External Relations Lead in Croydon

Salary: The starting salary is £62,310, which includes allowances totalling £3,009. The salary is broken down as £59,301 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £72,254. Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

We have full time and fixed term positions available.

Location: Westminster

There is no greater mission than keeping the public safe. This external relations role is integral to the success of the Metropolitan Police Service. Our communities and police officers depend on excellent communications and engagement informed by insightful policy and political advice.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the Metropolitan Police, developing operational insight into police work, experiencing first-hand a range of police activity, and deepening policy development and influencing skills with senior stakeholders.

You will be part of the Met’s External Relations team, whose mission is to identify, build and maintain relations that matter to the Met in support of the Commissioner’s mission to renew policing by consent, bringing more trust, less crime, and high standards.

External Relations is situated at the heart of the Met, based in New Scotland Yard, providing advice and briefing to the Commissioner and senior management of the MPS. The team manages the relationships with strategic stakeholders, such as MOPAC and City Hall, the Home Office and wider HM Government, London Councils, Parliamentarians, business and thinktanks.

We ensure the Commissioner is properly briefed on issues concerning key stakeholders, including set-piece events such as the Police and Crime Committee (PCC) and regular meetings with the Mayor. The team also look after non-CT engagement with overseas law enforcement agencies and manage the Commissioner’s correspondence.

The post holders will be required to be driven, forward thinking and able to communicate across the breadth of our key stakeholder groups. You will be senior managers in the team that manages all political and stakeholder engagement for Management Board.

In this role, you will design and deliver focused engagement knowing when to deploy Chief Officers and when to manage something at official-to-official level. You will also lead on our scrutiny relationships and arrangements ensuring the Met approaches these in line with our values and guiding principles and be confident to provide direct advice to the Commissioner on how to manage incoming scrutiny.

You will cultivate and own relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders including City Hall and the Home Office, the London Assembly and Parliament, International Policing and London Partners (e.g. TfL, LAS and BTP). As part of this you will know how to use events and visits as advocacy tools.

• Supporting the Head of External Relations and Chief of Staff in managing the Commissioner’s regular meetings with political figures including the Home Secretary and Policing Minister, and Mayor of London and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime;
• Ensuring regular contact between the Commissioner and London Members of Parliament (and other Parliamentarians where appropriate), organising briefings, building relationships and identifying opportunities for proactive engagement;
• Advising the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on their public scrutiny meetings, preparing briefings and working closely with colleagues at MOPAC / City Hall where appropriate;
• Advising the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on their engagements with foreign visitors to the MPS ensuring they have cross-Whitehall coordinated briefing and that the meetings are in support of pre-identified policy objectives;
• Lead on coordination of international engagement in the MPS (non-operational) including inward visits to the MPS and requests for briefing from high level politicians and dignitaries;
• Working closely with the Visits and Events team to support political stakeholder visits and engagement to facilitate understanding of policing and working with media colleagues in the handling of coverage;
• Line / task management of External Relations support staff to provide direction and oversight of activity for the smooth running of the team.

How to apply: To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button". The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and Personal Statement. Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 19 March 2026.