External Affairs Manager

External Affairs Manager- 6-month FTC

This is a high-profile and rewarding opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join the General Pharmaceutical Council at a pivotal time, playing a leading role in how we engage with parliamentarians, the media, patients, and the public.

Closing date: 1st February 2026 (11.59pm)

Interview dates: 9th February 2026 (Microsoft Teams)

Salary: £45,732 per annum, plus benefits

Location: Canary Wharf, London (Hybrid working approach)

Hours: 35 hours per week, from 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday

The Role

As External Affairs Manager you will sit at the heart of our Communications function, leading communications for major programmes, campaigns and external events, while strengthening the organisation’s profile and relationships with parliamentarians, media and key stakeholders.

Working closely with senior leaders, including the Chair, Chief Executive and executive team, you will provide strategic communications advice, deliver high-impact activity, and help navigate complex communications issues and opportunities with clarity, credibility and purpose.

The successful applicant will:

• Lead communications for key projects and programmes of work, ensuring alignment with the GPhC’s strategic objectives.

• Build influential relationships with parliamentarians, supporting effective political engagement.

• Advise and brief senior leaders, and support the delivery of high-profile events, campaigns and engagement activities, including work with patients and the public.

• Proactively identify, manage and respond to media opportunities and enquiries across national, regional, consumer and trade outlets.

• Contribute flexibly across the Communications team and wider organisation, demonstrating adaptability and strong collaborative working.

• Have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Benefits when joining our team

In return for their commitment and enthusiasm, employees can expect a rewarding and challenging work environment, good work-life balance and workload plus an excellent benefits package

• 30 days holiday (plus bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 5 days.
• Pension scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Career breaks and sabbaticals.
• Life assurance, season ticket loan, bike loan and many more.

About the GPhC

We are a respected regulatory body that regulates pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies in Great Britain. We work to assure and improve standards of care for people using pharmacy services.

Our organisation has a long-term vision and a desire for highly skilled and specialist staff. We are committed to providing workforce learning and development opportunities.

We have adopted a hybrid working approach which combines office and home working. Staff are currently required to attend the office for a minimum of 12 days per quarter, rising to 18 days per quarter from July 2026.

We are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture and are committed to holding ourselves to the same standards we expect of others.

Applying for this role

If you feel you have the required experience and skills and would like to join us, please complete our application form, including the supporting statement section explaining how you meet each of the criteria for the role, and where you found out about this vacancy.

Please note that applications without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Please consult the knowledge and skills section of the job description document to help you prepare your application.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community

We are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and being inclusive in all our work as a

health professions regulator.

Whilst we are proud to be members of the Disability Confident Scheme, you don’t have to have a disability for us to discuss reasonable adjustments. Please let us know if you need any support during the application or interview process and we will happily discuss this with you.

As part of your application for this role, please complete our equal opportunities and diversity monitoring section. This is optional and you don't have to complete it; however it provides us with useful information for monitoring and reporting purposes and is strictly confidential. The information you provide on this form will not form part of any selection process and will not be shared with the selection panel.

Important Notice for Applicants

As part of our pre-employment screening process, this role is subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In addition, the GPhC will conduct Fitness to Practise (FtP) checks for any applicant who is currently, or has previously been, a registrant of the GPhC. Applicants will be asked to declare this during the application process and may be subject to further internal verification. Any findings may be considered as part of the recruitment decision.