Press and external affairs officer jobs
About Mesothelioma UK
Mesothelioma UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. Our mission is to help people live better and longer, champion equitable access to improved treatments, advance research, and amplify the voices of those living with mesothelioma. We are proud to provide specialist nursing, information, research, and advocacy services across the UK.
The Opportunity
As our founder and current CEO steps down, we are seeking a visionary and values-driven Chief Executive to lead Mesothelioma UK into its next chapter. This is a pivotal moment for the charity, offering the chance to build on our strong foundations and drive forward our ambitious strategy to improve outcomes for all those affected by mesothelioma.
About the Role
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will:
- Inspire and lead a high-performing team, including our unique NHS-based nursing network.
- Develop and deliver organisational strategy and operational plans.
- Ensure robust financial management and income generation.
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders including the NHS, donors, partners, and research teams.
- Act as an ambassador for the charity, raising our national and international profile.
- Uphold our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
About You
We are looking for an exceptional leader who brings:
- Proven experience at CEO, Director, or equivalent senior level in a non-profit or health sector environment.
- A track record in leadership, strategic planning, financial management, governance and fundraising.
- Strong people management and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Passion for our mission and values, with high ethical standards and integrity.
- The ability to inspire, motivate, and unite staff, volunteers, and partners.
What We Offer
- Salary circa £75,000 (negotiable, dependent on experience)
- 10% employer pension contribution
- Health Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme
- Flexible working arrangements
- The chance to make a profound difference to people’s lives
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We are a national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by mesothelioma through expert care, information, and advocacy.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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!
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 Officer 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 wider external affairs activity 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 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 Officer, you will sit at the heart of our communications and parliamentary work. You will work closely with colleagues and members to raise awareness of the value of homecare and advance the interests of the sector.
You will help grow our profile in Parliament and the media, support campaigns, and strengthen relationships with MPs, journalists and stakeholders. You will also play a key role in translating member experience into compelling external messages and ensuring members feel heard, supported and represented.
This role suits someone who enjoys joining the dots, spots opportunities quickly and wants to build a career in external affairs, public affairs or communications within a respected, mission-driven organisation.
What you will do
- Track parliamentary activity and political developments, summarising key issues for colleagues and members
- Support parliamentary engagement, including drafting briefings, communications and Parliamentary Questions
- Build and maintain relationships with MPs, parliamentary staff and external stakeholders
- Monitor media coverage and help shape proactive and reactive media opportunities
- Draft clear, engaging content for press releases, member communications and external channels
- Plan and deliver social media activity that strengthens reach, engagement and influence
- Work closely with members to capture case studies, insights and lived experience
- Contribute to blogs, publications, events and conferences, including party conferences
- Support the team with 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.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your CV and a 2-page covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification.
The Homecare Association is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates.
For the full role profile, and person specification, please go to our website and the 'About Us' page.
Closing date for applications
Monday 26 January 2026 at 11.59pm. We reserve the right to close applications early.
Please note that we are not accepting speculative approaches or CVs from recruitment agencies or third-party recruiters.
Interviews
First stage interviews will be w/c Monday 2 February 2026.
These will be held in person, at our office in London. The closest train station is Waterloo.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Charity People is delighted to be partnering with AdviceUK to recruit for an interim Head of Policy, Programmes and Media. Joining the organisation as a maternity leave cover contract, this is a role where you will have the opportunity to achieve significant impact across some key priority areas.
Since 1979, Advice UK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice. A small but mighty - and growing! - charity that supports its members to provide advice to upwards of 2.5 million people each year. The organisation is working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need in order to exercise their rights and address any legal and social welfare challenges they may face.
Contract: Interim maternity cover role, nine to 12 month contract
Salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum
Location: Hybrid role which will be predominantly home-based with travel to London for either office days or meetings expected around one day per week
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week or part time, 28 hours per week considered with flexible working options fully supported
Closing date for applications: 9am Friday 30th January
Interviews: Interviews will be held in person at the charity offices in London on the 11th and 12th of February
The Head of Policy, Programmes and Media position is a senior position within the organisation. Part of the SLT and reporting to the CEO the postholder will take the lead on all policy and public affairs initiatives to secure policy change and funding to benefit people seeking advice and the communities served by the organisation's members.
