St Andrew’s Healthcare

External Communications Lead (External Affairs)

The closing date is 29 April 2026

Job summary

This is an opportunity to use your communication skills to make a difference and contribute to the Charity's future direction.

Location: Northampton, with flexible working

Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Communications & External Affairs, you'll join a small, dedicated team working at the heart of decision making at St Andrews.

The External Communications Lead is responsible for managing key external relationships that support the Charity and its mission. This includes managing engagement with the media, government & Parliament, and other external stakeholders.

This is challenging role, that will see the postholder managing complex communications issues.

The Person

You are an experienced communications professional who wants to use your skills to make a difference to peoples lives. You thrive in a fast paced environment and are comfortable working through change, uncertainty and significant issues.

You have a strong background in media relations, public affairs or ideally both, and are confident handling complex and sensitive issues. You understand the UKs media and political landscape and have strong news instincts.

Highly professional in approach, you're a self-starter who takes responsibility for delivering high quality work. You use initiative to solve problems, work with attention to detail, and contribute positively to a collaborative team. You act with integrity and are low-ego.

Main duties of the job

Media relations & issues management

Manage day to day media relations.
Track the news agenda and emerging risks, providing timely intelligence and advice.
Develop and deliver clear communications plans to manage issues and oversee the crisis communications plan for the Charity.
Shape and deliver a proactive media strategy that builds understanding in the Charity's work.
Build strong relationships with key journalists across national, regional, local and specialist media.
Produce and oversee clear, high quality media materials including press releases, statements, Q&As, briefings and op

Public affairs & policy engagement

Develop and deliver strategies to influence relevant public policy in support of St Andrews mission.
Build and manage effective relationships with MPs, parliamentarians and government stakeholders.
Monitor and analyse political and policy developments, highlighting risks and opportunities.
Prepare clear, well evidenced political briefings, consultation responses and policy submissions.

Opinion former engagement

Build relationships with relevant think tanks, advocacy groups and external experts to support improvements to mental health provision and understanding.

About us

About St Andrews Healthcare

St Andrews is a charity specialising in complex mental health. Its mission is to help people with complex mental health needs transform their lives.

With its history dating back nearly two centuries, St Andrews today is undergoing significant change to deliver on its mission for years to come.

St Andrews has hospitals in Birmingham and Essex, with its base in Northampton.

St Andrews Healthcare is a leading mental health charity with a long and distinguished history, predating the NHS. As an independent charitable organisation, we hold a unique position within the mental healthcare system.

Our purpose is hope - hope for those living with complex mental health needs to be heard, valued, and to envision a better future. Our Hope Strategy (2023-28) positions us as a leader in helping individuals transform their lives through high quality care, research, education, and advocacy.

We specialise in working with people whose needs are highly complex, often involving severe mental health challenges combined with additional factors such as adverse childhood experiences, substance misuse, or forensic profiles.

By joining St Andrews you are joining an organisation of people that dedicate their working lives to helping some of the most vulnerable people in society. Helping them through some of their darkest moments so that they can reach their goals and live, as independently as possible, in a more inclusive society.

Date posted

17 April 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Competitive. Total package depending on experience

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B0354-JFSTAH00114

Job locations

St. Andrews

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5DG

Job description

Job responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Director of Strategy and Transformation, you will lead the Communications and Events team, drive external affairs, and oversee the development and delivery of a comprehensive strategy that integrates internal communications, media relations and stakeholder engagement.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

You will be an experienced, inspiring and compassionate strategic leader with significant experience of Communications and External Affairs within large and complex organisations. You will have a strong track record of influencing public policy or working with government bodies and regulators.
Able to craft compelling narratives and deliver impactful messaging that resonates with varied audiences across traditional and digital channels, you will use your strong media contacts to drive national and regional coverage.
You will have extensive experience of establishing and nurturing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, media, patients, carers, and advocacy groups.
You will be an outstanding communicator with strong influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills. You will have a strong track record of managing complex and sensitive communications crises while protecting organisational reputation.
You will have both the breadth and depth of skills to fulfil the role described above and high levels of resilience to lead and embed significant change.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

You will be an experienced, inspiring and compassionate strategic leader with significant experience of Communications and External Affairs within large and complex organisations. You will have a strong track record of influencing public policy or working with government bodies and regulators.
Able to craft compelling narratives and deliver impactful messaging that resonates with varied audiences across traditional and digital channels, you will use your strong media contacts to drive national and regional coverage.
You will have extensive experience of establishing and nurturing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, media, patients, carers, and advocacy groups.
You will be an outstanding communicator with strong influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills. You will have a strong track record of managing complex and sensitive communications crises while protecting organisational reputation.
You will have both the breadth and depth of skills to fulfil the role described above and high levels of resilience to lead and embed significant change.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

St Andrew’s Healthcare

Address

St. Andrews

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5DG

Employer's website

https://www.stah.org (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

St Andrew’s Healthcare

Address

St. Andrews

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5DG

Employer's website

https://www.stah.org (Opens in a new tab)