External affair director jobs in belfast

Employer Policy Specialist

Working Hours: 0.6FTE (full-time equivalent 37.5 hours). There is a degree of flexibility surrounding the working hours which will be determined by the demands of the role.

Salary: 0.6FTE: £40,658 (the full-time equivalent salary is: £67,763).

Start Date: 1st September 2025.

Reporting to: Director of Public Affairs & Policy

Deadline for applications: Friday 18th July 2025, 5pm

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted online on Thursday 24th July

Overview

The DfE has nominated CST as the employer representative for academy trusts for specific purposes (for example, the school support staff negotiating body).  The postholder will be required to work directly with the Department for Education at a senior level to undertake the duties associated with this employer representative role.  CST also wishes to strengthen its support to members on wider matters of employer policy. There is significant scope to shape and develop this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Have a detailed understanding of the terms and conditions of employment of teaching and support staff and the workforce issues affecting the education sector, particularly those influencing recruitment and retention of staff.

• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders (members, senior DfE officials and ministers) and work closely with other employer representative organisations.

• Working closely with the CEO and Deputy CEO, build relationships at senior level with trade unions (leadership, teacher and support staff unions).

• Lead on developing CST’s employer policy and guidance, working with our members and commanding their support and respect, and working closely with the policy team.

• Support the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Affairs and Policy to influence and respond to government policy in respect of employer policy, including drafting responses to government consultations and being our representative on the DfE’s formally constituted groups.

• Provide professional support and guidance to members on matters relating to employer policy, within the restrictions of what we are insured to do as a professional body.

• Support our HR professional community.

• Speak with authority at events and conferences as CST’s nominated representative on employer policy.

• Offer support to the wider CST policy team in other areas that fall within the postholder’s experience or expertise. This may include occasionally deputising for other team members for example covering for annual leave or sickness absence.

• Any other duties and responsibilities that may be delegated by the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive or Director of Public Affairs and Policy from time to time.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Likely educated to degree level (or holding a similar professional qualification or experience) with significant knowledge and experience of employment matters within the education sector and employer policy.

• The ideal candidate will have experience working at senior level likely within an educational, policy or consultancy setting. Knowledge of schools and the trust sector is essential as is the ability to respond to issues in a way which conveys the practical realities of working in schools.

• A sound understanding of the differences between academy trusts and the maintained sector.

• Secure knowledge of legislation, regulations and policy that affect school trusts.

• Authority and gravitas with the ability to speak up at meetings with senior officials with the required diplomacy and at all times with the members’ interests in mind.

• People-centred, with excellent relational skills, adept at forming and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, members and senior external stakeholders (including policy makers, employer representative organisations and trade unions).

• Output focused, able to execute a range of communications across channels efficiently.

• Fluent and precise, an excellent communicator who writes well.

• The ability to analyse detail and distil key points, identifying matters of concern or interest to school trusts.

• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines, including turning around high-quality responses to members and DfE in short timescales.

• Someone who embodies the Nolan Principles and acts with integrity and discretion.

• Aligned with CST’s aims to promote education for public benefit.

• Skilled at working remotely as part of a close-knit team. Whilst this position is remote (home-based) there will be the requirement to attend in person meetings from time to time.

To develop and deliver the charity’s policy and campaigning strategy and the charity’s programme of health projects to ensure the charity achieves its key objectives.  To build engagement with the NHS, Department of Health, Parliamentarians, policy makers, think tanks, charity and patient groups to develop and deliver our campaigning strategy.  Build engagement with HCP networks and related organisations to inform and support delivery of our health information work.

To be the owner and primary point of contact for FBC’s health policy and campaigning activities, working closely with the CEO to represent the interests of the charity with decision-making bodies such as UK government and Parliament, NHS, devolved health and social care bodies and other stakeholders.  The postholder will Influence key decision makers, collaborate in initiatives and comment on policy decisions to press for higher levels of research funding, organisational changes to drive earlier diagnosis and improvements in patient experience.

The post holder will have the ability to meld impactful campaigning, political astuteness and evidence-based policymaking to drive change with demonstrable sensitivity to health inequalities and other issues that affect bladder cancer patients and their families.

They will be organised and will be able to manage several tasks at once, meeting strict deadlines.

Are you passionate about the wellbeing of people and the planet?

Can you engage people through effective communications and events?

If so, we’d love to hear to hear from you.

We believe in people and the planet thriving together. We want to see a world where thriving is possible - because society is structured to support people's wellbeing rather than to undermine it. We're building a network of wellbeing changemakers who share our vision.

We're now recruiting for a Network Development Manager to oversee our relationships with our followers, including by rolling out a new Ambassador programme. Working from home, somewhere in the UK, flexibly for three days a week, the successful candidate will play a major role at the heart of a growing movement to embed wellbeing in our economy and our society.

They will be a good team player with experience of engaging networks of passionate people. They will have excellent spoken and written communications skills and a track record in organising exciting online and in-person events. Some fundraising experience would be an advantage, but above all, they will have a passion for wellbeing - of people and of the planet.  

Note

• We are looking to ensure the diversity of the staff group reflects the diversity of people in the UK and would welcome applications from people in all social groups.
• We offer 28 days paid leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays and membership of our pension scheme.
• All appointments to the Network of Wellbeing are subject to a six-month probation period.

About the role

Northern Ireland has an amazingly rich heritage of church and chapel buildings that we want to see well maintained, valued and in use. We’re looking for a Support Officer – based in Northern Ireland – who can help us to complete the delivery of our pioneering The National Lottery Heritage Fund project. This role will support churches of all denominations with maintenance and tourism advice, training and events and be a key contact for churches looking for heritage support in Northern Ireland.

This is a fixed-term role until the end of April 2026, with the possibility of an extension. The role is full-time (35 hours per week); part-time will be considered for the right candidate. You will be home-based in Northern Ireland, with occasional travel to London.

About the National Churches Trust

As an integral part of the UK’s heritage, we want to keep the UK’s wonderful collection of church buildings well maintained, valued and in use. Working on the ground in all four nations, we support churches of all denominations with the challenges and opportunities they face. Our vision is to see open churches thriving at the heart of their communities.

Our mission

• We Speak Up: churches are valued and supported
• We Build Up: churches are well maintained, adaptable and in good repair
• We Open Up: churches are sustainable, open and welcoming support

Our values

• Being straightforward in responding to others’ needs
• Providing support that makes a difference
• Joining forces to achieve greater impact
• Driving change that brings our vision closer

You can find out more about our pioneering Treasure Ireland project on our website.

To find out more about the role and apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday, 15 July 2025.
Interview dates: Monday, 11 / Tuesday, 12 / Wednesday, 13 August 2025, in person in Northern Ireland (date and venue TBC).