External Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)
Employer: Guide Dogs
Location: This is a home-based role. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
Working hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 + excellent benefits
Closing date: 23 March 2026
-
This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.
The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.
The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.
Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.
Public Affairs
Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.
Campaigns & Influence
Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims.
Leadership & People Management
Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.
Financial Accountability
Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Diversity & Inclusion
Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.
The Work From Home Hub is dedicated to finding and sharing remote and hybrid job opportunities across the UK. The content available on theworkfromhomehub.co.uk is intended for general informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the information provided is accurate and reliable, we make no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of the information presented on our site.
Feeling stuck in your job search?
Shift self-doubt into career confidence with solution focused support.
Book a free breakthrough session and receive a relaxation audio plus a Work from Home Hub discount.
Take your next step with clarity and courage.
This page may contain adverts for products and services tailored to those seeking homebased roles or already working remotely. These adverts help The Work From Home Hub source and share more job opportunities to our community. Support our mission - become a partner today.