Salary: £40,642.00 - £48,544.00 GBP Annual
Pension: A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Please refer to the Civil Service Pensions website for more information.
Type: Full time
Please note: The advert will close at 11:59PM the night before the listed closing date.
SLC offer a blended working model which will typically be 2 days in the office and 3 days from home.
Is it time you unlocked your potential?
Student Loans Company is a non-profit making Government-owned organisation to provide loans and grants to students in universities and colleges in the UK. Since 1989, we have enabled our customers to invest in their futures by delivering secure, accurate and efficient assessment, payment and repayment services.
Our Values
Culture is at the heart of everything we do at SLC and we are guided by our five values which help make SLC a great place to work:
- Honesty : We act with integrity and transparency, sharing information openly and addressing challenges with courage.
- Empowerment : We enable people to take initiative, make impactful decisions, and continuously learn and grow.
- Accountability : We deliver on commitments, own our successes and mistakes, and strive for quality outcomes.
- Respect : We value diverse perspectives, actively listen, and create an inclusive environment where everyone belongs.
- Trust : We collaborate across teams, build dependable relationships, and work as one to deliver for our customers.
These values are more than words-they guide our decisions, shape our collaborations, and strengthen our impact on the students we serve.
About the Role
SLC plays a vital role in enabling access to higher and further education by delivering financial support services on behalf of government partners across the UK. As part of our Communications and External Affairs team, you'll be at the centre of high-profile communications activity, leading media engagement and managing relationships with journalists across a wide range of issues. You'll respond to complex and often sensitive enquiries, provide trusted communications advice and help shape our response to emerging issues in a fast-moving environment. Working closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the business, you'll support communications during periods of significant public, political and media interest.
This is a role for someone who can quickly assess situations, identify potential reputational risks and provide clear, practical advice when it matters most. You'll balance competing priorities, maintain exceptional attention to detail and produce high-quality written communications for a range of audiences. Alongside media relations activity, you'll support wider external affairs work, building effective relationships with stakeholders and helping communicate SLC's role and impact.
Success in this role will require strong judgement, resilience, collaboration and the confidence to work across organisational boundaries. We're looking for an experienced communications professional who can build trusted relationships, provide credible advice and deliver high-quality work in a complex and fast-moving environment. You'll join a supportive team with ambitions to strengthen how communications and external affairs contribute across the organisation.
What you Bring:
- Educated to Degree-level with significant experience in Communications, Public Affairs, Politics, Journalism, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstratable experience in communications and media relations, with evidence of shaping media coverage.
- Understanding of public affairs, external affairs or stakeholder engagement.
- Membership of, or willingness to work towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as CIPR or the Government Communications Service.
- High level of understanding of UK media landscape, and emerging trends in digital communication.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy into clear and accessible content. Highly developed drafting skills with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to develop professional relationships with media and stakeholders, including influencing and networking.
- Research, analytical and problem-solving abilities. Ability to analyse complex information and present it clearly and concisely.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, under pressure.
- High level of attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- An advanced understanding of the media landscape
- Work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
You can expect more from a career with SLC. We support colleagues to unlock their potential through our Career Pathways development programme and offer an excellent benefit and rewards package that includes:
- 28 days annual leave p
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Media Relations and External Affairs Lead in Glasgow employer: Student Loans Company
At SLC, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With a blended working model, generous benefits including a Civil Service pension, and a commitment to inclusivity, we empower our team members to thrive while making a meaningful impact in the lives of over 1.5 million students each year. Join us to unlock your potential and contribute to a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to enabling educational opportunities across the UK.
