Location
London (High Holborn), Bristol or homeworker. The role involves substantial time in the East of England including early starts, late finishes and overnight stays where required, with regular nationwide travel for NHF events and meetings. If office based, two days per week in-person attendance at your office location is expected on average. Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.
Hours
35 hours per week
Salary
£46,698 per annum (London) / £42,373 per annum (National)
About the Role
An exciting fixed-term opportunity to join the National Housing Federation (NHF) as an External Affairs Manager covering maternity leave until March 2027. The NHF is the voice of nearly 600 housing associations in England, representing 2.6 million homes for around 6 million people. This role focuses on working closely with housing association members across the East of England and involves a unique and varied set of responsibilities.
You will engage with senior leaders across the housing association sector including chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors, requiring strong communication, influencing skills and confidence to operate at the highest levels. You will lead and collaborate on key programmes of work across NHF teams including policy, press, events and public affairs, while also working autonomously to shape your own work programme.
The role includes managing a geographic region of members and leading on one of NHF’s key themes such as supported housing, devolution, new home development, decarbonisation, building safety, or representing rural and smaller housing associations. Responsibilities include running roundtables between members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior housing association teams.
You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers within the member services directorate, dedicated to delivering excellent value for housing association members.
Key elements of the role
- Build and maintain strong relationships with housing association leaders using excellent communication and advocacy skills.
- Develop insight and understanding of housing associations to shape policy and member engagement programmes.
- Act as the main contact for housing associations in your region, facilitating regional forums and sounding boards.
- Lead strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority, collaborating across teams and regions.
- Implement structured member engagement to ensure policy and influencing work is member-led.
- Influence high-level debates and strategically mitigate risks to membership.
- Work with Commercial and Events teams to maximise opportunities and shape conference content, including chairing sessions.
- Represent NHF as the face and voice with members, stakeholders and media.
- Ensure seamless delivery as part of the wider NHF team aligned with business strategy.
- Maintain high quality standards and adhere to NHF policies and processes.
Benefits
- 27 days annual leave plus statutory holidays and 3 closure days over Christmas
- Flexible working including home/hybrid working and flexi-time/TOIL scheme
- Attractive family friendly policies
- Private healthcare cover
- Season ticket loans
- Employee awards and training and development opportunities
Experience
- Sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and sector issues
- Strong understanding of the political and policy landscape affecting housing associations
- Proven experience establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, delivering excellent customer service and value for money
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence presenting at meetings and events
- Ability to listen, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders using diplomacy and tact
- Clear leadership skills with experience leading complex, strategic programmes and matrix managing teams
- Excellent analytical skills and strategic thinking with ability to summarise complex information to support decision making
About you
- Positive, energetic and agile approach to work
- Commitment to excellent customer service
- Ability to work collegiately and autonomously, shaping your own work programme
- High degree of political and organisational acumen with strong horizon scanning skills
Qualifications
No specific qualifications required but relevant experience in stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications or programme management is essential.