Head of External Affairs

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

Our client exists to improve children's health and futures through better school food and meaningful food education. They work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. They combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that supports food literacy and healthy development.

They're backed by some of the biggest names in food and are ambitious about both impact and scale. They want every child to access excellent school food and daily food education, regardless of background.

They are a values-led organisation - bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

Hunger, limited access to nutritious food and exposure to junk food advertising are proven to harm child health. You'll help them make the case that schools must be a haven where all children can access nutritious, exciting food that fuels healthy development and embeds food literacy for life.

You will lead the delivery of our client's External Affairs function, ultimately ensuring there is widespread recognition that poor quality school food is unacceptable and that the new school food standards are a vital health intervention. Through integrated media, digital and advocacy work, you'll ensure quality school food is viewed as essential for healthy development and strong food literacy.

You will turn strategic direction into coordinated delivery, leading a multidisciplinary team that increases their influence, strengthens their reputation and helps achieve meaningful improvements in school food.

Working closely with the Director of External Affairs and Chief Executive, you will ensure their public profile, policy influence and media work reinforce one another, while creating the management capacity required for a growing organisation. This builds on the new functional structure where media and content, policy and campaigns, and a coalition programme all sit within External Affairs.

Our client wants to become the most trusted and recognisable voice in the conversation around school food and food literacy. This role will play a central part in building that influence and recognition. They also want to create a sense of excitement around the potential of school food. Not only does it fuel children, it sparks curiosity and build connections.

Our client is looking for somebody who understands that influence is built through consistency, credibility, creativity and cultural relevance as much as through formal communications activity alone.

WHAT YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the External Affairs team.
• Translate organisational strategy into clear plans and objectives.
• Ensure media, content creation, campaigns, policy and coalition activity reinforce one another.
• Set priorities and allocate resources across competing work.
• Develop team capability through coaching, support and performance management.
• Contribute to organisational strategy and annual planning.
• Advise the Director of External Affairs and Chief Executive on reputational opportunities and risks.
• Ensure innovation is embedded at the heart of their work and approach.
• Deputise for the Director where appropriate.
• Line manage three managers.
• Represent the organisation externally.
• Build a collaborative, ambitious, solutions-focused culture.

Operational planning

• Develop and oversee a long-term External Affairs plan in line with strategy.
• Coordinate campaign calendars, policy priorities, publications and media moments.
• Ensure external activity supports fundraising, programmes and partnerships.
• Monitor delivery against KPIs and adjust plans where required.

Campaigns and public engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of policy development and campaigning.
• Challenge and refine policy recommendations before publication.
• Ensure campaigns are evidence-led and aligned with organisational strategy.
• Support relationships with government, sector leaders and coalition partners.
• Build strong relationships with media, MPs, councillors and key stakeholders.

Media & communications

• Oversee media and content strategy and organisational messaging.
• Ensure consistency across press, social media, website, publications and events.
• Identify media moments and hard hitting stories that will hit the headlines.
• Sign off major messaging and communications.
• Lead communications planning around major announcements or crises.

Coalition programme

• Provide strategic oversight of a major coalition programme focused on school food standards.
• Ensure coalition work complements the organisation's wider influencing strategy.
• Support senior relationships with coalition partners and funders.
• Remove barriers to delivery for the Programme Manager.

Budget & governance

• Manage the External Affairs budget.
• Ensure safeguarding, risk management and governance requirements are met.
• Oversee procurement of agencies and consultants.

ABOUT YOU

Essential experience and skills

• At least three year's experience in a similar role.
• Significant senior leadership experience across media relations, campaigns, policy or public affairs.
• Experience managing hybrid, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong operational planning skills.
• Excellent political judgement.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication.
• Strong project and budget management.
• Comfortable balancing long-term strategy with fast-paced reactive work.
• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape and digital channels.
• Excellent communication skills – written, verbal and visual.
• Experience of working with MPs and other key stakeholders.
• Strong alignment with the mission and values of the organisation.

Desirable

• Education, food systems or public health experience
• Coalition leadership.
• Charity senior management.
• Experience working with ministers, journalists and on national campaigns.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

Our client knows that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

They are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive.

First round interviews will take place w/c 7th September remotely.

Second round interviews will be in person at their office in Brixton w/c 14th September.

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