External affair manager jobs in Edinburgh
How's your job search on our site?
This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.
The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.
The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.
Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
- Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
- Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
- Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.
Public Affairs
- Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
- Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
- Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.
Campaigns & Influence
- Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
- Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
- Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims.
Leadership & People Management
- Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
- Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
- Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.
Financial Accountability
- Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
- Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the role
UnLtd is a vibrant, ambitious organisation at the heart of the UK’s social enterprise sector. As a key stakeholder and leading funder and supporter of social entrepreneurs, we continuously learn and adapt to better meet their needs and maximise their impact.
We are seeking an Events Manager to lead UnLtd’s event portfolio while our current Events Manager is on maternity leave. This person will be responsible for leading, coordinating and delivering the event plan in line with the organisational strategy. We are looking for a confident event specialist who will be able to support our frontline team to deliver a schedule of events for social entrepreneurs and UnLtd’s wider network.
You will be flexible in your approach and confident managing the whole process from planning through to delivery and event evaluation. The role is primarily hands-on and often involves working as part of, and at times leading, a cross-functional team. This role will suit you if you are patient and keep calm when things don’t go to plan, or when you don’t have all the answers you need. You’ll fall back on your meticulous organisation skills to ensure that UnLtd events are produced efficiently, fulfil their purpose, and are executed to the highest level.
This role may include some travel within the UK and evening work; however, we operate a TOIL system.
We find social entrepreneurs with bold solutions to today's challenges.
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!
Are you ready to shape public policy for lasting social change?
Do you want to influence decision-makers and champion the voice of those affected by problem debt?
Are you driven to turn insight into action that improves lives across Wales?
We’re looking for a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advocate to join our External Affairs team. You’ll be at the forefront of our work in Wales—connecting StepChange with key stakeholders, driving policy change, and amplifying our mission to create a society free from problem debt. This is a high-impact role where your insight and influence will help shape the future of debt policy and support vulnerable communities.
Location: This is a remote role, with regular travel required to Cardiff and travel to London once a month for meetings/events.
What you’ll be doing
- You’ll lead targeted lobbying campaigns and produce compelling evidence-based reports, briefings, and articles to influence public policy and regulatory practices.
- You’ll build and manage relationships with the Welsh Government and Parliament, and other influential figures and organisations across Wales.
- You’ll monitor developments in legislation, policy, and research—providing strategic advice on emerging threats and opportunities.
- You’ll represent StepChange at high-profile meetings, conferences, and media engagements, acting as a trusted voice for the charity.
- You’ll organise thought leadership events and roundtables and support senior leaders with speeches and briefings that drive our advocacy forward.
- You’ll ensure our work remains politically impartial and compliant with all relevant regulations, including Charity Commission rules and the Lobbying Act.
About you
- Significant experience in public affairs or public policy within Wales.
- Deep understanding of the Welsh Senedd, Welsh Government, and the broader policy-making landscape.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver impactful policy change.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a flair for strategic thinking and political judgement.
- Skilled at building influential networks across government, charities, and civil society.
- Organised, proactive, and passionate about social justice and equality.
- Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are incredibly important to us; we have a culture of belonging. We’re always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce to ensure we can provide the best service possible for everyone. It’s not just about the professional experience you bring – we’re interested in who you are and your potential. If there’s an adjustment to our recruitment process that would help you to be your best, speak to our team and they’ll be happy to help.
Working towards a society free from problem debt
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) is a registered charity that brings together the UK’s leading health organisations, representing more than one million health professionals, to advocate for responses to climate change that protect and promote health. Through coordinated, collective action, the Alliance communicates the relationship between health and climate change to government, the public and other health professionals.
We are seeking a dynamic, motivated, and professional Director with excellent policy, project management, and interpersonal skills, experience in strategic communications and change. The right candidate ideally also has experience in advocacy, and a track record of building consensus and leading campaigns. .
