Head of External Affairs

Location: Hybrid | London 1-day per week

Job Type: Full Time | Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £80,000 per annum

Shape the national conversation. Build trust. Lead change.

As the largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people in the country, we have scale, heritage and impact. Now, we are looking for a Head of External Affairs to help us build trust, strengthen our influence, and shape the future of housing, care, and ageing at a national level.

This is an exciting role - operating at the intersection of policy, reputation and growth - and deciding where and how we make the biggest difference.

The Opportunity

You will lead the transformation of our external affairs - setting a clear strategy and message, and ensuring our voice is heard where it matters most.

From influencing government policy to strengthening relationships with regulators, local authorities and sector partners, you’ll turn what we do every day into compelling narratives that build confidence, support occupancy, and drive our growth.

In this role, you will:

• Set the direction - Define and deliver a clear, insight-led external affairs strategy and narrative aligned to organisational priorities in a complex, high-profile environment
• Influence where it matters – Inform external policy and build relationships across government, regulators, local authorities and sector bodies, building our reputation
• Tell our story - Drive high-impact content that showcases our impact and supports growth.
• Lead and modernise the way we work – so your in-house and agency team deliver real, measurable impact.
• Work across housing, health, and social care - One of the most important and evolving policy areas in the UK