External Affairs Coordinator

Location: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford, OX2 0QH

Salary: £28,000-£32,000 (depending on experience)

Hours: 35

Job Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

We are RABI – the farmers charity. RABI supports farming people across England and Wales with expert, one-to-one practical, financial and emotional help, 365 days a year. From confidential advice and mental health support to direct financial assistance, our tailored services respond to the unique challenges of farming life.

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to strengthening resilience; helping farming people feel valued, supported and better equipped to navigate uncertainty and change. We’re working to close the farming wellbeing gap and build a future where farming people can thrive.

Over the past 25 years alone, we’ve delivered around £250 million in direct financial support to the farming community, whilst our wrap-around support services continue to evolve, reaching more people before crisis hits. Together, we’re on a journey to help shape the future our farmers deserve.

SUMMARY OF ROLE

The External Affairs Coordinator is a key member of RABI’s newly established External Affairs department. Reporting to the Head of External Affairs, the role will support the delivery of RABI’s external affairs strategy by coordinating key stakeholder engagement activities, public affairs events, policy-related communications and administrative functions. This position will play a central role in supporting strategic relationships with key sector stakeholders, government officials and policy influencers. It also involves close collaboration with the Marketing & Communications team to help ensure that the voice of the farming community is amplified and represented consistently across all external channels.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Stakeholder Engagement and Mapping
  • Support the Head of External Affairs in developing and maintaining an accurate and dynamic stakeholder map.
  • Working with the Public Affairs advisor, coordinate briefing documents and meeting logistics with external stakeholders including government departments, MPs offices and sector partners.
  • Help track and manage follow-ups and ongoing engagement with RABI’s key stakeholders.
• Event Planning and Support
  • Assist in the planning and delivery of external affairs events such as roundtables, parliamentary briefings, and conferences.
  • Coordinate event logistics including venue booking, travel, catering, AV, materials and briefings.
  • Liaise with external partners, speakers and attendees to ensure smooth and professional event delivery.
  • Provide on-site support at events, representing RABI with professionalism and warmth.
• Administrative and Research Support
  • Support the Head of External Affairs with briefings and preparation of presentations and reports.
  • Monitor political, policy and sector developments to support timely insights and briefing material.
  • Coordinate the administration of reports and policy consultations.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records using RABI’s CRM system (Microsoft Dynamics).
• Marketing and Communications Collaboration
  • Work closely with the Marketing and Communications team to support the development and delivery of policy-related content for media, social, digital and print platforms.
  • Help prepare stakeholder newsletters, updates and event communications.
  • Ensure all content and messaging align with RABI’s brand values and strategic objectives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in an administrative, public affairs, stakeholder engagement or policy coordination role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail.
• Strong organisational and time management abilities with the capability to prioritise and multitask.
• Confident in managing event logistics and working in fast-paced environments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and able to learn CRM tools such as Microsoft Dynamics.
• Professional, approachable and collaborative with a can-do attitude.
• Passion for RABI’s work and empathy with the farming community.
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings or weekends as required.

Desirable

• Previous experience supporting public affairs or policy activity in a charity, public sector or policy-related environment.
• Understanding of UK policy landscape, especially relating to rural or farming sectors.
• Familiarity with design tools like Canva and basic knowledge of communications principles.
• A full UK driving licence.

This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder according to future developments at RABI. Early applications are encouraged for this position as shortlisting and interviews will take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a suitable application prior to the deadline.

BENEFITS

• Enrolment to Nest on commencement of employment and then opportunity to join RABI’s group pension scheme with Standard Life where RABI make contributions equivalent to 10% of your basic salary, provided you make a personal contribution of 5%.
• Life assurance from day one.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.

RABI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aims to ensure that all employment practices secure equality of opportunity and that no prospective or current employee receives less than favourable treatment at RABI as a result of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnic origin, disability, marital, or for any other reason which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Our recruitment process strives to ensure that individuals are selected only based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications and abilities.