General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
External Affairs Manager
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Are you an experienced external affairs professional with a strong understanding of the political, regulatory and stakeholder landscape?
We are looking for someone who thrives on influencing complex agendas, building high-level relationships and delivering communications that make a real impact.
Closing date: 29 September 2026 (11.59pm)
Interview dates: First stage (online): 19 and 20 October 2026
Salary: £39,554 - £45,732 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus benefits
Location: Canary Wharf, London (Hybrid working)
Hours: 35 hours per week, from 9.00 to 5.00, Monday to Friday
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to lead our external affairs activity and support the delivery of our organisational priorities through effective stakeholder engagement, public affairs and media relations.
Working closely with senior colleagues, the postholder will build and maintain relationships with parliamentarians, partner organisations, government officials and other key stakeholders, providing strategic advice and ensuring the organisation is well positioned within an evolving external environment.
The role would suit an experienced external affairs, public affairs or communications professional who enjoys working at pace, building influential relationships and translating complex issues into clear and compelling messages.
Please note that this role does not have direct line management responsibility.
The successful applicant will:
- Build productive relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders and partners.
- Provide high-quality advice and briefings on political, regulatory and reputational developments.
- Communicate complex information in a clear, concise and engaging way.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the organisation's profile, influence and reputation.
- Manage competing priorities and respond effectively in a fast-changing environment.
- Demonstrate strong judgement, diplomacy and influencing skills.
- Have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
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In return for their commitment and enthusiasm, employees can expect a rewarding and challenging work environment, good work-life balance and workload plus an excellent benefits package that includes:
- 30 days holiday (plus bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 5 days.
- Pension scheme.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Career breaks and sabbaticals.
- Life assurance, season ticket loan, bike loan and many more.
About the GPhC
We are a respected regulatory body that regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in Great Britain. We work to assure and improve standards of care for people using pharmacy services.
Our organisation has a long-term vision and a desire for highly skilled and specialist staff. We are committed to providing workforce learning and development opportunities.
We have adopted a hybrid working approach which combines office and home working. Staff are currently required to attend the office for a minimum of 12 days per quarter, with these arrangements due to be reviewed in January 2027.
We are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture and are committed to holding ourselves to the same standards we expect of others.
Applying for this role
If you feel you have the required experience and skills and would like to join us, please complete our application form, including the supporting statement section explaining how you meet each of the criteria for the role, and where you found out about this vacancy.
Please note that applications without a supporting statement will not be considered.
Please consult the knowledge and skills section of the job description document to help you prepare your application.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community
We are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and being inclusive in all our work as a health professions regulator.
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We are a Disability Confident employer and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Disabled applicants who choose to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and demonstrate that they meet the minimum criteria for the role will normally be invited to interview.
The minimum criteria are the essential requirements set out in the person specification and vacancy information. In recruitment campaigns attracting a particularly high volume of applications, it may not be practicable to interview every disabled applicant who meets the usual minimum standard. In those circumstances, we may invite a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best demonstrate the minimum criteria.
Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process for all, and you do not need to have a disability to discuss reasonable adjustments.
As part of your application for this role, please complete our equal opportunities and diversity monitoring section. This is optional and you don't have to complete it; however it provides us with useful information for monitoring and reporting purposes and is strictly confidential. The information you provide on this form will not form part of any selection process and will not be shared with the selection panel.
Important Notice for Applicants
As part of our pre-employment screening process, this role is subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In addition, the GPhC will conduct Fitness to Practise (FtP) checks for any applicant who is currently, or has previously been, a registrant of the GPhC. Applicants will be asked to declare this during the application process and may be subject to further internal verification. Any findings may be considered as part of the recruitment decision.
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