontline organisations and charities across the UK, working together to end destitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and other migrants who aren’t able to access public funds because of their immigration status.
We do this by campaigning collectively for a fairer, more humane immigration system that doesn’t leave people destitute, and by sharing our learning, innovation, and resources across our membership to increase the level of accommodation provision and support the network is able to provide.
Join our charity at a pivotal moment. As our External Affairs Manager, you’ll sit at the heart of a high-performing, fully remote team, ensuring that migrant homelessness and destitution is high on the agenda. You will lead and mentor a talented External Affairs team, amplifying NACCOM’s voice as the UK’s expert voice on how the asylum and immigration system drives homelessness and destitution.
With our 20th-anniversary milestone and a bold new organisational strategy on the horizon, you’ll seize fresh opportunities to deepen our influence. Working hand-in-hand with frontline members, people with lived experience, and high-profile partners, you will deliver sharp, evidence-led campaigns and projects that put migrant homelessness at the top of policy and media agendas.
A strong aptitude for communications and campaigns, and an understanding of how that works alongside policy and research to underpin the external affairs function, is vital.
This role is for a dynamic, collaborative advocate who is passionate about social justice. If you’re ready to turn insight into impact — shaping narratives, forging alliances, and driving systemic change—we’d love to welcome you to NACCOM.
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Key role information:
Hours: Full-Time (35 hours) or Part-Time (28 hours) per week
Salary: Starting salary £43,000 annual FTE (plus £4,000 London Weighting if applicable)
Leave: 25 days per annum plus Bank Holidays (England and Wales) pro rata plus additional concessionary days off between Christmas and New Year
Pension:NACCOM will contribute 6% of your gross salary
Additional benefits: flexible working hours, wellbeing time, wellbeing practice and Calm App
Contract: Permanent
Location: Home-based plus travel - all in the UK (approx 5 days per month). Opportunity to work part-time in a members’ office or a co-working space.
Responsible to: Director
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Job purpose:
The External Affairs Manager will work closely with the Director and provide vital support to NACCOM and its members by:
- Ensuring the strategic planning, management and alignment of communications, policy, research, campaigns, and advocacy as part of the External Affairs function at NACCOM.
- Ensuring NACCOM’s external affairs functions feed from and into our network development work and our Community Ambassador / Research programme
- Growing and safeguarding NACCOM’s brand identity, integrity and strategic positioning across all our external channels, networks and audiences.
- Line-managing and supporting the Policy and Research Co-ordinator, Community Research Facilitator and part-time Communications Co-ordinator (currently covered by a freelancer) as well as managing any external consultants NACCOM works with across the External Affairs function.
- Along with the Director, acting as spokesperson for NACCOM.
- Overseeing the spend against budget for External Affairs-related work.
- Representing NACCOM at key, high-level meetings and coalitions, including with journalists, decision-makers and partners.
- Actively supporting a culture of collaboration, support and mutual respect at NACCOM and across the membership network.
For more information about the role, including person specification, please download the Job Description.
Recruitment timescales:
- Tuesday 8 July 2025 at 23.59: Deadline for applications
- Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 July 2025: Stage one interviews held online as a Zoom call.
- Wednesday 30 July 2025: Stage two interviews with team, ideally in person but possibly online.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About us:
At Back Up, we have big ambitions. We launch our bold new strategy in April 2025 and together we’ll be working hard to make sure everyone affected by spinal cord injury has access to the support they need. We have a unique portfolio of high-impact services, and we are the only spinal cord injury charity in the UK providing dedicated services to children and young people.
At Back Up, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from those from black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds or those with higher level spinal cord injuries.
In 2024 Back Up won The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award for Best place to work for disabled employees. Previously, Back Up was voted one of the top ten charities to work for (Third Sector Best Charities 2020). The enthusiastic, inclusive and supportive spirit of our very skilled staff ensure excellence in the services we deliver.
About the role:
Do you have experience of working with disabled people? Are you a highly organised team player with an eye for detail and a passionfor making a difference?If so, Back Up could offer you an inspiring and fulfilling role making a significant difference to the lives of people with spinal cord injuries.About the role:All of our courses aim to increase confidence and independence in a supportive environment. They’re also led by people who have a spinal cord injury themselves–allowing participants to learn from others who have who have been there and can understand the issues and challenges.
As Courses Team Leader, you will be working closely with our Courses Coordinators and the wider team to oversee the ongoing development and delivery of this key part of Back Up’s services.You will be need to be creative, well organised and be a supportive line manager with supervisory experience. Most important though is your commitment to supporting those affected by spinal cord injury to thrive.
For full details please see our job description.
How to apply
Please apply by emailing recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk by midnight on 10 July 2025.
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A CV with salary information for your most recent post and two referees, one of whom should be your present or most recent employer. We will contact them after interview.
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A (maximum) two side A4 supporting statement, saying why you want the job and explaining how you fit the person specification. This statement is crucial; CVs alone will not be accepted. We will acknowledge receipt of your application, and then let you know if you are to be invited to interview.
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A completed equal opportunities form. This form will be kept separate from your application, and not viewed by the recruiting manager. It is used to help us assess the diversity of our applicants to ensure our processes are fair to all. It is optional to fill in but it will help us improve and maintain high standards.
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We will acknowledge receipt of your application, and then let you know if you are to be invited to interview. Interviews will be held on 14 July 2025. Please let us know if you are unable to make that date.
What will the process involve?
The process will involve at least one interview round which will be either in person or online. There will be a panel interviewing you and you may be asked to complete a task beforehand to present to the panel. If you need any support or adjustment to the recruitment process at any stage, do please ask and we’d be pleased to work with you to put these in place so that you can perform to the best of your abilities throughout the process and demonstrate your suitability for the role. Please email recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As a ‘Disability Confident’ employer we are committed to the inclusion of disabled people as candidates and employees. We are proud that we get high numbers of disabled people applying for roles at Back Up. We will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Please let us know if you are eligible for the scheme: recruitment @ backuptrust. org. uk
Don’t meet every single requirement?
At Back Up we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every criteria in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at Back Up.
Registered Charity
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At Back Up, we inspire people affected by spinal cord injury to get the most out of life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.