• Job title: Policy and External Affairs Manager

• Area of work: Policy, Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Contract type: Permanent

• Employment type: Full-time (with part-time and Flexible working options considered)

• Salary: £50,000 – £60,000

• Location: Hybrid working (office base in Wales, with travel across the UK as required)

• Annual leave & benefits: Generous annual leave, employer pension contribution, flexible and hybrid working, wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, and staff networks

• Closing date: Thursday 30th April 2026

Overview

This is an influential opportunity for an experienced policy and external affairs professional to play a leading role in shaping relationships, policy engagement and public affairs activity within a national healthcare and regulation environment.

As Policy and External Affairs Manager, you will lead a small specialist team and act as a central source of expertise on the political, policy and stakeholder landscape in Wales, while also contributing to UK ‑ wide external affairs activity. You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across policy, communications and engagement functions to anticipate emerging issues, develop responses, and strengthen relationships with key decision ‑ makers and stakeholders.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in health policy or public affairs, who enjoys operating at senior levels, providing trusted advice, and influencing in complex, multi ‑ stakeholder environments.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Leadership & Strategic Advice

• Provide authoritative advice on the policy, legislative and political landscape, with a focus on healthcare and regulation.
• Lead horizon scanning and political monitoring, ensuring senior colleagues are briefed on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Produce high ‑ quality briefings, policy papers and consultation responses to support organisational priorities.
• Advise senior leaders on external developments, helping shape strategic positioning and engagement approaches.

External Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead and manage strategic relationships with key external stakeholders, including political, regulatory and sector bodies.
• Develop and deliver public affairs and stakeholder engagement plans, aligned to organisational strategy.
• Represent the organisation confidently at meetings, events, conferences and roundtables.
• Work collaboratively across UK ‑ wide teams to ensure a coordinated approach to influencing and engagement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide inclusive and supportive leadership to a team of policy and external affairs professionals.
• Support team members’ development, performance and wellbeing.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, high standards and continuous improvement.

Cross ‑ Organisation Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across communications, engagement, policy and operational teams.
• Contribute to business planning, evaluation and continuous improvement activity.
• Play an active role in supporting high ‑ profile engagement activity and events.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Strong understanding of the political, public affairs and health policy landscape.
• Proven experience advising senior leaders and producing high ‑ quality briefings and written advice.
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with senior external stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information for varied audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and a track record of delivering complex work to deadlines.
• Experience working independently, using judgement and initiative.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop and support others.

Desirable

• Experience working within a UK ‑ wide or multifunctionality organisation.
• Understanding of health or professional regulation.
• Experience presenting to a wide range of audiences.
• Welsh language skills.

The Team

You will join a collaborative, values ‑ driven external affairs and engagement function that works closely with colleagues across policy, communications, stakeholder engagement and senior leadership.

The organisation offers:

• Opportunities to influence nationally significant policy and external engagement.
• A supportive, inclusive working culture.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Strong commitment to learning, development and staff wellbeing.

Welsh ‑ language version of the job description is available on request.