External Affairs Specialist

Do you want your work to influence Parliament, shape public debate and make a tangible difference to people’s lives? 

We are looking for a driven, curious and politically savvy External Affairs Specialist to join an excellent team that delivers for our members every day. This role offers a genuine opportunity to help build and strengthen our parliamentary engagement and deliver high quality communication with our members at a pivotal time for social care. 

You will join a supportive, intelligent and ambitious team that values evidence, collaboration and impact. We invest in our people, encourage professional development and give you real responsibility and exposure from day one. Your work will help shape national conversations and support a sector that matters. 

About us 

We are the UK’s leading membership body for over 2,200 homecare providers. Together, we work to ensure society values and invests in homecare so people can live well at home and flourish in their communities. We support our members with practical tools, trusted insight and strong representation, and we speak with authority to government, Parliament, the media and the wider public. 

About the role 

As External Affairs Specialist, you will play a central role in two of our most important priorities: strengthening our parliamentary engagement and delivering clear, timely and high-quality communication with our members. 

You will ensure members feel informed, heard and represented, while helping to build our presence and influence in Parliament. A core part of the role involves translating what our members experience on the ground into clear, persuasive messages that resonate with policymakers and parliamentarians. 

This role suits someone who enjoys joining the dots, spots opportunities quickly and wants to continue building a career in public affairs, parliamentary engagement and communications within a respected, mission driven organisation. 

What you will do 

Parliamentary engagement 

• Lead day to day parliamentary monitoring and identify opportunities to influence debates, questions and policy development 

• Draft high quality briefings, parliamentary questions and stakeholder communications 

• Build and maintain relationships with MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff 

• Support delivery of our parliamentary engagement activity, including events and party conferences 

Member communication 

• Draft clear, timely and engaging communications for members, including briefings, updates and campaigns 

• Work directly with members to capture insights, case studies and evidence 

• Ensure member voice sits at the centre of our external messaging 

• Translate complex policy and political developments into practical, accessible information for members 

Wider external affairs 

• Monitor media coverage and support proactive and reactive media activity 

• Contribute to social media and wider communications output 

• Support campaigns, publications, events and stakeholder engagement 

• Support team coordination, reporting and continuous improvement 

About you 

You are bright, motivated and organised, with a strong interest in politics, policy and communications. You enjoy writing, relationship-building and working at pace. You take initiative, think critically and care about delivering high-quality work. 

You will bring: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to different audiences 

• Experience in public affairs, media, communications or campaigning, or a closely related field 

• An understanding of UK parliamentary processes and political engagement 

• Confidence using social media to inform, engage and influence 

• Strong planning skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities 

• An interest in social care, health or public services, or a desire to build expertise in this area 

Why join us 

If you want a role where your ideas count and your work makes a difference, we would love to hear from you.