External Affairs Manager
9 Month Fixed term Contract – Full Time – Maternity Cover starting October 2025
The salary for this role is £32,988.80 to £36,558.08 per annum dependent on experience
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Who are we:
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.
We transform lives by providing support, guidance and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers.
Within our Adult Services, we support people to understand their diagnosis and how this may impact on their life and the lives of those around them. Our residential services provide accommodation and support for autistic adults 52 weeks a year, 24 hours a day in urban and rural settings.
We also provide supported living services for autistic adults who need extra help to live in their own homes or within our accommodation.
We have developed our education offer into a diverse network of independent schools and programmes which are relied upon by hundreds of people across the UK. We provide a wide range of services to support autistic children and young people. We improve and enhance education, care and experiences to help autistic children and young people fulfil their potential.
Visit our website to find out more about who we are and what we do: https://www.autism.org.uk/
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Who we are looking for:
We are looking for a External Affairs Manager (Scotland) to join the team in our Glasgow Office.
The External Affairs Manager leads on our influencing and communications work in Scotland, which is key to creating a society that works for autistic people and their families. You will lead a small but high impact team including a Policy and Public Affairs Officer and a Media and Communications Officer, as well as becoming a member of the Senior Management Team in Scotland.
A core part of the role is engaging with members of the Scottish Parliament and Government, as well as other external stakeholders including disability organisations, professional bodies, and the public sector. You will also work with the media to draw attention to the issues and promote solutions.
In addition, you will oversee our broader communications with members, supporters, and the public across Scotland through our social media, newsletters, webpage, and podcast. Through these channels you will ensure that our offer to autistic people and families is promoted appropriately, and that we are proactively working to increase autism acceptance.
It is vital that the voices of autistic people and their families are front and centre both in our public affairs and communications work. So, you will need to work alongside and consult autistic people and their families, including our Autistic Campaigners’ Group.
You will be a strong team player, supporting our Scotland based Branches and our various support services, as well as liaising with colleagues across the UK.
This is a 9-month maternity cover post starting in October and and will suit someone looking to make an impact in the lead up to the Scottish Parliamentary election in May 2026 and beyond working to deliver our campaign priorities.
To view the job description please click here
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What we can offer you:
- Auto-enrolled Pension Scheme
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Excellent induction, training and development programme including training about autism and opportunities to attend our conferences
- Online staff discount scheme for a range of benefits such as cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan & shopping discounts for places such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, Halfords, Nike, Apple and loads more!
- Healthcare Cash Plan
- Life Assurance at 2 x base salary
- A portfolio of fantastic new salary sacrifices benefits and other flexible benefits private health, dental insurance, car salary sacrifice scheme, activity pass, holiday trading, enhanced pension & salary deduct loans (eligibility criteria may apply)
- Access to a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme & counselling programme
- Free access to the Headspace App – a global leader in mindfulness and you can enrol up to three friends or family for free!
- Eligibility for a Blue Light Card
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Where you will be working:
Glasgow Office/Hybrid - The role can be done remotely but will involve regular travel to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and quite possibly other parts of Scotland.
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About our application process:
When providing a supporting statement, please refer to the job description and person specification and include any information that shows your suitability for the role.
We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
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For some roles, successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks which will include additional references and criminal background checks.
Applications for this job are sought from anyone who is suitably qualified and experienced for the role but particularly welcome from those with a diagnosis of autism.
The National Autistic Society is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults who use our services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks.
We are an equal opportunities employer. INDNPCS
** NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE
