Membership Bespoke
Interim External Affairs Director
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Interim Director of External Affairs
Interim Contract - start early September - ongoing until filled permanently.
£100,000+ FTE (pro rata)
London Hybrid | Part-Time Considered
Are you a senior External Affairs leader with an established network across the UK energy or infrastructure sector who can step into a high-profile role from day one?
We're recruiting on behalf of a leading UK industry association representing organisations operating across the energy and fuels landscape. This is a critical interim appointment, providing leadership while the organisation recruits a permanent Director of External Affairs. The successful candidate will immediately take ownership of strategic public affairs, stakeholder engagement and communications during a pivotal period for both the organisation and the wider sector.
This is not a role for someone looking to learn the sector. You will already have credibility, relationships and influence across government, regulators and industry, enabling you to make an immediate impact.
The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead the organisation's external affairs strategy, ensuring the sector's voice is effectively represented with government, policymakers, regulators, members and the media.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading public affairs, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications activity.
- Acting as the organisation's senior external representative with ministers, civil servants, regulators and industry stakeholders.
- Building consensus across a diverse membership and representing collective industry positions.
- Developing and delivering high-impact media and communications strategies.
- Leading engagement on policy, resilience and sector issues.
- Managing reputation, issues management and crisis communications where required.
- Providing leadership to an experienced external affairs team and maintaining oversight of delivery.
- Supporting the CEO and Executive Team on strategic priorities and organisational leadership.
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About You
To succeed in this assignment you will bring:
- Significant experience leading External Affairs, Public Affairs or Corporate Affairs within the energy, fuels, oil & gas, downstream energy, refining, infrastructure or wider industrial sectors.
- An exceptional network across Whitehall, regulators, trade associations and the wider energy landscape.
- A track record of influencing government policy and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
- Experience acting as a senior spokesperson with strong media handling skills.
- The credibility to engage confidently with CEOs, senior executives, politicians and officials.
- Previous experience working within, or closely alongside, a trade association, membership body or representative organisation.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
- The ability to quickly understand complex technical issues and communicate them clearly to a wide range of audiences.
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What's on Offer
- Interim assignment start early September - ongoing until filled permanently.
- £100,000+ FTE (pro rata)
- Part-time applications will be considered
- Hybrid working with a London office base
- Opportunity to lead during a strategically important period for a nationally significant industry.
Membership Bespoke is acting as a recruitment business for this interim appointment.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Due to the high volume of applications, if you have not heard from us within five working days, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Membership Bespoke remains the UK's only specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated exclusively to recruiting for professional membership bodies, trade associations, unions, regulatory bodies and other membership organisations.
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