Position: Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.
We’re looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward our brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our work has a positive impact for the MS community.
With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.
You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the MS Society at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.
As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the MS Society as a whole.
We’re looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025
Anticipated interview date:
First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025
Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
Thank you!
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
Their vision is to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. To achieve their mission, they are looking for a Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships to lead the high value function, including income from major donors, corporate partners, and trusts and grants. The P&P team also encompasses volunteering and relationships held with the family of member charities.
There is currently an interim Head of P&P in place until August to ensure progress continues towards the income ambition, and to support the team.
The P&P function is on a journey, much work has been done to embed effective processes and a consistent approach to pipelining. There has been much improvement so far, but there remains a lot of scope for the incoming Head to shape the team, define areas of focus and ways of working.
The team have had significant success this year, especially in the corporate partnerships space, so there is energy and enthusiasm to harness. There are exciting opportunities for high value fundraising connected to the launch of new Centres of Excellence across the UK, and some key events in the calendar such as a major donor dinner in September.
This role would suit an experienced fundraiser across major donor or corporate income streams. You will have led a team before, and have experience of designing and delivering fundraising strategies.
This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to come into a team that is on the right path, but needs a confident Head of to ensure the team works in the most effective way, and to provide support and guidance to the team.
Please note - the successful candidate will be required to work from Brain Tumour Research's office in Milton Keynes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Application notes
Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.
Interviews:
Stage 1 (virtual) - Friday 16th May
Stage 2 (in person in Milton Keynes) - Thursday 22nd May
Thank you!
We are seeking a proactive and experienced Café Supervisor to oversee the daily operations of The Shack Café, a busy student-facing outlet at KCLSU. This role is ideal for someone with a passion for hospitality and team leadership, committed to delivering excellent service and creating a vibrant, welcoming space for students, staff and visitors.
The postholder will lead a team of student shift leaders and staff, ensuring smooth daily operations, high standards of cleanliness, and exceptional customer service. You'll take a hands-on approach, often setting an example on the floor while supervising your team effectively. Key duties include managing financial processes such as accurate till operation, invoice processing, and stock control. You will strive to minimise wastage and losses through regular audits and clear procedures, maintaining accurate records of all transactions and stock movements.
You will also lead on staffing—recruiting, training, and supervising your team of around 12 student staff members. Responsibilities include creating rotas, processing payroll, and managing performance through regular feedback and support, while fostering a positive and productive team culture.
The Café Supervisor will work closely with the Commercial Manager – Strand to develop exciting product offerings and promotions. With support from the marketing team, you'll ensure effective merchandising and campaigns that increase sales and engage the student community. Strong relationships with students, colleagues, and suppliers are vital.
You will also manage catering bookings and ensure services meet high standards, from enquiry to delivery. Compliance with food hygiene, health and safety, and equipment maintenance is essential. Issues must be reported promptly, maintain a safe environment, and ensure all staff follow uniform and cleaning protocols.
The list above is not exhaustive. We recommend you to read through the Job Pack to understand the scope of what the role entails.
Application Process
To apply, please download and complete an application form and an equal opportunities monitoring form below and email your completed application directly to our email address.
Once shortlisting is completed, we will contact you and inform you of the progress of your application.
Please download application form here
Please download EOM Form here
At KCLSU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of everything we do and we endeavour to ensure equal treatment of all candidates. We welcome a diverse range of applicants and are open to discussing flexibility with the right candidate. Reasonable adjustments will be made for candidates with disabilities at all stages of the recruitment and selection process, and to ensure that a successful candidate with a disability can undertake the post.
As you will also see on our Job Pack that we are an equal opportunities employer and live by our 4 main values: Inclusive, Collaborative, Open and Brave. KCLSU is a fun, social and flexible work environment which offers opportunities for development as well as great staff benefits.
Benefits of Working for KCLSU include:
- Hybrid Working Policy
- Pension Contribution
- Interest Free Season Ticket Loan & Computer Loan
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Enhanced Sick Pay
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
- Eye Tests & single focal glasses allowance
- 25 days holiday entitlement & bank holidays & discretionary closure days per annum
- Discounts on KCLSU venues
- Employee Assistance Programme
- "No meeting Friday" ethos
- KEATS Learning Platform & LinkedIn Learning subscription
- Death in Service
- Access to Kings Libraries
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this role you must:
- Be eligible to work in the UK, and provide proof of this (i.e. a passport/visa) prior to your start date
- Not be a trustee of King’s College London Students’ Union
- Have a National Insurance number, or be in the process of applying for one
Thank you for applying with us. We look forward to bringing your talent onboard and working with you!
Registered Charity
101 - 500
KCLSU is an independent charitable organisation that works to further the interests of approximately 36000 students at King's College London. Join us!