Head of Communication and External Affairs in London

• Head of Communication and External Affairs
• Reporting To: Director of Marketing and Communications
• Hours/Days per week:35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Requirements: Felix can only employ applicants who currently have the right to work in the UK.

As part of our safer recruitment policy, we do ask questions regarding unspent criminal records.

WE ARE FELIX

We bring people together to rescue, repurpose, and share surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, turning an environmental problem into a social opportunity.

Together with 16 other independent charities, 18,000 volunteers, and thousands of partners, we are the UK’s food rescue network, supporting 1.5 million people across the country.

We‘re about fuller plates, fuller communities, and fuller lives.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Head of Comms and External Affairs will lead our narrative and steward our reputation at critical moment, following the merger of Fare Share and The Felix Project to form the new Felix brand.

The role will set the strategy and operating rhythm for a team of seven across media relations, internal communications and public affairs, ensuring Felix speaks with one clear, trusted and influential voice.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications and working alongside the Head of Brand Marketing who leads brand marketing and digital communication, the postholder will protect and build Felix's reputation, shape national and sector conversations on food redistribution, food waste and food insecurity, and help position Felix as a leading partner in the national endeavour to triple food redistribution in the UK.

The role will provide senior counsel to the CEO, Executive Team, trustees and senior leaders; lead high-quality media, stakeholder and parliamentary engagement; and ensure internal communications support colleagues, volunteers and partners through integration, change and growth.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set and lead an integrated external affairs strategy for Felix, aligned to organisational strategy, the post-merger integration plan, the refreshed brand and the national programme to expand food redistribution.
• Lead, develop and empower a multidisciplinary team of seven across media relations, internal communications and public affairs, directly managing three discipline leads and building clear priorities, standards and ways of working.
• Lead Felix's media relations and reputation management, securing proactive national, regional and sector coverage, overseeing reactive press office activity, preparing spokespeople, managing issues and crisis communications and working closely with the digital marketing team.
• Working closely with the CEO and policy colleagues, leading public affairs and influencing activity, building trusted relationships with government, parliament, food industry partners, redistribution networks, funders and sector coalitions to advance Felix's mission and policy objectives.
• Set the strategic direction for internal communications, ensuring staff, volunteers, network partners and other internal audiences understand the charity's vision, values, priorities and change journey.
• Develop clear narratives, messages, evidence and thought leadership that explain Felix's mission, impact and role in creating a fairer and more sustainable food system.
• Provide expert advice to the Executive Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, CEO, Executive Team, trustees and senior leaders on reputation, stakeholder positioning, media risk, political context and communications opportunities.
• Work closely with the Head of Brand Marketing to ensure external affairs, brand marketing, fundraising, digital communication and operational communications are integrated, consistent and mutually reinforcing.
• Embed professional standards, risk management, evaluation and compliance across the function, including political impartiality, charity law, safeguarding, data protection, media protocols and inclusive communications.
• Bring innovation and experimentation to the development of content and wider communications offer.
• Your normal duties and responsibilities will be set out in your job description. However, the charity may require you to perform other duties from time to time.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Strategic and mission‑led: keeps the needs of communities, charity partners and the wider food system at the heart of decision‑making.
• Collaborative and integrative: works across disciplines and functions, building strong relationships with the Head of Brand Marketing and colleagues across fundraising, operations, network, policy and partnerships.
• Empowering leader: sets clear expectations, coaches and develops others, creates psychological safety and builds a united, high‑performing team.
• Politically astute: reads the external environment well, exercises sound judgement and understands when to act, advise, pause.
• Clear and compelling communicator simplifies complexity, crafts messages that cut through and adapts style for different audiences.
• Agile and resilient: remains calm under pressure, handles ambiguity and supports teams through change and high‑profile moments.
• Evidence‑led and impact‑focused: uses data, insight and lived experience responsibly to make a stronger case for change.
• Inclusive and values‑driven: champions dignity, fairness, accessibility and representation in communications and leadership.
• Accountable and delivery‑focused: takes ownership of decisions, follows through on commitments and manages risk, budget and performance with discipline.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Significant senior experience in external affairs, communications, public affairs or strategic influencing, ideally in a charity, public policy, food, poverty, sustainability or highly scrutinised public‑facing environment.
• Track record of leading multidisciplinary communications or external affairs teams, including line management of managers and experience of building capability through change.
• Strong media relations expertise, including national media, press office leadership, spokesperson preparation, issues management and crisis communications.
• Deep understanding of UK public affairs and influencing, including working with parliament, government departments, civil servants, political advisers, local/regional leaders and sector coalitions.
• Experience of internal communications during organisational change, merger, rebrand or transformation, with a strong understanding of how to build trust, clarity and engagement.
• Excellent strategic judgement and ability to translate complex policy, operational and impact information into clear narratives that motivate audiences to act.
• Proven ability to advise CEOs, executive teams, trustees and senior leaders with confidence, discretion and political sensitivity.
• Strong stakeholder relationship skills, including the ability to convene partners across food industry, voluntary sector, government, philanthropy, community organisations and internal teams.
• Experience of planning, budgeting, commissioning agencies or suppliers, and evaluating communications and influencing impact using qualitative and quantitative measures.
• Knowledge of charity governance, political neutrality, safeguarding, data protection, brand / reputation risk and inclusive communications standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including speeches, briefings, media lines, policy positions, internal updates and board‑level papers.
• Personal commitment to Felix's mission to rescue good food and get it to people and places that need it, and to equity, diversity, inclusion and the dignity of people experiencing food insecurity.
• EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION & BELONGING

At Felix, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do.

We value the unique contributions of every individual and strive to create a respectful, inclusive environment free from discrimination or prejudice.

Our commitment extends to all employees, and volunteers, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background or characteristics.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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