At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead external engagement and build impactful partnerships across government and industry.
- Company: Join the Chartered Management Institute, a leader in management and leadership standards.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic role with visibility, autonomy, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on purpose-driven work and networking.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by influencing key agendas like leadership and employment policy.
- Qualifications: Experience in public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and strong communication skills required.
We are working exclusively with the Chartered Management Institute; a leading professional body committed to improving management and leadership standards across the UK. This External Affairs Manager role is an exciting opportunity for a highly proactive and outward-facing professional to take ownership of a visible external engagement portfolio. It will be suited to someone with experience across public affairs and stakeholder engagement who thrives on building networks and turning relationships into meaningful outcomes. This role may particularly suit candidates from a consultancy environment.
You will lead engagement with key stakeholders across government, the public sector and industry, with a particular focus on partnerships across the NHS, central government and professional bodies. The role sits at the heart of the organisation's external activity, connecting policy, communications and commercial priorities to ensure its voice is heard and its influence continues to grow. Working closely with policy, PR, partnerships and sales teams, you will help position the organisation as a thought leader across key agendas including leadership, skills, employment and the future of work. This role offers strong variety, visibility and autonomy, and would suit someone who operates at pace in a collaborative, purpose-led environment.
Additional Key Responsibilities
- Identify and leverage opportunities to translate stakeholder engagement into partnerships, commercial activity and organisational impact.
- Proactively secure and deliver speaking opportunities, partnerships and external platforms to position the organisation as a thought leader.
- Support engagement across priority areas including NHS leadership development, inclusive workplaces (EDI) and employment policy.
- Support senior leaders with external engagement through high-quality briefings, speech writing and coordination of activity.
- Work alongside the PR team to support reactive and proactive media activity, including drafting press lines and identifying opportunities to amplify messaging.
About You
- Experience in public affairs or external relations.
- Exposure to media engagement or press activity, with confidence supporting reactive opportunities.
- A strong track record of stakeholder engagement, ideally with exposure to public sector or health networks.
- A highly proactive, network-driven approach, with the ability to spot and create opportunities.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to translate relationships into partnerships or organisational growth.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing content for external or media audiences.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities independently, delivering high-quality work at pace.
- A collaborative mindset and confidence working with senior stakeholders across organisations.
- An interest in policy areas such as leadership, skills, employment or the future of work.
External Affairs Manager employer: Murray McIntosh & Associates Limited
The Chartered Management Institute is an exceptional employer that champions professional development and leadership excellence. With a collaborative and purpose-driven work culture, employees are empowered to engage with key stakeholders across various sectors, including the NHS and government, fostering meaningful partnerships that drive impact. The organisation offers robust growth opportunities, a dynamic environment, and the chance to be at the forefront of shaping management standards in the UK.
Contact Details:
Murray McIntosh & Associates Limited Recruitment Team
