Policy and External Affairs Manager

• Job title: Policy and External Affairs Manager
• Area of work: Policy, Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement
• Contract type: Permanent
• Employment type: Full-time (with part-time and Flexible working options considered)
• Salary: £50,000 - £60,000
• Location: Hybrid working (office base in Wales, with travel across the UK as required)
• Annual leave & benefits: Generous annual leave, employer pension contribution, flexible and hybrid working, wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, and staff networks
• Closing date: Thursday 30th April 2026

Overview
This is an influentialopportunity for an experienced policy and external affairs professional to playa leading role in shaping relationships, policy engagement and public affairsactivity within a national healthcare and regulation environment.
AsPolicy and External Affairs Manager, you will lead a small specialist team andact as a central source of expertise on the political, policy and stakeholderlandscape in Wales, while also contributing to UK-wide external affairsactivity. You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues acrosspolicy, communications and engagement functions to anticipate emerging issues,develop responses, and strengthen relationships with key decision-makersand stakeholders.
Thisrole is ideal for someone with a strong background in health policy or publicaffairs, who enjoys operating at senior levels, providing trusted advice, andinfluencing in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Key Responsibilities
Policy Leadership & Strategic Advice

• Provide authoritative advice on the policy, legislative and political landscape, with a focus on healthcare and regulation.
• Lead horizon scanning and political monitoring, ensuring senior colleagues are briefed on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Produce high-quality briefings, policy papers and consultation responses to support organisational priorities.
• Advise senior leaders on external developments, helping shape strategic positioning and engagement approaches.

External Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and manage strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, including political, regulatory and sector bodies.
• Develop and deliver public affairs and stakeholder engagement plans, aligned to organisational strategy.
• Represent the organisation confidently at meetings, events, conferences and roundtables.
• Work collaboratively across UK-wide teams to ensure a coordinated approach to influencing and engagement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide inclusive and supportive leadership to a team of policy and external affairs professionals.
• Support team members' development, performance and wellbeing.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, high standards and continuous improvement.

Cross-Organisation Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across communications, engagement, policy and operational teams.
• Contribute to business planning, evaluation and continuous improvement activity.
• Play an active role in supporting high-profile engagement activity and events.

Skills & Experience Required
Essential

• Strong understanding of the political, public affairs and health policy landscape.
• Proven experience advising senior leaders and producing high-quality briefings and written advice.
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with senior external stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for varied audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and a track record of delivering complex work to deadlines.
• Experience working independently, using judgement and initiative.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop and support others.

Desirable

• Experience working within a UK-wide or multifunctionality organisation.
• Understanding of health or professional regulation.
• Experience presenting to a wide range of audiences.
• Welsh language skills.

The Team
You willjoin a collaborative, values-driven external affairs and engagement function thatworks closely with colleagues across policy, communications, stakeholderengagement and senior leadership.

The organisationoffers:

• Opportunities to influence nationally significant policy and external engagement.
• A supportive, inclusive working culture.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Strong commitment to learning, development and staff wellbeing.

A Welsh-language version of the job description is availableon request.

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