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Join the Network

Devolution is at the top of the political agenda: join us and help lead the debate. NLGN is the country’s leading localist think tank. For 20 years we have made the case for stronger local governance and empowered local people.

We work with councils at the vanguard of the local government sector, to lead innovation and chart a course through the challenges of austerity to the opportunities of the future. Our work is wide-ranging – from individual health and wellbeing to economic productivity, and from digital public services to workforce reform. Our purpose is simple – to inspire tomorrow’s places.

We are seeking a Head of External Affairs to join our senior leadership team, develop our external profile and strengthen our wide-ranging relationships.

This post will take on responsibility for our communications strategy and manage relationships with our partners, including our invaluable network of members. The postholder will act as a key ambassador for the organisation, telling our story to everyone from council chief executives to the media. You’ll also be comfortable with fundraising and marketing.

We are seeking an individual with strong communications experience, creative ideas and drive to be part of a small team that seeks to make a big difference in a sector that needs a strong voice and is facing huge challenges.

Line Management

  • To report to and work under the direction of the Deputy Director.

Main responsibilities

  • Take overall responsibility for managing NLGN’s external profile, including through the media identifying opportunities to influence debates and ensuring our research interventions register with target audiences;
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with NLGN’s members to ensure their needs are met;
  • Manage an active strategy to recruit new members of the network to ensure it includes the most innovative organisations in the local government marketplace;
  • To work with the Network Manager and Events Officer to give strategic oversight to a programme of innovative events and member engagement;
  • Manage and develop a team of three staff.

Other Responsibilities

  • To work as part of the Senior Management Team including the Director, Deputy Director and Head of Research to take shared responsibility for the overall direction and success of NLGN;
  • Editorial responsibility to manage NLGN’s external voice including through publications, events framing and website content;
  • Manage NLGN’s online profile including website content and social media presence;
  • Develop ideas for new products and services that NLGN could offer to continue developing our unique offer to local government;
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with NLGN’s wider stakeholder network, which includes Parliamentarians, civil servants, commentators, academics and an array of national organisations representing aspects of local and public service delivery;
  • Represent NLGN at public and member events including chairing and deputising for the director and deputy director as required;
  • Undertake other reasonable duties as specified by the deputy director, and to contribute to the corporate activities of NLGN.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Essential

  • Strong communications skills and experience, including demonstrable success at media impact;
  • Strong editorial and written skills including the ability to frame complex issues as simple and captivating messages;
  • Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to develop and maintain a wide range of relationships at all levels;
  • Fundraising and partnership development experience, or the ability to rapidly develop these skills;
  • Capable management of small teams in a fast-moving environment, or the ability to rapidly develop these skills;
  • Creativity and resilience, with the ability to work proactively and effectively with others.

Closing date

Applications for this post closed 5:00pm on Monday 1st August 2016