The Director will be responsible for the Alliance’s overall strategy, oversight of the communications, policy and public affairs programmes, projects, and engagement with Alliance members and key external stakeholders. They will work closely with the Chair and trustees and develop good working relationships with senior leaders and public affairs and communications teams from the membership organisations that make up the Alliance. As the sole employee, the Director needs the professional capacity to coordinate strategic and operational delivery across all areas of the charity and ability to manage multiple stakeholder relationships. They will develop and lead a strategic focus to increase income generation and build a small team of staff to enable the organisation to continue to grow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job title: Financial Controller
Salary: £34,000p.a.-£42,000p.a. pro-rata (£68,000p.a.-£70,000p.a. FTE), dependent on hours worked
We also offer 27 days of annual leave (pro-rated for hours worked) plus bank holidays and a birthday day off, 8% employer pension contributions, a core hours system of working and enhanced family friendly policies
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 18.75-22.5 hours per week with a minimum of 6 hours worked on a Tuesday and Wednesday each week. We are open to discussing how this may work for you.
Location: Wigan, London (office or hybrid working) or remote-based with occasional travel
Keep Britain Tidy is one of the UK’s leading environmental charities. At a time when we are living in a world that is facing its greatest environmental challenges, the work we do has never been more important or more urgent.
As we’re moving forward, we recognise that a diverse workforce yields the best results. We embrace all the different identities in the UK and we want our workforce to reflect that.
Environmental change is affecting us all and we want people from all backgrounds to be part of the solution and help us make the changes that cannot wait. It is for this reason that Keep Britain Tidy has flexible and supportive policies for all our staff and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.
If you love managing finance functions, we want to hear from you.
This is a satisfying role where you can develop links across the organisation and ensure our financial operations run smoothly. Key areas of leadership and oversight include:
· Annual cycles of budgeting and audit
· Monthly cycles of management accounts and projections
· Quarterly board reporting
· Ongoing financial controls
· Cash flow monitoring
· VAT and other statutory returns
· Supporting the continuing professional development of the finance team, and developing wider financial skills across the charity
Regularly meeting with programme teams, this role ensures solid financial management across the organisation, supporting staff to ensure that we operate safely and securely. The Financial Controller manages the two management accountants and through them the Finance Officer. The role reports to the Chief Financial Officer, who also oversees the HR, IT, Fundraising, Premises and GDPR functions.
All our roles benefit from generous holiday entitlement and pension contributions, including the opportunity to join the UK’s first net zero carbon pension scheme and to receive extra days leave for using alternatives to flights. If you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, you just need to let us know.
If you are interested in this job and want to help us make a difference, please review a copy of the full job description on our website and ensure that you meet the essential criteria found in the person specification before applying.
After reading the application information, if you would love to work with us and apply, please continue to apply.
As part of the application process you will need to answer 4 multiple choice questions, 3 sift questions, submit your CV and complete equal opportunities monitoring information as we want to try to make sure that our workforce is representative of the population and we are not excluding any community. Please note that this information will be held separately.
Please submit your application before the closing date.
The deadline for applications is 09:00, 20 March 2026
Interviews will be held via MS Teams 14 & 15 April 2026
If you require an in-person interview, please let us know.
We have signed the pledge to always #ShowTheSalary for the roles that we advertise.
No agencies please.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an exceptional leader who can act as a credible spokesperson and ambassador for the Catholic Union, building trusted relationships across the Church, parliament and wider society and helping to grow the Catholic Union’s influence and engagement in the years ahead.
Founded in 1870, the Catholic Union of Great Britain brings Catholic laity and Catholic social teaching to the public square across England, Wales and Scotland. Working in partnership with dioceses, parishes, MPs, MSPs, MSs, peers and Catholic organisations, our vision is of a society in which Catholic laity are informed, equipped and encouraged to engage in public life.
Our work is shaped by three key themes: engagement, education and encouragement. Through these we foster informed participation in public debate, help Catholics and the wider public understand contemporary social and political issues through a Catholic lens, and inspire greater confidence for Catholics to contribute to civic and community life.
In recent years the Catholic Union has developed from being largely volunteer-led into a more professional and strategically focused organisation, strengthening relationships across the Church and wider society. Our Weekly Briefing, now read by around 6,500 people each week, has become a key channel for parliamentary reporting, Catholic news and reflection.
