External Affairs Manager

Job summary

In the Department of Health and Social Care, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

The Department of Health and Social Care Communications Directorate leads the conversation about health and care by engaging people through innovative communications, supporting improvements to the health of the nation and the running of the NHS. Central to this mission is our ability to work effectively with the wide range of organisations and individuals that shape health and care in England.

The External Affairs team builds and maintains trusted relationships with influential organisations and individuals to create awareness and understanding of government policies. The team proactively engages with DHSC's stakeholders, who represent what the department's audiences are thinking and feeling, as well as gathering and analysing insight to improve the impact of DHSC communications.

External affairs makes connections between communications and policy, helping to engage key stakeholders, amplify our communications and build support for the department's priorities.

Job description

As an External Affairs Manager at HEO level, you will contribute to this work by managing a portfolio of stakeholder relationships and supporting the delivery of engagement strategies across the department's priority areas.

This work is high profile, fast paced and ever changing. The role will suit a self-motivated, organised and collaborative individual with sound judgement, an interest in health and care policy, and a commitment to delivering high-quality stakeholder engagement.

This role is currently expected to continue beyond 31 March 2027. However, as part of the DHSC and NHSE integration programme, organisational structures and workforce requirements may change and this temporary arrangement may need to be brought to an end earlier by the Department. Applicants should also note that, notwithstanding the advertised end date, the role, team, reporting line and organisational structure may change beyond integration.

You will support the delivery of engagement strategies for a portfolio of communications priorities, cutting across the department's key areas of work. As part of this you will:

• Support the identification, mapping and monitoring of key stakeholders, ensuring communications strategies are informed by rigorous analysis of stakeholder views and priorities.
• Contribute to both reactive and proactive stakeholder engagement activity, helping to develop creative and proportionate approaches that consider the risks and benefits of different engagement methods.
• Nurture key working relationships with a range of external stakeholders, including charities, health sector bodies, professional associations and patient groups, crafting informative briefings for senior leaders and creating engagement opportunities.
• Produce high-quality briefings and communications materials for key audiences, including for ministerial and senior official use, ensuring content is accurate, timely and well-pitched.
• Drive the evaluation of external affairs activities, gathering and reflecting on stakeholder feedback to enhance future engagement approaches.
• Support the smooth running of the team by maintaining key partner databases, shared inbox and leading the production of the weekly bulletin to keep partners informed and connected.
• Keep up to date with developments in the health and care sector and the wider political environment, proactively sharing relevant stakeholder intelligence with communications and policy colleagues.
• Contribute to the development of team tools, products and processes that help build stakeholder engagement capability across the Directorate and with policy colleagues.
• As a member of the Government Communications Service (GCS), champion best practice, uphold professional standards and play an active role in the external affairs discipline network across government.

Person specification

Essential:

• Experience in external affairs, public affairs, stakeholder engagement or government relations, with the ability to build and maintain strategic relationships at all levels
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders at all levels to achieve shared objectives
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate and engaging communications, briefings and stakeholder materials for a range of audiences
• Sound judgement and awareness of the wider operating environment, with the ability to identify, assess and appropriately escalate risks and issues
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, deliver to deadlines and contribute effectively to multiple projects simultaneously
• Collaborative and flexible approach, with the ability to build effective working relationships across organisational boundaries and contribute positively within a multidisciplinary communications team
• Experience of delivering high-quality communications and stakeholder engagement activity, with a focus on continuous improvement and sharing best practice

Desirable:

• An understanding of the health and care sector, the wider political environment and how government works
• Familiarity with Government Communication Service (GCS) frameworks and standards, including the OASIS planning model and the GCS Professional Competency Framework

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration, and enhancing team working, learning, and support.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need.

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,208, Department of Health and Social Care contributes

£10,489 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

• Applications will be sifted week commencing: 05/10/2026
• Interview date: week commencing 19/10/2026
• Interview location: By video

Further details and interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 5th October 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and midnight on 27th September 2027 . You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Applications will be sifted on an Online Test, CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours.

An initial sift based on CV and Personal Statement may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your personal statement to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-department-of-health-social-care/ and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service careers website https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Candidates must ensure that all information provided in their application is factually accurate. Any examples provided must be taken from personal experience. The Civil Service abides by honesty and integrity as part of its core values, if evidence of plagiarism is found, applications may be withdrawn.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DHSC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vou