Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs

Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs
Circa £70,000 pa plus excellent benefits
London WC1 and home-based
35 hours per week
Permanent

The Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs is a highly influential role within the College as you will help advance our influencing activities to shape paediatric care, support the paediatric workforce and improve child health outcomes in the UK.

As Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs, you will take responsibility for  developing policy and external affairs activity that builds the College’s reputation amongst its key audiences, including decision-makers in governments, parliaments, the NHS and other policy makers and shapers. You will also lead on the College’s four-nation policy and external affairs strategies, working with relevant teams, committees and working groups in line with the annual operational plan.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Membership, Policy & External Affairs, you will provide senior strategic direction and operational leadership for three reporting teams, setting a high standard of work outcomes and a proactive and supportive work culture.

Leading cross-functional collaboration, you will work with other divisions to align the College’s influencing and communications activities to ensure the positive impact of our offering is actively communicated to our key stakeholders.

Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional experience, you should have a proven understanding of the structures and working of the Westminster government and the devolved administrations, along with health and social care organisations and local authorities. You will be an adept communications professional skilled at maintaining organisational reputation and landing key messages in the external environment.

With an in-depth understanding and experience of the political context in which policy decisions are made, your political astuteness and judgement in influencing policymakers and other stakeholders, will ensure you can achieve effective advocacy.

You should have exceptional experience and understanding of the national and international policy architecture, the policy environment and the networks within it. You should also have demonstrable experience of developing and delivering high-impact integrated campaigns.

Excellent liaison and consultation skills and the ability to persuade at a senior level in all sectors, including with politicians and senior executives, along with significant experience of proactive and reactive media handling are essential.

Significant management experience along with a background of leading multi-disciplinary teams and operational planning in a high-stakes area, are also essential. Membership of an appropriate professional body – e.g. CIPR – would be desirable. 

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health sets and maintains standards for the education and training of all doctors working in paediatrics and child health in the UK. We advocate on child health issues at home and internationally. Additionally, through a variety of activities, the College influences the quality of medical practice for children in hospital and in the community. 

The RCPCH has more than 22,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have smaller offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

The RCPCH wants to represent all the communities we serve. Appointment will be made solely on merit. However, the College is particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, and/or candidates with a disability who are currently under-represented at this level of the organisation.

The College operates a flexible and modern working policy, whereby our colleagues work in the office for a minimum of 40% over a 4-week cycle and the remainder from home.

Closing date: 2 July 2024.