As Director, you will lead the Catholic Union at an exciting moment in its development. You will represent the Catholic Union publicly, strengthening relationships with bishops, diocesan leaders, parliamentarians and Catholic organisations. You will act as a trusted ambassador for the Union, grow our channels of influence and engagement, and work with Trustees, Council and a small experienced team to support the organisation’s continued development.
If you are inspired by the opportunity to serve as a public voice for a respected Catholic organisation and help foster thoughtful dialogue and engagement in public life, we would love to hear from you.
For more information, please see the job pack attached. Closing date 10th April.
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!
Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.
We are delighted to be recruiting for Head of Northern Ireland to be the senior ambassador and strategic leader for Mary’s Meals across Northern Ireland. This role is remote however we require candidates to be based in Northern Ireland.
While playing a key role within the wider Development Directorate, you will guide how Mary’s Meals is seen, understood, and felt in Northern Ireland – shaping our public profile, driving sustained income growth, and building the partnerships and grassroots energy needed to grow our movement.
Key responsibilities include:
-
Working cross-directorate to create and deliver a fundraising growth strategy for Northern Ireland, rooted in regional insight, cultural understanding, and community needs, and aligned with the global and national strategy.
-
Working with the Communications team, shape a clear and compelling narrative, respecting the nation’s strong identity.
-
Identify emerging opportunities across Northern Ireland, including diocesan networks, local relationships, and regional giving patterns, adjusting plans quickly to drive maximum impact.
-
Serve as the senior MMUK representative in Northern Ireland, ensuring activity aligns with the national organisational strategy.
-
Act as the leading spokesperson for Mary’s Meals in Northern Ireland, representing the charity to churches, schools, local authorities, individuals, universities, and community or business networks.
-
Spend focused time externally; networking, nurturing partnerships and driving growth through representing the charity at events, meetings, faith gatherings, conferences, and civic forums.
-
Proactively cultivate, pursue, and develop fundraising opportunities via networking and outreach with the aim of securing support for our school feeding programme.
-
Develop and maintain a robust national growth pipeline, ensuring proactive identification, cultivation, conversion, and stewardship of opportunities.
-
Significant focus on the growth and development of new Volunteer Fundraising Groups in counties across Northern Ireland.
-
Line manage and coach a Regional Development Officer, enabling them to become a confident, high‑performing fundraiser.
-
Serve as a trusted media spokesperson for press, broadcast, and faith media when required.
-
Work closely with the Communications team to provide compelling local supporter stories, impactful moments, and local activity to showcase.
-
Shape national to local messaging so that campaigns resonate with audiences across Northern Ireland.
To apply for the role of Head of Northern Ireland based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on Charity Job.
Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK.
We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 24 March 2026.
Interviews will commence week commencing 30th March 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Shape public policy. Safeguard professional standards. Lead a profession towards the statutory recognition it deserves.
Not every Chief Executive role involves influencing government, protecting professional standards and occasionally resolving a registrant query before the end of the day.
After seven years, Mike Orlov is retiring as Chief Executive and Registrar of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters. The Board is now seeking a successor who can continue strengthening the organisation and raising the profile and importance of professional interpreters working across public services.
NRPSI is the independent voluntary regulator and national register for public service interpreters in the United Kingdom. It sets professional standards, upholds accountability and provides assurance to public sector organisations, including the Ministry of Justice, the Metropolitan Police and NHS bodies, in settings where interpreters are relied upon in critical situations.
In these environments, clear communication is essential. When it fails, the consequences can affect legal outcomes, safeguarding decisions and, in some situations, lives.
The organisation is entering an important moment in its development. The House of Lords Public Services Committee’s 2025 report on interpreting services in the courts has brought renewed national attention to the role that professional interpreters play across justice, policing and healthcare. At the same time, NRPSI continues to advance the longer-term ambition of statutory regulation and protection of title for Registered Public Service Interpreters.
As Victor Olowe, Chair of NRPSI, puts it: “This is an important moment for NRPSI and for the wider profession, particularly following the House of Lords 2025 report and the government’s commitment to address some of its key recommendations.”
As Chief Executive and Registrar, you’ll engage with senior stakeholders across government and public services while leading a specialist, long-standing team responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Register and the standards that underpin it.
