About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to lead external affairs for one of the world's leading cancer research organisations. As Head of External Affairs, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and protecting our reputation, helping to raise awareness of our groundbreaking research, influence policy, engage the public and support fundraising objectives through high-impact communications activity. You will lead a talented team responsible for media relations, advocacy and public engagement, ensuring our work reaches influential audiences and drives meaningful impact.
Working closely with senior colleagues across the organisation and with key external partners, you will develop and deliver an ambitious external affairs strategy that secures high-quality media coverage, strengthens stakeholder relationships and advances organisational priorities. You will also lead on reputation management and crisis communications, providing expert counsel to senior leaders and helping the organisation navigate complex and fast-moving issues with confidence.
This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of science, communications, public affairs and public engagement, ensuring that life-changing research reaches the audiences who need to hear about it most.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the External Affairs team, covering media relations, advocacy and public engagement.
- Develop and deliver a proactive media relations strategy that secures impactful national and international coverage.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, researchers, policy stakeholders and partner organisations.
- Oversee public affairs and advocacy activity, ensuring it supports strategic objectives and policy priorities.
- Lead reputation management, crisis communications and media preparedness across the organisation.
- Provide strategic communications advice, briefings and media training to senior leaders and colleagues.
- Support fundraising and partnership objectives through effective external communications and storytelling.
- Contribute to the wider leadership and planning of communications activity across the organisation.
About You
We are looking for an experienced and strategic communications leader with a strong track record of delivering high-profile media relations and external affairs programmes. You will be an excellent communicator with outstanding news judgement, strong leadership skills and the ability to translate complex scientific information into compelling stories for a wide range of audiences. You will bring substantial experience of working with national media, managing reputation and risk, and delivering communications that support organisational and policy objectives.
You will be highly scientifically literate, with a genuine interest in science, medicine and health policy, and a passion for helping research make a difference. You will be comfortable building relationships with senior stakeholders, researchers, journalists and partner organisations, and able to influence effectively in complex environments. Experience of leading teams, managing multiple priorities and navigating fast-moving issues will be essential, while experience within the not-for-profit, research or higher education sectors would be particularly valuable.
Above all, you will be passionate about using communications and external affairs to advance our mission, raising awareness, building influence and helping deliver lasting impact for patients and the public.
What We Offer
- A supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- Competitive salary and pension
Department/Directorate Information
The Development and Communications directorate tells the ICR’s story and focuses on income generation. The ICR is world-renowned for its outstanding cancer research – and it deserves communication to match. We believe that communicating effectively about the ICR's work can help us build on our successes – attracting donors and supporters, the best staff and students, commercial partners and collaborators.
We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role.