Director of External Affairs and Growth

Employee Ownership Association

Hours
37.5 hours per week

About the Organisation

The EOA is the national voice for employee ownership. We are a not-for-profit, politically independent membership organisation established in 1979. Employee ownership in the UK is at a critical moment. The sector has more than doubled since 2020. Awareness is rising. Evidence is compelling. Businesses, communities, and policymakers are increasingly recognising that a people-powered approach can unlock fairness, resilience, and productivity.

We believe the UK can reach 10,000 employee-owned businesses within the decade, transforming succession, broadening ownership, and reshaping the economic landscape. But achieving this relies on bold, strategic, values-led leadership across our community.

About the role

The Director of External Affairs and Growth is an SLT role responsible for leveraging the voice and power of the eoa's network to influence and accelerate the growth of the employee-owned sector. The role leads the eoa’s external affairs, policy and insights, mar-comms and events, shaping the external environment for employee ownership and securing the funding and commercial income needed to support sustainable sector growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs strategy, building the relationships and influence needed to shape policy, remove barriers and expand EO. 
• Build strategic relationships and secure grant funding and commercial partnerships, generating income to support advocacy, events and sector growth initiatives, including the UK EO Growth Strategy.
• Oversee our policy and insights work, engaging key stakeholders to co-produce content that influences EO practice and policy and strengthens the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee the delivery of a mar-comms strategy that delivers commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading authority on EO.
• Oversee our events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the EOA at industry forums, policy roundtables and public affairs events, championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership and Operations to align advocacy and external engagement with member needs and priorities.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across income generation, advocacy, policy, events and mar-comms activities 

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Required:

• Proven expertise in external affairs, advocacy, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, grant funding and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programming, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

Compensation & Benefits

• Pension: Up to 7% employer pension match (from year 1 anniversary)
• Annual Leave: 30 days leave + bank holidays
• Death in Service: 3 times annual salary (following successful passing of the probationary period)

Conditions of employment

• You need to have the right to work within the UK.
• Your contract will be based in Manchester.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Manchester office and remotely
• You will be expected to attend the office at least twice per month, and more often where needed.
• You must be able to regularly travel to Manchester and throughout the UK as needed.

How to apply

• To apply, please submit a two-page CV and one of either a cover letter setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role or a video (maximum 10 minutes) setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role.
• Please send your enquiries or applications to [email protected].

Interviews

• Interviews will be in two stages. The first stage will be a virtual interview via Teams on 26th August 2026. For those who successfully move to stage 2, there will be an in-person discussion w.c. 31st August 2026.

Policies

The EOA welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented. We recruit based on values, skills, and contribution to our purpose.

Return to listing