Drawing on your experience, you’ll help shape the organisation’s next stage of development and strengthen the role NRPSI plays in safeguarding the public through professional interpreting standards.
The Role
Stepping into this role, you’ll be accountable to the Board for the governance, strategic direction and operational leadership of the organisation.
This is a hands-on leadership role, working closely with the Chair and Board to shape the organisation’s strategy and priorities, while ensuring the Register continues to operate with credibility, integrity and independence.
You’ll have direct responsibility for the integrity of the Register itself. This includes oversight of registration, renewals, complaints and disciplinary processes, as well as responsibility for ensuring the organisation’s Code of Professional Conduct and regulatory framework remain robust and fit for purpose.
With your experience, moving between strategic and operational ground will come naturally to you. One week you may be engaging with senior civil servants or government departments about the importance of professional interpreting standards. The next you may be reviewing operational processes, supporting your team in the delivery of the Register’s core functions or ensuring the organisation’s financial position remains sustainable.
Your team works mainly remotely and are all long-standing, dedicated and experienced, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Register. Working in a remote-first environment, continuing a culture of collaboration, accountability and professional development while ensuring the organisation continues to deliver high standards of service is high on the list of priorities.
Externally, you’ll act as the senior voice of NRPSI. What does this mean in reality? Engaging with stakeholders across justice, policing, healthcare and central government, representing the organisation’s perspective clearly and authoritatively. This could include contributing to sector discussions, building relationships with policymakers and making the case for why professional interpreting standards matter to public safety and effective public services, or posting on LinkedIn and social channels, giving updates or hosting town halls for registrants.
The role also sees you supporting the organisation’s longer-term ambition of achieving statutory regulation and protection of title for Registered Public Service Interpreters, a goal that will genuinely benefit from the right leader’s credibility and persistence.
Financial sustainability also sits within your remit. NRPSI is funded through registration fees paid by interpreters, and you’ll oversee the organisation’s finances while ensuring resources are used effectively to deliver its strategic priorities. Alongside this, you’ll maintain oversight of operational systems and processes, identifying opportunities to improve resilience, efficiency and the effective use of digital tools.
The Person
This is a role that calls for someone who has operated at senior or director level within a charity, not-for-profit organisation, professional body, regulatory organisation, membership association or comparable public service environment.
Someone who understands the responsibilities that come with leading an organisation whose work centres on professional standards, governance and public protection, and who brings the credibility, judgement and experience required to engage effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders including government departments, public sector organisations, registrants and sector partners.
A collaborative, trust-based leadership style will be just as important: someone equally comfortable exercising independent judgement as they are balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery in a specialist organisation where both are needed in equal measure.
You’ll bring most of the following:
- Senior leadership experience at director level or above within a charity, professional body, membership organisation, regulatory body or public service environment
- Experience influencing government policy or engaging with commissioners of public spending
- Experience developing or improving regulatory, registration or accreditation processes
- The ability to represent an organisation clearly and confidently in public, including engaging with senior civil servants, sector stakeholders and the media
- Financial literacy and experience overseeing organisational budgets and sustainability
- Experience developing and delivering strategy and operational plans
- Confidence using digital systems, data and communication platforms to support organisational priorities
- Understanding of, or experience in, a registrar or equivalent function within a professional, regulatory or standards body, including accountability for the integrity of registration processes and criteria
Desirable
- Familiarity with public affairs, policy engagement or advocacy work would be advantageous, as would exposure to justice, policing, healthcare or public service environments.
- Experience navigating politically sensitive or contested professional environments, including managing public criticism, would also be beneficial.
- A second language would be welcomed.
- Above all, you’ll share a commitment to the public interest and the role professional interpreting plays in ensuring fair access to justice and public services.
A full candidate pack providing further information about the organisation accompanies this ad.
Key Information
NRPSI is working with Michelle Paoloni, Director at House Recruitment, on this appointment.
To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages outlining your relevant experience, where you saw the role advertised and what has prompted you to apply.
- Applications close at 5pm on Friday 10 April 2026.
- Discovery conversations with House Recruitment will take place on a rolling basis.
- Final interviews will be held in person in London on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
NRPSI is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and are committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process.