External affair director jobs in belfast
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The eoa exists to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy. With 800+ member businesses and a community of thousands of employee owners, we are the national voice for employee ownership in the UK.
Our refreshed strategy is focused on accelerating impact through people powered growth. We’re here to make employee ownership a mainstream business model choice—by expanding the sector, setting the standard for excellence, and building a connected, values-led ecosystem. We do this through sharp insight, high-impact advocacy, and a thriving member experience.
For founders and business owners exploring employee ownership, or for leaders and managers building Great EO businesses, the eoa offers tools, knowledge, experience and connection. We facilitate powerful peer learning, codify what works, and champion the stories that inspire others to choose EO.
Together with our members, we’re creating the conditions for employee ownership to thrive—seizing the political, cultural, and digital opportunities ahead. and this is where you come in.
As Director of Partnerships and Growth, you’ll be the driving force behind the eoa’s external influence and reach. you’ll lead our advocacy and external affairs strategy, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver powerful events programmes that accelerate adoption of Great EO. You’ll also shape the narrative—ensuring our insights, policy recommendations and thought leadership land with impact.
This is a high-profile, senior leadership role at a pivotal time for the EO community. It calls for someone with a track record in advocacy or external affairs, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. It also needs a big-picture thinker - someone who can champion EO, influence change, and help us build a more inclusive, resilient economy.
If you’re excited about the opportunity to grow an economy that puts people at the heart of business, we’d love to hear from you.
Role Details
At the heart of this Director of Parnterships & Growth role is the opportunity to shape the external environment for employee ownership, champion the voice of our members, and lead high-impact strategies that grow both our reach and the sector itself.
You’ll lead on policy, advocacy, external affairs and events—crafting compelling narratives, building powerful partnerships, and delivering programmes that drive commercial sustainability and sector-wide change.
From shaping relationships with key stakeholders and securing strategic sponsorships, to overseeing the delivery of thought leadership, content, and events, you’ll ensure that the eoa is not just part of the national conversation—but leading it.
Your ability to influence, convene, and inspire will be critical to removing barriers to employee ownership and unlocking the potential of our £1.7m organisation to deliver even greater impact.
Join us on this exciting journey where your leadership will shape policy, grow influence, and contribute to our mission of unlocking the potential of people, businesses, and the economy through employee ownership.
This role is remote, however regular travel to our HQ in Brough and across the UK is expected.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead external affairs, collaborating with stakeholders to shape policy, advocacy and best practice that removes barriers and expands EO.
- Establish relationships and secure commercial partnerships and sponsorships, generating revenue to support advocacy, events, and sector growth initiatives.
- Engage key stakeholders to co-produce content that positively influence EO practice and policy and amplify the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
- Oversee delivery of an effective content strategy that delivers our commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading EO authority.
- Oversee 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 & Operations to align advocacy efforts with member needs and engagement.
- Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across advocacy, policy, event activities.
Success in this role
Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth rate, influence and adoption of great EO across the employee ownership sector. Strengthening and expanding stakeholder relationships, driving advocacy impact and securing commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of sponsorships, partnerships will also be indicators of success.
Key outcomes for the role
- Growth of the employee ownership sector. Measured by increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness
- Strengthened corporate engagement. Measured by growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement
- Strong Commercial Sustainability. Measured by increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships
- Increased policy influence. Measured by policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement
- Enhanced sector insight and intelligence. Measured by utilisation of high-quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs.
- Development and adoption of best practice. Measured by creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.
- Successful events programmes. Measured by iIncreased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.
About you
- Proven expertise in advocacy, public affairs, 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, and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
- Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
- Experience in event programme development, 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 through teamwork.
- Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.
Role Summary
- Contract: Permanent
- Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
- Location: Remote, with regular travel to eoa offices and national events
- Salary & Benefits: £65,000 p/a + 7% Pensions. 30 Days leave + Bank Holidays.
- Reports to: CEO
- Management: TBC
We exist to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy.





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Vegan Corporate Projects Liaison
Position Objective:
To advance PETA's work, particularly our promotion of vegan living, by initiating and delivering various special projects
Term of Employment:
Full-time, Permanent
Salary:
£30,000 - £32,000
Location:
Remote in Mainland UK
Reports to:
Corporate Projects Manager, PETA Foundation
Primary Responsibilities and Duties:
- Work with the Director of Vegan Corporate Projects and Corporate Projects Manager to develop and manage a strategic plan for PETA's work with companies
- Establish and maintain productive relationships with corporations and institutions, and negotiate to improve/increase their vegan options while reducing/eliminating meat, dairy and eggs
- Work with caterers at major sports arenas in the UK to encourage them to expand and promote their vegan food offering
- Encourage chicken shop takeaways to have vegan chicken options on the menu
- Develop positive ways to reach farmers, farming organisations, and the public, to promote plant-based agriculture
- Ensure consistency and best practices in external communications
- Prepare and deliver presentations to executives
- Initiate and execute projects to encourage the public to try a vegan lifestyle
- Develop and make recommendations for ways to increase media coverage of vegan eating in order to help push it further into the mainstream
- Oversee, organise, participate in, and execute vegan-related awareness events
- Attend meetings in order to brainstorm and develop future projects
- Work with PETA's media and marketing teams to achieve maximum exposure for our corporate work
- Represent PETA's corporate campaigns to the media and the general public
- Travel to attend meetings or news conferences
- Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor
Qualifications:
- Minimum of two years' experience in advocacy, public relations, or corporate affairs
- Demonstrated ability to create and deliver presentations, address and overcome objections, and negotiate and close deals
- Proven exceptional organisational and research skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively with minimal supervision
- Thorough knowledge of animal rights issues and PETA campaigns
- Knowledge of hospitality industry a plus
- Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines
- Commitment to the objectives of the organisation and the ability to advocate its positions on issues in a professional manner
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Who are we?
