External Affairs Officer

Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.

About Waythrough

Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.

About the Role

As External Affairs Officer, you’ll play an important role in supporting Waythrough’s external affairs, policy and campaigning activity. Working closely with the External Affairs and Strategy Specialist and senior colleagues, you’ll help us understand the changing external environment, advocate for positive change and ensure the voices of people with lived experience inform our work.

You’ll support and brief the CEO and other senior leaders on events and policy messaging, contribute to a large national campaign, write policy submissions and briefings, help organise events, work with the wider communications team to raise Waythrough’s profile and contribute to wider policy alliances and learning spaces. All of this in tireless pursuit of our new strategy The Way Ahead and goal of saving a million lives and enhancing a million more over the next decade.

Key Duties

• Support horizon scanning and analysis of relevant policy, political and sector developments, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Support advocacy and profile of CEO, Executive Directors and Director of Strategy and Communications through briefings, preparing articles/letters and presentations
• Coordinate a significant national campaign focused on co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol issues.
• Represent Waythrough across working groups, partnerships, policy alliances and external forums.
• Lead the development of written policy submissions, gathering evidence and drawing on operational and lived experience expertise.
• Research and prepare blogs, statements, presentations, briefings and summaries for senior leaders.
• Support the planning and delivery of strategy and leadership events involving a wide range of stakeholders.
• Provide coordination and secretariat support to Waythrough’s Strategic Governance Group.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners and policy alliances.
• Work with the Life Experience Council and people we support to ensure lived experience meaningfully informs our external affairs work.
• Respond quickly to emerging political, policy and external affairs issues.

About You

You’ll have experience working in a policy, public affairs, campaigns or similar environment, with a clear understanding of how to advocate for change. You’ll be confident researching and interpreting policy and political information and turning complex information into clear, accurate written content.

You’ll be a strong communicator and relationship builder, comfortable working with people across different teams, organisations and perspectives to achieve shared goals. You be able to brief senior colleagues and learn from our Life Experience Council of people with experience of our support services.

You’ll be able to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a busy environment while maintaining a high standard of work.

We’re particularly interested in people who understand the systems supporting people with drug and alcohol, mental health or related needs, and who have an understanding of UK politics and parliamentary processes.

Most importantly, you’ll share Waythrough’s values of kindness, courage and respect, and be committed to ensuring the voices and experiences of the people we support influence our work.

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:

• 27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)

• Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%

• Life assurance (3× annual salary)

• Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay

• Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave

• Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications

• 24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme

• Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals

• £500 Recommend a Friend bonus

• Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership

• Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good

• Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year

Inclusion and accessibility

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team: recruitmentteam@waythrough.org.uk

Closing Date:

2026-09-06