SF Search Partners
External Affairs Director
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
External Affairs Director
Location: Birmingham – Hybrid Working
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Open doors. Influence decisions. Create opportunities that matter.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished External Affairs Director to join a prominent business-focused organisation in Birmingham.
Reporting to the CEO and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, you will lead external affairs, policy and advocacy, strategic relationships, media and communications. You will strengthen the organisation’s influence and profile, build relationships with senior business and public-sector leaders, and ensure the regional business community is represented where it matters most.
The Role
Leading an established team, key responsibilities will include:
- Developing and delivering the organisation’s external affairs strategy.
- Building influential relationships with business leaders, policymakers, local authorities, and regional stakeholders.
- Developing and retaining strategic corporate relationships and partnerships.
- Overseeing policy, research, and advocacy activity.
- Identifying commercial and sponsorship opportunities.
- Providing strategic direction across media and communications.
- Representing the organisation at senior meetings, events, and in the media.
- Leading and developing a high-performing team.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
You will bring senior-level experience across external affairs, public affairs, corporate affairs, policy, strategic communications, or a related discipline.
You will combine strong stakeholder and political judgement with commercial awareness, with the ability to build trusted relationships, influence senior decision-makers, and turn opportunities into action.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
You will also have experience leading teams, communicating confidently at senior level, and navigating complex or sensitive stakeholder environments.
Experience within an agency, private-sector, membership, trade association, or business representative organisation would be advantageous, as would established regional networks.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of business, public policy, communications, and regional leadership, engaging with influential organisations and decision-makers while shaping the organisation’s external agenda and impact.
The role offers hybrid working, typically with two to three days per week in the Birmingham office, alongside meetings and events across the region.
How to Apply
For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact SF Partners.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London