Head of External Affairs

Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is the leading professional membership body for clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists, and a registered charity that educates and supports doctors throughout their careers. With over 14,000 members in the UK and internationally, together we’re contributing to advancing each new generation of doctors and helping improve patients’ lives.

We require a broad range of skills and experience to deliver our strategic goal of increasing the clinical radiology and clinical oncology workforce, which will ultimately lead to improving imaging and cancer care services for all. If our strategy and values inspire you, and you are passionate about helping us meet our ambitious goals in an environment that celebrates differences, values diversity, and recognizes that everyone here plays a role in the success of the College, then we encourage you to consider a career at the RCR.

About the role

The Head of External Affairs is a key role within The Royal College of Radiologists, ensuring our influence, credibility, and authority on all aspects of diagnostics, cancer, AI, and medical education. Bringing together insight, policy, public affairs, and media relations, the Head of External Affairs will ensure that RCR’s voice is authoritative, compelling, and grounded in evidence and practical solutions, mobilising data, clinical insight, policy output, and parliamentary advocates to create real impact.

The team also has a specific focus on AI, ensuring the College is at the forefront of radiology and oncology by shaping how AI is managed within our specialties through an effective AI strategy. In addition to policy and influencing, this involves working across the RCR to support practical implementation – for example, through developing guidance, managing a national registry of AI implementation, and forging partnerships.

Responsibilities

Policy:

• Guided by our policy priorities, oversee a policy strategy which raises the influence and impact Royal College of Radiologists, working with Officers, external organisations, specialists, and staff to ensure that the RCR’s policy work is focused, relevant, and positions us as experts and thought leaders across the health landscape and government
• Represent the College at external events and workshops, representing the College’s views on technical aspects of our policy priorities.
• Work closely with Officers to deliver a programme of policy publications and consultation responses that furthers our influence in oncology, radiology, and health policy more broadly
• Develop and lead a programme of relevant, cutting-edge and compelling policy outputs that result in change, positioning the RCR as ‘go to’ on priority issues such as radiology, oncology, workforce, cancer, and diagnostics
• Support college-wide initiatives eg AI and Workforce by developing relevant policy recommendations, stakeholder engagement and advocacy strategies as appropriate.

Census and insight:

• Oversee the effective running of the census project, ensuring data and reporting that supports clinical directors to plan, as well as data, insight, and clear recommendations to support our public affairs and media campaigning
• Lead the wider census project, including coordinating project objectives and approach to launch, key messages, spokespeople and other assets, media and public affairs strategies, engagement strategy, and more to ensure that the census continues to act as our flagship report, securing our profile and credibility whilst supporting direct impact within NHS trusts
• Ensure that we have the right data and insight to support our influencing and profile-building work, identifying gaps and devising ways to build more knowledge, data, and case studies

Public Affairs:

• Ensure a strategic, focused, and responsive approach to public affairs, working as part of an integrated team to drive change while making the most of reactive profile-raising opportunities; ensure consistently high-quality briefings and outputs
• Represent the RCR at parliamentary events
• Form strategic advocacy partnerships where appropriate – with other Colleges, charities, cross-sector working groups, All-Party Parliamentary Groups, and more
• Ensure that parliamentary and political intelligence is provided to key staff and Officers as appropriate

Press and Media Relations:

• Drive an integrated and strategic communications approach across the external affairs team and RCR more broadly, on proactive priorities, reactive opportunities, and crisis communications
• Drive a proactive media strategy to increase awareness of the RCR, its campaigns, and the critical role of radiology and oncology amongst target audiences
• Support teams across the RCR with strategic communications, securing press coverage for their initiative,s and identifying opportunities from around the organisation that could result in press coverage
• Ensure we take a proactive approach to reaching our audiences through key target media, including building relationships with relevant journalists
• Work closely with RCR Officers, supporting them through training, briefings, and feedback to become high-profile, leading spokespeople on our priority issues
• Establish processes that are efficient and agile, enabling us to punch above our weight and also focus our resources in the right places
• Work with the wider communications directorate to support communication planning for wider initiatives
• Report on press coverage of Kof PIS and make recommendations based on this data

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Lead our stakeholder engagement across media, government, parliament, and, where appropriate,e other partners (charities, NHS Trusts, other royal colleges, etc) to ensure that we can deliver on our objectives
• Ensure RCR members and Officers are engaged in External Affairs, through regular communications and finding opportunities to gather their input when appropriate
• Drive a strategic and coordinated approach to stakeholder engagement across the RCR, working with Officers and other teams to further our reach and influence

AI:

• Support the AI Manager in their leadership of the College’s AI work, securing the RCR’s place as a leading organisation in the healthcare AI space
• Build a position of thought leadership on healthcare AI through forward-looking policy work and impactful communications, while working effectively with internal and external stakeholders to advance our priorities
• Ensure the College’s AI strategy and programmes of work are being delivered on time and on budget, and are well integrated with the External Affairs team’s broader influencing agenda.

Leadership and Management:

• Lead, motivate, performance manage and develop the team in accordance with RCR policies and the Scheme of Financial, Contractual and HR Delegation.
• Oversee the implementation of a new strategy for External Affairs at the RCR
• Promote effective communication between members of the External Affairs team of the wider Communications Directorate and other relevant members of RCR staff and stakeholders.
• Manage records (attendance and absence) of direct reports using the RCR’s electronic HR system.
• Work collaboratively across the communications directorate and organisation more widely, contributing to and supporting wider initiatives.
• Ensure that all processes and reporting are up to date – eg, consultation log, the Grid, stakeholder contacts, programme of meetings, horizon scanning mechanisms, etc

General:

• Liaise with and represent the RCR at relevant external organisations. Motivate, encourage,e and manage an ambitious and effective team
• Maintain and manage records in accordance with the RCR’s data protection policy and guidance. 36. Maintain documentation on all activities carried out.
• Undertake such other duties appropriate to the level of the postholder’s qualifications and experience as may be required by the RCR from time to time.

Internal Relationships:

• Relevant team members across the College, most notably within Marketing and Digital, Governance, and Professional Practice
• SMT and Officers

External Relationships:

• Press
• Other Royal colleges
• Cancer, heart, and stroke charities

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience:

• Significant experience in delivering high-profile external affairs strategies for complex organisations
• Experience of influencing and effecting change in government policy through public affairs
• Experience in leading a policy team
• Experience in leading a high-profile press function
• Experience in developing high-impact campaigns across a wide stakeholder landscape
• Demonstrable experience of turning evidence-based policy into compelling asks through both targeted and broader campaigns

Skills and Abilities:

• Accurate use and understanding of English.
• Ability to translate complex policy into succinct and clear messages
• Ability to identify issues that will generate press and/or social media stories to secure influence
• Ability to lead and motivate a cross-functional team to deliver
• Personal impact and ability to influence others
• Knowledge of the healthcare sector
• Collegiate and collaborative approach
• Generous Annual Leave Allowance
• Excellent Pension Scheme
• Interest-Free Season Ticket loan
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Conditions of employment

• You must have the right to work in the UK

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• Please send an email to jobs@rcr.ac.uk with your CV and 1 page of a cover letter, Full Name, Role, and a completed Diversity Monitoring Form.

Interviews

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend first-stage interviews on 18th June 2025
• Selection interviews are scheduled for 25th June 2025.
• Diversity means better ideas, better solutions, and more innovation. That’s why one of our key priorities is ensuring our workforce reflects our communities. We’re committed to creating an inclusive workforce and working environment for us all to enjoy, where everyone can bring their whole self to work to create change and reach new heights of creativity.

The job vacancy information provided here is from third-parties and the AAE can not guarantee the accuracy of the information.

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