28 Director of external affairs jobs

You will lead FEA’s communications, reputation, brand, policy insight, public affairs and influencing work, bringing these disciplines together into a coherent external affairs strategy that strengthens FEA’s profile, credibility and impact. Drawing on evidence, insight from our members and the voices of young people, you will turn FEA’s work into clear positions, compelling stories and purposeful engagement with the people who can help change the system.

You will lead through two specialist Heads, the Head of Communications and Head of Policy Insights, and be accountable for the effectiveness of the External Affairs function as a whole. You will set direction, sharpen priorities and ensure the team works in an integrated way, with clear standards and measures of success. You will also work closely with colleagues across FEA, particularly our Collective Action and Collective Strength teams, ensuring that learning from our work, the expertise of our members and the experiences of young people inform our communications, policy and influencing. In turn, you will ensure strong communications and member engagement are embedded across our work.

As a senior leader in a relatively small organisation, you will combine strategic leadership with the judgement and flexibility to get close to delivery when it matters. You will be equally comfortable setting FEA’s external strategy, advising the CEO and SLT, providing evidence to a select committee, coaching senior colleagues, shaping a major piece of communications or policy work, and stepping in to ensure the quality of important external content. You will also be a senior external representative for FEA, building relationships with policymakers, sector leaders and other key stakeholders.

This role is for someone who can operate at both movement and organisational level: building FEA’s external authority, connecting evidence with lived experience, and helping our members and young people speak with clarity and collective strength at moments when the national conversation on educational equity can shift.