2 External affairs advisor jobs in Birmingham
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Please note - this role is homebased in Scotland, with some travel througout Scotland and to London required.
Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life.
Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities working with older people across the UK. We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.
We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.
Responsibilities and Person Specification:
This new role is an integral part of the day-to-day delivery of our Advice and Support Service. The service is targeted at older people in or facing financial hardship, and provides information, advice and follow up support relating to a range of issues, including Welfare Benefits, Social Care and Housing.
As an Adviser (Scotland) you will be responsible for providing specialist support to older people, their families and carers through our advice service with their enquiries relating to housing and welfare benefits in Scotland as well as providing generalist level support on a range of issues through our duty service.
You should have in depth, specialist level knowledge of Housing or Welfare Benefits in Scotland as they relate to older people. Experience of working within a high-volume advice setting and advice supervision framework such as the AQS framework.
We plan to further develop our advice offer in Scotland to cover advice around charging for Social Care, so whilst not essential, knowledge of this area, or a desire to develop will be beneficial.
For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.
This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight. We also are open to this role being worked on a part-time basis on a minimum of 21 hours per week.
What it’s like to work at Independent Age:
We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.
We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.
We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all. But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.
With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age by visiting the Careers page on our website.
Application Process:
To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site.
To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.
Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Level 1 (Basic) Disclosure check will be carried out for the successful candidate.
Closing Date: Sunday 4th October 2026 11:59pm
Interview Dates:
First round of interviews will take place online on Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th October
Second round of interviews will be held in person, in Glasgow, on Wednesday 21st October
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more
Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.
Ormiston Academies Trust is looking for an exceptional Head of Executive Office and Communications to sit at the heart of our organisation — running our Executive Office and shaping how we communicate with 45 schools, our staff, and the wider world.
In this dual role, you'll act as trusted adviser to our CEO and Deputy CEO, managing correspondence, priorities and special projects across the Trust. You'll lead our entire communications agenda including internal, external, press and public affairs, building a strategy that helps every one of our schools feel connected to our mission, and that raises Ormiston's voice and influence across the education sector.
You'll work closely with our National Leadership Group, Principals and senior leaders, and you'll have real scope to shape how a large, multi-layered organisation talks to itself and to the outside world.
About you
You'll bring senior leadership experience, ideally gained managing a press office or public affairs function, and you'll be confident operating as a trusted adviser to CEO-level and Principal-level stakeholders. You'll have a track record managing communications across multiple channels in a large, complex organisation, and be a confident user of technology and AI, with a clear view of how AI will change communications and administration. Experience in education, the public sector, or working with ministers, regulators or national media would be an advantage, but isn't essential.
Strong writing and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to distil complex information for different audiences and communicate it clearly and simply. You'll bring calm, decisive leadership under pressure, including experience managing high-profile issues or reputational risk. This role requires you to combine excellent project management with the ability to build and sustain relationships across an organisation and beyond it.
Above all, you'll bring a genuine commitment to Ormiston's mission and values, and the creativity and critical thinking to solve problems in a fast-paced, changing environment.
About Ormiston Academies Trust
Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.
We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, you can be sure of a role with purpose and meaning.
Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…
- The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
- Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
- Being part of a team and community where you belong – receiving bespoke and holistic support from a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
- A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits
Benefits that care for you
We value your hard work and dedication, and we're committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children and young people in our schools.
When you join us at Ormiston, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role.
You will have access to an attractive benefits package including:
- 30 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service)
- Generous pension and life cover
- Access to health and well-being programmes, including a counselling service.
- Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
- Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Automatic pay progression.
- Flexible working arrangements.
And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust.
We are open to considering secondment and fixed term/flexible working arrangements for the right candidate.
If you have any questions about the role please contact our recruitment team.
The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews due to take place the week commencing 5 October 2026.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be found.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.