External Affairs Manager

Company Description

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is the United Kingdom’s largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR invests more than £1.6 billion a year of research funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The NIHR’s research programmes, people, centres of excellence and systems together represent the most integrated health research system in the world.

Established in 2006 by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the NIHR’s mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. It funds, supports, and delivers high-quality research that addresses the needs of patients, the public, and the healthcare system.

Job Description

We are looking for an External Affairs Manager to join the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in a diverse and stimulating role.

You will be part of a busy team helping to coordinate engagement and communication with the NIHR’s key stakeholders, acting as a bridge between colleagues from within NIHR and partner organisations. You can expect every day to be varied, exciting and challenging. We are looking for an organised and diligent individual who will enjoy and thrive on fast paced work at the heart of NIHR and the UK’s health research system. Ideal candidates for this role will demonstrate adaptability, initiative, intellectual agility, and drive.

A significant part of the role will be supporting the implementation of cross-NIHR stakeholder engagement strategies, including the development of information sharing process; coordinating current engagement activities; and helping the External Affairs Team to respond rapidly to government requests.

The postholder will be based in Central London but will work with colleagues from across the NIHR’s large, multi-faceted and nationally distributed organisation. Regular travel to NIHR’s office in Twickenham and occasionally to other NIHR sites across England will be required. 

Key Accountabilities:
As External Affairs Manager you will:

• Support the coordination of engagement with the NIHR’s key stakeholders and external partners, including mapping and monitoring relationships and ensuring information is shared across the organisation.
• Gather insight on stakeholder groups to inform decision making on how NIHR should optimise engagement.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholder engagement, policy and communication colleagues within NIHR and its partner organisations.
• Prepare detailed and accurate briefings for senior staff and government officials, using data and varied information sources, to support engagement with external organisations.
• Write high-quality content, including reports, web content, articles, and newsletter copy suitable for a range of audiences.
• Support the communications and engagement activities of the UK-wide cross-sector Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme.
• Maintain a good knowledge of relevant topics in the research ecosystem including political, economic, social, technological and environmental issues. Conduct horizon scanning to track upcoming risks, issues and opportunities and report on these in a timely way.
• Draft and implement project plans where required and support their implementation.

This list above is not exhaustive; the job holder may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Qualifications

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

Essential Criteria: 

• A university graduate with experience in a relevant stakeholder engagement, policy, communications or agency environment or equivalent experience gained through previous roles.
• Experienced in building productive stakeholder relationships, bringing together people with differing views to develop consensus and deliver joint plans.
• Highly organised with ability to project manage own priorities and support those of the wider team, despite working in a rapidly changing environment with tight timelines.
• Ability to manage risks, issues, and changes, escalating and proposing solutions, where required.
• Experience in gathering and synthesising information and data and presenting it clearly and accurately in reports and briefings.
• Strong writing abilities to turn often complex information into effective and engaging content, including for news stories, web and digital media.

Desirable Criteria: 

• Proven copywriting and editing skills, preferably in a health, medical or other science context. Underpinned by strong grammatical skills and attention to detail. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills to establish productive relationships with key external stakeholders.
• An understanding of how clinical research operates in academic and commercial sectors.
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to provide timely insights that will help shape and plan engagement activities.
• An understanding of the research ecosystem across health, public health and/or social care.
• Experience of working with government, the life sciences industry and/or charities.
• Experience in using web content management systems and email software.
• Experienced user of Google Apps (Drive, Docs, Gmail, Hangouts), and Microsoft suite.

Additional Information

Compensation, Benefits & Working Arrangements:

• Salary: £40,300
• Location: Victoria, London / Hybrid working model
• Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent 
• Working Hours: 7.5 hours per day
• Annual Leave: 25 days, plus UK public holidays

Employee Benefits Include:

• Annual bonus, subject to company performance
• Enhanced Contributory Pension Scheme
• Life Insurance Cover
• Benenden Healthcare Membership
• Training and Development Opportunities 
• Season Ticket Loan  

Please note: This is an office based hybrid position, with a mandatory requirement to attend our office in  Victoria, London, one day each week.  

Application Process
If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Essential Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR. 

If you wish to make an informal enquiry about this post, please contact [email protected].

NB: The closing date for applications is 5pm on the 18th August, interviews to be held from the 26th August. 

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership.