Head of External Communications and Deputy Director

Head of External Communications and Deputy Director

Newcastle University

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Listing expiry date: Jan 11, 2026

Salary: £58,225 – £67,468

Are you an experienced public affairs professional who can influence policy and shape opinion? Do you want to lead a team that champions the voice of a world-class university and drives engagement with government, policymakers and sector leaders.

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative communications professional to lead Newcastle University’s public affairs and policy engagement, while overseeing our wider external communications strategy – including media relations, high-profile campaigns and corporate events. This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping how one of the UK’s leading civic universities is represented on the regional, national and global stage.

At Newcastle, we are forging a new generation of university – one that prioritises collaboration to enhance societal benefit and sustainability, breaking down disciplinary barriers, co-creating with our communities and partners to address global challenges. As Deputy Director & Head of External Communications, you will help ensure our story is heard where it matters most.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, you will be the University’s professional lead for public affairs – shaping how Newcastle engages government, policymakers and sector influencers – and a trusted adviser to the Vice-Chancellor and President, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Place, and the Executive Board. You will also provide expert guidance across the wider University community to safeguard and enhance reputation.

You will lead a team spanning public affairs, media relations and events to ensure Newcastle University’s contributions to research, education and societal impact are recognised across regional, national and international forums.

What you’ll do

• Lead public affairs and policy engagement to advance the University’s strategic vision – helping to develop and deliver an integrated strategy that identifies opportunities, anticipates risks and secures influence in key policy areas.
• Build and manage high-impact relationships with government, policymakers, regulators, sector bodies and industry leaders – mapping stakeholders, gathering insight and maintaining influential networks.
• Provide senior counsel to the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board on political, policy and reputational opportunities and risks.
• Oversee external communications activity including media relations, corporate events and outward-facing campaigns that showcases Newcastle’s impact and supports our place-based mission and global engagement goals.
• Champion reputation management, collaborating with colleagues from marketing, business development and enterprise, advancement and in the wider university to ensure coherent, proactive positioning.
• Deputise for the Director of Communications and contribute to the strategic leadership of the wider Communications function – promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation and high performance.

You will need

• Significant experience of leading public affairs and policy engagement at a senior level, with a deep understanding of the UK policy environment, particularly higher education.
• Proven track record of influencing policy debates, building networks across government and the sector, and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Strong judgement and advisory skills on political and reputational issues, with experience briefing senior executives.
• Collaborative leadership style with experience building and motivating multidisciplinary teams covering public affairs, media relations and events.

For an informal discussion, please contact Jen Middleton, Director of Communications at jen.middleton@newcastle.ac.uk.

To apply, please upload your CV and a covering letter of no more than 2 A4 pages explaining how your skills and experience meet the person specification in the job description.

Assessments and Interviews will be held 26th January 2026

Key Accountabilities

Policy Engagement and Public Affairs

• Plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive public affairs and external communications strategy, aligning with the university’s strategic priorities and external policy environment, working closely and collaboratively with key offices and functions to harness existing institutional public affairs and public relations activity across Newcastle University. These include Marketing, Business Development and Enterprise, International Office and Advancement as well as the Policy Academy, Insights North East and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government officials, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and sector organisations, nurturing a network of people who influence higher education and related policy.
• Monitor, analyse, and respond to policy developments at national and regional levels, ensuring the University is well-informed and proactive in its engagement.
• Lead on the development of briefing papers, policy submissions, and advocacy campaigns to promote the University’s interests, collaborating with academic and professional services teams to translate research and institutional priorities into compelling narratives aligned with brand positioning.
• Represent the University in key networks, committees, and sector bodies, ensuring its voice is heard in relevant policy discussion and focus on advancing priorities for the sector as a whole as well as Newcastle University.
• Provide expert advice on political and reputational risks, identifying opportunities and challenges in the evolving policy landscape.
• Support our policy and public affairs work through organising and delivering a strategic portfolio of events, both on and off campus, to engage policy makers and other influencers.
• Lead the continued development of the public policy website which will showcase Newcastle’s impact and work in influencing policy and public debate.
• To provide advice and guidance and lead where necessary on crisis communications which may include working outside of normal business hours

Executive Board support

• Work closely with senior leadership, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Engagement and Place and other members of the Executive Board, to support engagement with external stakeholders.
• Oversee and advise on the researching, writing and delivery of high-profile briefings, speeches and presentations for the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board.

Management

• Lead and develop the External Communications team – comprising Media Relations, Public Affairs and Corporate Events – fostering a positive culture of excellence and collaboration.
• Manage the relationship, work programme and budget for an external public affairs agency.

The Person (Essential)

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable evidence of having delivered successful public affairs activity and public relations campaigns as part of wider strategy to deliver organisational objectives.
• Deep understanding of UK and regional political structures, policymaking processes, and the higher education policy environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience in drafting high-quality briefings, policy submissions, and advocacy materials and ability to present complex information to internal and external stakeholders in a clear and compelling way, tailored according to the audience.
• Experience in leading and developing teams, with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Strong strategic thinking and influencing skills, with the ability to shape and respond to policy developments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, using evidence and insight to inform decision making
• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior policymakers, government officials, and stakeholders.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues, exercising sound judgement and managing conflict effectively.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Well-organised, self-motivated, able to exercise initiative and prioritise workload independently, while contributing effectively as part of a close knit team
• Creative, energetic and enthusiastic, demonstrating adaptability and a positive approach to delivering outcomes in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative and inclusive, fostering strong teamwork and partnership working across organisational boundaries
• Resilient and composed under pressure, maintaining professionalism and focus when managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent qualification, or evidence of professional experience working in public affairs or similar, showing a clear record of progression that has developed in scope, complexity and strategic influence to an level equivalent for this role.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Application URL:

https://jobs.ncl.ac.uk/job/Newcastle-Head-of-External-Communications-and-Deputy-Director/1241611801/