External Relations Manager
Job summary
At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law.
This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an
outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.
Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working
on high profile matters.
Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the governments priorities and our success depends on our people.
GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 3000 people, including over 2600 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.
GLD also depends on a range of cross-government professionals to provide our corporate services.
These play an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and
trul
y deliver much more than law.
This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge
legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the
Modern Civil Service
.
To find out more about what we do you can
view our introductory film
and
visit the GLDs
microsite
. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our
GLD Strategy 2024 2027
.
About the
Communications and Engagement Team
The Communications and Engagement Team is part of the Strategy, People and Culture division, and is responsible for providing professional communications advice and support across the Government Legal Department.
It is an exciting time to be working at GLD. The rule of law is at the heart of the new governments agenda and our people are involved in work to deliver the governments 5 missions.
We are developing a communications strategy to reflect this important shift and to improve how we deliver communications in GLD.
Our team works to the standards expected by the Government Communications Service (GCS
)
and were committed to continued professional development.
Job description
Government Communications
By joining a communications team, you will become a member of Government Communications, a well-established profession of communicators working in government departments, agencies and arms
-
length bodies. Youll benefit from continuous professional development from our new learning and development curriculum, a network of skilled communicators sharing best
practice, mentoring opportunities, and more!
For more information on how becoming a part of the Government Communications profession can support your career and development please visit our
careers page
.
For our top tips on how to write your application, please
take a look
at our
recruitment top tips for
candidates
guide
.
About the Role
We are looking for a dynamic, collaborative and creative individual to join us and support our mission to deliver outstanding communications for audiences across the UK and beyond.
As External Affairs Manager, you will lead on developing and maintaining strategic relationships with key stakeholders and partners to support organisational objectives and reputation.
Working closely with teams across GLD, senior leaders, and a diverse range of external partners and audience groups you will manage stakeholder relationships and create compelling engagement strategies that drive positive outcomes. You will use various techniques to understand and inform stakeholder conversations, while working collaboratively across government to deliver communications priorities.
Key Responsibilities:
• Shape and bring to life stakeholder engagement approaches that align with GLDs vision and strategy while achieving important outcomes.
• Share your insights with leadership teams on building meaningful connections with stakeholders.
• Create and maintain detailed stakeholder mapping and analysis to inform strategic decision-making and track engagement outcomes.
• Nurture key stakeholder relationships, crafting informative briefings for senior leaders and creating engagement opportunities.
• Create and deliver stakeholder events that resonate with audiences and make a genuine difference.
• Gather and reflect on stakeholder feedback to enhance future engagement approaches.
With the support of an experienced network of peers and a strong focus on professional development, you will develop skills in line with these areas. Find out more about the
GCS Career Framework
.
Person specification
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.
Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview.
You can read more about
Success Profiles
.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Working Together
Experience
Essential must be demonstrated at application and interview
• Experience in stakeholder management and external affairs, with proven ability to build and maintain trusted strategic relationships at all levels.
• Understanding of the political landscape and government priorities along with experience in navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write clear briefings for a diverse range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Experience creating engaging approaches that reach the end audience by bringing stakeholders into the conversation effectively.