Job summary
Are you an experienced, proactive external affairs and communications professional?
The Welsh NHS Confederation are recruiting a Senior External Affairs and Communications Adviser to help us expand our political and media connections ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
Main duties of the job
The Welsh NHS Confederation is a high-profile organisation within Wales representing and supporting NHS leaders. We act as a driving force for positive change through our policy, influencing, communications and engagement work.
Reporting to the Assistant Director, the Senior External Affairs and Communications Adviser will support the expansion of the organisations political and media connections and its external affairs ambitions ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
The postholder will be responsible for managing the Welsh NHS Confederations proactive external affairs and media function, including its stakeholder, political parties and candidates engagement, so that we can build and maintain the organisations strategic connections, share intelligence and influence policy development on behalf of our members.
The postholder will be expected to form part of the media on-call rota alongside other colleagues in the team, for which an additional allowance will be provided.
About us
The Welsh NHS Confederation is the national membership body representing the leaders of the organisations making up the NHS in Wales: the seven local health boards; three NHS trusts; and two Special Health Authorities. We host NHS Wales Employers and are part of the NHS Confederation.
The NHS Confederation is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff. A place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of inclusive employment policies including family friendly policies and flexible working and we have range of channels to support staff from different backgrounds including our staff networks and a staff forum.
The NHS Confederation is committed to being a flexible employer. We understand the value and benefit to our employees being able to work flexibly and our agile working principles are designed to empower our people to work with optimal flexibility and minimal constraints to support a work life balance and take care of employee health and wellbeing.
You will receive an excellent benefits package, including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, salary sacrifice schemes and travel season ticket loans.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As our Senior External Affairs and Communications Adviser, you will:
- Develop and implement engagement plans with political parties and the next Welsh Government.
- Manage our proactive communications with the political parties, including MSs, MPs, and Senedd candidates.
- Write and distribute media releases, statements, opinion pieces, and briefings and create content for our communications channels, including the website and social media.
- Build relationships with politicians, journalists, and stakeholders and work with internal colleagues, advising them on political and media issues.
- Represent the Welsh NHS Confederation at events and meetings.
What we're looking for......Experience: Proven track record in media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns.
Relationship Building: Ability to build relationships across political parties and the national media, ideally in the health and care environment and demonstrable interpersonal skills and confidence in dealing with senior individuals.
Writing Skills: A creative thinker with strong writing skills and experience in producing communication products for political and media audiences against tight deadlines.
Policy Knowledge: Detailed understanding of influencing policy, especially in health and care.
Organisational Skills: Excellent project management skills.
Public Speaking: Confident in delivering presentations and providing advice.
How to apply
As part of our diverse recruitment practice, we use blind
applications.
Please download the job description at the end of this page
and click apply. Please note we do not accept CVs you will only be asked for
your CV if you are shortlisted for interview.
For an
informal discussion about the post and the Welsh NHS Confederation before
applying please contact Nesta Lloyd-Jones at nesta.lloyd-jones@welshconfed.org or on 07884233935.
Ready
to make a difference? Apply now and join us in shaping the future of healthcare
in Wales!
Application
deadline: 23 June
2025
Interview
date: 9 July 2025
Job description
Job responsibilities
As our Senior External Affairs and Communications Adviser, you will:
- Develop and implement engagement plans with political parties and the next Welsh Government.
- Manage our proactive communications with the political parties, including MSs, MPs, and Senedd candidates.
- Write and distribute media releases, statements, opinion pieces, and briefings and create content for our communications channels, including the website and social media.
- Build relationships with politicians, journalists, and stakeholders and work with internal colleagues, advising them on political and media issues.
- Represent the Welsh NHS Confederation at events and meetings.
What we're looking for......Experience: Proven track record in media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns.
Relationship Building: Ability to build relationships across political parties and the national media, ideally in the health and care environment and demonstrable interpersonal skills and confidence in dealing with senior individuals.
Writing Skills: A creative thinker with strong writing skills and experience in producing communication products for political and media audiences against tight deadlines.
Policy Knowledge: Detailed understanding of influencing policy, especially in health and care.
Organisational Skills: Excellent project management skills.
Public Speaking: Confident in delivering presentations and providing advice.
How to apply
As part of our diverse recruitment practice, we use blind
applications.
Please download the job description at the end of this page
and click apply. Please note we do not accept CVs you will only be asked for
your CV if you are shortlisted for interview.
For an
informal discussion about the post and the Welsh NHS Confederation before
applying please contact Nesta Lloyd-Jones at nesta.lloyd-jones@welshconfed.org or on 07884233935.
Ready
to make a difference? Apply now and join us in shaping the future of healthcare
in Wales!
Application
deadline: 23 June
2025
Interview
date: 9 July 2025
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Considerable experience of developing and delivering successful media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns that meet organisational objectives, with an exceptional understanding of how various media outlets and political parties operate.
- Effective networker with established contacts across political parties and the national media, ideally from within health, with strong experience of building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders.
- Very strong writing skills, with specific experience in producing communication products for political and media audiences against tight deadlines.
- Detailed knowledge of influencing policy, ideally in the health and care environment.
- Demonstrable organisational and project management skills, with the tenacity to drive forward projects from inception to completion, use initiative and demonstrate high levels of proactivity.
- Demonstrable public speaking skills, including delivering presentations, providing verbal updates and advice.
- Experience of using CMS (content management systems) and email marketing automation software.
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and confidence, including dealing with very senior individuals.
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Considerable experience of developing and delivering successful media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns that meet organisational objectives, with an exceptional understanding of how various media outlets and political parties operate.
- Effective networker with established contacts across political parties and the national media, ideally from within health, with strong experience of building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders.
- Very strong writing skills, with specific experience in producing communication products for political and media audiences against tight deadlines.
- Detailed knowledge of influencing policy, ideally in the health and care environment.
- Demonstrable organisational and project management skills, with the tenacity to drive forward projects from inception to completion, use initiative and demonstrate high levels of proactivity.
- Demonstrable public speaking skills, including delivering presentations, providing verbal updates and advice.
- Experience of using CMS (content management systems) and email marketing automation software.
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills and confidence, including dealing with very senior individuals.
Desirable
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.