External Affairs Officer - Media Relations

Salary: Up to £43,851.60 pro rata plus excellent benefits

Contract: 6-month Fixed term

Hours per week: 37.5 hours per week. You will work in person, a minimum of two days per week in line with our hybrid working model.

Our Foundation

We are an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK. Health is our most precious asset. Good health enables us to live happy, fulfilling lives, fuels our prosperity, and helps build a stronger society. Yet good health remains out of reach for too many people in the UK and services are struggling to provide access to timely, high-quality care. It doesn't have to be like this. Our mission is to help build a healthier UK by:

• Improving people's health and reducing inequalities
• Supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services
• Providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.

We aim for excellence across our work and will achieve this by producing research and analysis, shaping policy and practice, building skills, knowledge, and capacity, and acting as a catalyst for change. Everyone has a stake and a part to play in improving our health. By working together, we can build a healthier UK.

About the role

Health is never far from the headlines. And with that in mind, we are looking for an External Affairs Officer to help us continue to secure high-profile media coverage, to promote Health Foundation analysis and recommendations and influence policymakers.

We are seeking an External Affairs Officer who will establish strong relationships with media, stakeholders, and internal teams. They will be responsible for managing media coverage, monitoring journalists, evaluating coverage, and supporting media events such as press conferences. While working closely with colleagues to ensure press activity sits with wider communications plans. They will need excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of crafting high-quality press releases, quotes, and other written materials.

Along with other team members, they will lead in the delivery of communication plans, coordinating digital media, publications, marketing, and public affairs. Additionally, they will contribute to internal communications by producing daily updates for staff and maintaining a network of contacts across the health and care sector. We are seeking collaborative and proactive candidates who wish to join a close-knit team that works across all aspects of the Health Foundation's mission to build a healthier UK.

The role also includes functional tasks such as managing budgets, supporting the organisation’s media monitoring contracts, and participating in an out-of-hours rota (subject to flexible working arrangements). As part of a wider team, the postholder will be expected to contribute to corporate activities, such as responding to fiscal events. As well as supporting team development and helping improve the Foundation’s overall communication efforts.

How to apply

Our priority is to find the right individual for each opportunity. We are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace that values diversity and invite you to find out more. You can find the job description for this role here. If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, and using no more than one thousand words answer the following application questions:

• Describe a time when you successfully secured some impactful coverage. What was your approach, how did you ensure your approach of the journalist was engaging and relevant, and what was the outcome?
• Give an example of a campaign, media moment or activity you have led or contributed to that involved both proactive and reactive elements. How did you integrate different communication disciplines, and what impact did your work have on the organisation’s objectives?
• This role requires excellent written communication skills including the ability to produce high-quality briefings and reports. Please provide an example of a complex issue you had to communicate in writing to a journalist. How did you ensure clarity accuracy and relevance in your pitch?

Our commitment to Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive hiring process, where every candidate has the chance to showcase their unique skills and experience in an accessible, and supported environment, to ensure that we can make the best appointment for each job on merit. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage those from underrepresented groups in this field to apply to us.

We have identified three diverse groups, in particular, we want to achieve a better balance across our organisation between men and women, increase representation of people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and recruit more people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we particularly welcome applications from these groups. Apply to join our team and let's work towards building a diverse and inclusive workplace together.

If you require any support through this process, please contact recruitment@health.org.uk Help us work together to make the recruitment process and potential future employment more accessible and enjoyable for you.

Closing date: July 13, 2025 at 23:00

Interview date: W/C July 21, 2025