Core responsibilities within the role will include:
- Develop and oversee the implementation of effective strategies for policy and funder influence that enable Advice UK to achieve its purpose
- Identify new audiences and develop innovative approaches to sustain and grow Advice UK's stakeholder and funder network and achieve its strategic priorities
- Be accountable for Advice UK's policy, public affairs and funded activities, reporting to the Chief Executive and Advice UK Board
- Lead the development and coordination of clear, concise and authoritative policy positions on key issues
- Identify actionable and achievable policy influencing goals to achieve change on the highest priority issues and develop strategic influencing plans to achieve these goals
- Alongside the Chief Executive, be Advice UK spokesperson and representative at external events including policy roundtables, steering groups, conferences, meetings and other events
- Oversee and deliver a proactive public affairs strategy to achieve policy change on the issues of priority concern to members
- Identify and build effective relationships with key contacts across UK and devolved governments and parliaments, including Ministers, MPs, civil servants and local and regional decision makers
- Lead a stakeholder engagement programme for Advice UK working strategically to identify, develop and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including policy influencers, funders, sector partners and other organisations
- Oversee the development of effective press and media campaigns, mobilising support and leveraging media opportunities to raise awareness and drive action on priority issues
- Oversee the development and effective delivery of the #AdviceSaves campaign (including Advice Week), ensuring impact is measured and lessons learned
- Oversee development of research and analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities in support of our policy and campaign objectives, using this to provide evidence-based insights and identify specific policy solutions to inform advocacy efforts
- Lead the development of high-quality research and insight products, including research reports and commissioned surveys to support our influencing goals
- Oversee the delivery of Advice UK's funding strategy to open up funding opportunities for members and their advice services
- As the departmental budget holder, lead on all financial management for the department, including forecasting and measuring financial performance, setting and managing budgets, reducing waste, and taking action to ensure the department achieves its financial objectives
- Provide effective leadership to the Policy and Public Affairs department including line management of a team of four, ensuring their strong performance and supporting their learning and development
- Work with other members of the senior leadership team to develop and implement Advice UK's strategic plan in supporting of its overall strategic objectives and to establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs)
We'd love to see applications from candidates with the following skills and experience:
- Significant experience of delivering within a complex policy environment, ideally within an organisation of similar size and complexity including of developing and delivering impactful policy and public affairs strategies that have led to demonstrable change
- Experience or an understanding of the social welfare advice sector; the issues faced by advice providers and the communities they serve
- Experience of working with suppliers and partners to deliver campaigns, research and funding proposals including tendering, negotiating and contracting, and of working in coalitions and partnerships to achieve shared objectives
- Experience acting as a spokesperson for an organisation
- Experience of strategic leadership of teams and working with CEO, Board and as part of a senior leadership team
- Ability to apply knowledge to new challenges and situations, and to devise solutions
- Strong analytical thinking and decision-making skills, with ability to translate data and evidence into actionable insights to inform decision-making
- Ability to think strategically; working in timescales of between one to three years
- Ability to manage and motivate staff to deliver complex or challenging projects
- Commitment to social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion
If you're interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please send your CV to Alice at Charity People in the first instance.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our purpose is to improve the lives of people in need of advice. We do this by supporting our members, so it is easier for them to help their clients.
Thank you!
Head of Communications & PR
We are seeking a Head of Communications & PR to elevate the national voice of a values-driven arts education charity as they prepare to open their new headquarters at the iconic Wigan Pier. Shape the story of their next chapter and help influence the future of cultural education in England and beyond.
Position: Head of Communications & PR
Salary: £39,837 to £43,570 (pro rata based on 35 hour week FTE)
Location: Wigan (hybrid: home working, Wigan Pier office from Summer 2026, plus travel as needed)
Hours: 25-30 (negotiable)
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 9.00 am on Monday 19th January 2026
Please note - This role is offered at 25-30 hours per week (FTE 35 hours), with flexibility and negotiation on your working pattern to help you to balance work and life.
About the Role
The Head of Communications & PR plays a pivotal role in strengthening the organisation’s national presence and ensuring that the story of arts education and the people who make it possible, is heard, understood and valued.
You will shape a clear communications and PR strategy, lead and support a small communications team, champion ethical and inclusive storytelling, and ensure all messaging reflects the organisation’s values of equity, inclusion, quality and care.
Reporting to the Director of Relationships and Marketing, you will:
- Lead proactive, strategic communications that bring the charity’s mission to life
- Manage media relationships and secure thoughtful, impactful press coverage
- Oversee all digital communications, including website and social channels
- Support colleagues to communicate their work confidently and clearly
- Shape organisational messaging around programme launches, events and key moments
- Elevate the visibility of teaching artists, cultural organisations and partners
- Uphold high-quality, accessible and ethical storytelling in all content
This is a unique opportunity to influence national conversations, shift perceptions about arts-based learning, and shine a spotlight on the people, places and practices shaping cultural education today.
About You
We’re looking for a strategic communicator, a relationship-builder and a natural storyteller, someone who loves ideas, thrives on collaboration and believes deeply in the power of the arts to help children flourish.
You will be:
- A confident communicator with excellent writing skills and an eye for accuracy
- An experienced media handler who builds strong, respectful journalist relationships
- Curious, creative and able to turn complex ideas into compelling stories
- Organised, calm under pressure and skilled at managing multiple priorities
- Inclusive and ethical in your approach to storytelling and representation
- A supportive team leader who motivates others with clarity, care and ambition
This is an exciting moment to join the team. You’ll help establish the organisation’s voice as it moves into its new home at Wigan Pier and expands its local, national and international reach.
About the Organisation
The charity’s vision is for a future where being creative and experiencing brilliant culture is a regular part of every child’s learning and life. They work strategically across Northern England, nationally and internationally to tackle unequal access to creativity and the arts for children and young people.
They value curiosity, courage, collaboration, care, conscientiousness and credibility, and are committed to anti-racist practice, ensuring diversity is at the heart of everything they do.
Other roles you may have experience of could include: Head of Communications, PR Manager, Communications Lead, Head of External Affairs, Media & Communications Manager, Senior Communications Officer, Strategic Communications Lead, Head of Marketing and Communications, Public Relations Lead, or similar.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