Founded in 1996 as the Sleep Apnoea Trust Association, a charitable incorporated trust, we're a patient support charity run mainly by volunteer patients
Be a part of our mission in working to improve the lives of sleep apnoea patients, their partners and families
Key duties and reponsibilities:
Management Role
· Based on the policies of the charity as defined by the Trustees Board (created Oct 2022 AGM), manage the affairs of the charity with due respect for its heritage, status and independence.
· Within those defined policies, take decisions that allow the development of its business activities, liaising with other Trustees as necessary, and report to the Trustees on a regular basis.
· When necessary, liaise on allocation of duties to other Trustees on a cooperative basis.
· Represent the charity at occasional public events and meetings with collaborative partners and in negotiations, e.g. NICE, ARTP, Sleep Clinics.
· Act as main point of external contact and manage that contact as appropriate.
· Take purchasing decisions within the defined responsibility of the position.
· Modernise and develop the SATA business on as cost efficient basis as possible — goal is generally self-financing.
· Explore business opportunities as appropriate.
· Identify risk, consult with other officers and recommend action for Board decision.
· Finalise move to paperless operation.
Administrative Duties
· Arrange Trustee Board Meetings.
· Manage Membership Database.
· Administer Membership Renewals.
· Register & acknowledge new memberships.
· Handle resignations, deaths and other membership issues with appropriate respect.
· Acknowledge Donations.
· Administer Gift Aid claim with Treasurer.
For the full job description and further information, please refer to the attachement below.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Research Associate - National Youth Agency
Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential to extend)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Remote: This role is 100% homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Knowledge Team, working alongside two existing Research Associates and a Data Analyst.
You will be integral in delivering research, data, and insights that support organisational development and programme delivery across NYA.
We are looking for an experienced mixed-methods researcher with a strong understanding of social research and evaluation approaches. Ideally, you will have experience working in or alongside the youth sector and be confident using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
You’ll need to be flexible, proactive, and a strong communicator, able to explain complex ideas to varied audiences.
This role is ideal for someone looking to make a tangible difference through evidence-led approaches that shape policy, practice, and impact in youth work.
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
- Designing and delivering research projects using a range of methods including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
- Supporting the development of the NYA research and data hub, including external research collation and data visualisation.
- Leading on evaluations to meet funder requirements and contribute to NYA’s growing evidence base.
- Analysing data from NYA programmes to support impact measurement.
- Promoting evidence-based practice across NYA and the wider youth sector.
- Communicating findings clearly through reports, briefings, and presentations.
- Managing research projects and collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver on time and to quality.
- Responding to internal and external research enquiries.
The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences.
Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.
Why Work for NYA?
NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
How to Apply:
Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 12th May 2025:
A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the
About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.
Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Youth Work changes lives
Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it. As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.
We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.
REF-221126
We are looking for an Engagement Manager (East of England) to join us on a fixed term contract, for 12-months, to cover maternity leave.
About the role
The key purpose of the Engagement Manager role is to deliver regional Sight Loss Councils across the East of England and to engage with blind and partially sighted people across the region. We currently have two Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) in this region, so the postholder will be expected to care-take and develop both SLCs, focusing on the retention of the volunteers engaged and making sure the projects and work they are involved in, continue with success. You will also be managing and developing stakeholder relationships across all the areas in which we work including transport and health sectors, as well with local authorities and arts and culture venues in the region.
About you
You will have the passion and ability to use your lived experience or experience to influence change, for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people. As an experienced volunteer manager, you will engage and lead Sight Loss Council members in the implementation of the region’s business plans to bring about change across transport, health and the built environment, as well as areas of local interest such as arts and culture or retail.
You will be a self-starter and work well on your own but will also enjoy being a part of a team of other Engagement Managers across the country, with whom you can learn from, as well as share good practice with.
About us
At Thomas Pocklington Trust, we’re promoting equality and inclusion blind and partially sighted people in every aspect of society. One of our many missions is to establish Sight Loss Councils across the UK, to tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Position: Press and Communications Officer
Hours: Part-Time, 12 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in Belfast with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: Starting from £9,045 (FTE £26,384) per annum, plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity*
*you’ll start at the entry point salary of £9,045 (FTE £26,384) per annum, increasing to £9,611 (FTE £28,033) after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £10,176 (FTE £29,682) after a further 6 months.
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
This is a great opportunity to join a dedicated team who are passionate about improving the lives of people with MS. We are looking for someone who is confident in navigating social media channels and has a proven track record in creating engaging content for a range of audiences.
The successful candidate will be supporting the development and delivery of our digital communications to increase our reach across Northern Ireland so you’ll need to have confidence navigating Meta Platforms and online graphic design tools such as Canva or similar.
You will be joining a busy team so communication skills and time management are crucial as well as an ability to spot opportunities and work on your own initiative with support from your manager and the wider Northern Ireland team. If this sounds like you we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 am on Wednesday 14th May 2025
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS