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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with key stakeholders in the rail industry and government to enhance communication.
- Company: Join British Transport Police, the guardians of railway safety across Great Britain.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and family-friendly policies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in policing while building strong partnerships.
- Qualifications: Degree educated with experience in stakeholder relations and communications.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 43427 - 60800 £ per year.
Are you a communications professional interested in policing and the railway?
Overview
British Transport Police have an excellent opportunity for a Senior External Affairs Advisor to join the Communications Team. As a Senior External Affairs Advisor with BTP, you will provide direct support to the External Affairs Lead in enhancing engagement with the rail industry, UK and devolved Governments, and other key stakeholders.
The Senior External Affairs Advisor will play a central role in helping build collaborative and strong partnerships between BTP and its stakeholders, manage and review the stakeholder engagement plan, brief Chief Officers and senior management ahead of stakeholder meetings, and identify trends and risks across the stakeholder matrix.
As Senior External Affairs Advisor you will also act as the first escalation point for the External Affairs Advisors, providing advice and guidance and signing off lines.
Participating in the 24/7 on-call rota, the Senior External Affairs advisor needs to be able to confidently respond to incidents and enquiries out of hours. This involves quickly researching information and making decisions, and being accountable for those decisions, on responses to a wide range of often complex issues and critical incidents.
What you\’ll be doing
- Support the External Affairs Lead in delivering effective engagement building positive working relationships and advocacy with key stakeholders across the rail industry and political arena
- Line manage the External Affairs Advisors and act as an escalation point for Government/Industry issues, deputising for the External Affairs Lead when necessary.
- Build and maintain new relationships as key stakeholders change and new stakeholders emerge in the operating environment.
- Lead on the implementation of the Force’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan ensuring that it is regularly reviewed, developed and updated.
- Produce clear and concise briefings, responses to reports, correspondence and presentations for stakeholder meetings, events and speaking appearances, and responses to requests for information for senior officers, including the Chief Officer group.
What you\’ll bring to the team
- Degree educated or equivalent
- Experience of working in Government and/or stakeholder relations and providing support to colleagues who engage with a range of stakeholders (rail industry / political environment would be an advantage)
- Experience of working with stakeholders (rail industry / political environment would be an advantage)
- Experience of developing and delivering plans to engage with external stakeholders.
- Experience of advising colleagues, either through direct line management or by leading them through projects or campaigns to deliver specific objectives.
- Experience of supervising the work of others
- Demonstrable ability to deal with colleagues at all levels of seniority, building relationships of trust
- Demonstrable passion for communications, and a track record of being creative and imaginative in finding new ways to engage audiences
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise work, deliver to tight deadlines, respond to changing situations and use personal initiative.
- Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and identify, develop and maintain a strong network with those stakeholders
- The confidence and gravitas to offer advice to senior management and other members of the Force and Authority – including the ability to challenge decisions when in the force’s best interests.
- The ability to act, particularly out of hours, without having to seek advice each time, on breaking incidents and incoming media queries.
- Proven influencing, engagement and stakeholder management skills
- Flexibility to deal with ambiguity and a fast-moving environment
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
What we offer
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
- Family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave.
- Bespoke benefits platform and Blue Light Card access.
- Salary sacrifice options for cycles, home technology, gym membership, and electric vehicles.
- Interest-free annual rail season ticket loan after 6 months.
- Access to the Transport Benevolent Fund for health, welfare, and financial support.
- Development opportunities, including fully funded apprenticeships.
- Excellent Pension scheme: We offer the BTP GPP Police Staff Pension Scheme, administered by Royal London. This group personal pension plan is available to all police staff and is a defined contribution scheme. It provides the flexibility to vary your pension contributions from 4.4% to 12% of your salary. For more information, visit the Royal London dedicated pension page or email us at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk. Note: If you are an existing member of Police Staff in the RPS, your pension will not be affected.
Vetting
Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting 5 years minimum UK residency required, including a full background and financial disclosure. For more information and Top Tips, please see attached document.
Medical
We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing.
References
We\’ll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.
Further information about this vacancy can be found in the attached job description.
How to apply
Applications will be via an up to date CV and online application form, as part of this application please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59pm 25th January 2026
The above advert, Job description and Application process is available through the medium of Welsh – if requested.
Inclusion & Diversity
At BTP, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued. We believe diversity drives innovation and better decision-making. Our roles are open to everyone, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, women, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those who are neurodiverse. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ – all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme
Join Us
Grow your career with us. We can’t wait to hear from you! See why BTP is right for you and click here for more information. For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team at RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.
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Senior External Affairs Advisor employer: British Transport Police
Contact Detail:
British Transport Police Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior External Affairs Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the rail industry and government sectors. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Senior External Affairs Advisor role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research BTP’s values and recent initiatives. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission of passenger safety and stakeholder engagement. Practise answering common interview questions and have some thoughtful questions ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your past work in stakeholder relations and communications. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also give you a chance to stand out from other candidates during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining BTP. Don’t forget to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the job description.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior External Affairs Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior External Affairs Advisor role. Highlight your experience in stakeholder relations and communications, as these are key for us at BTP. Use specific examples that showcase your skills and achievements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about policing and the railway industry. Show us how your values align with ours – We Care, We Do the Right Thing, and all that good stuff!
Be Clear and Concise: When filling out the online application form, keep your answers clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out.
Show Your Enthusiasm: Let your passion for the role come through in your application. We want to see that you’re excited about the opportunity to engage with stakeholders and contribute to our mission of keeping the railway safe. Don’t hold back!
How to prepare for a job interview at British Transport Police
✨Know Your Stakeholders
Before the interview, research the key stakeholders in the rail industry and political arena. Understand their roles and how they interact with British Transport Police. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're ready to build those relationships.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Senior External Affairs Advisor, strong communication is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with various stakeholders in the past. Be ready to discuss how you can produce clear briefings and presentations for senior management.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in managing teams or projects. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you've led others through challenges or complex situations, especially in stakeholder engagement. This will show your capability to act as an escalation point.
✨Prepare for On-Call Scenarios
Since the role involves being part of a 24/7 on-call rota, think about how you would handle unexpected incidents or media queries. Prepare to discuss your decision-making process and how you stay calm under pressure, as this will be key to your success in the role.
