Job Title: Senior Public Affairs Officer

Hours: Full Time (37 hours per week – Monday to Friday)

Salary: £35,000 per annum

Location: Flexible (Homeworking/Office) with regular meetings/visits in the North of England

The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) is the leading not-for-profit membership body for councils and social housing providers across the North of England, with 50 years of expertise and influence.

What we are looking for

We have an exciting opportunity for someone with relevant experience to take on a new role at the centre of our public affairs work. At a time when housing is at the forefront of the Government’s agenda, it’s vital that the North’s housing sector can effectively make its voice heard with ministers, MPs, and civil servants.

We’re looking for a politically astute public affairs professional to help bring our Public Affairs Strategy to life. You’ll be experienced in working in public affairs and will be working closely with our senior leadership team to develop and implement our public affairs strategy and plan. You’ll be working with stakeholders at the heart of government and UK politics, developing and delivering our influencing work with politicians, senior civil servants, stakeholders and our members.

Knowledge of housing, regeneration and the wider work of NHC members is desirable but not essential.

The right candidate will be able to:

  • Manage and implement the NHC’s public affairs strategy and plan.
  • Manage and arrange a programme of events, visits and tours for parliamentarians, civil servants, and stakeholders – in Westminster and the North of England.
  • Lead on producing briefings for the Chief Executive and members of the Executive Management team, to prepare them for meetings with politicians, senior civil servants, and stakeholders.
  • Work with our policy, communications and member engagement teams on campaigns, reports, and project launches, ensuring politicians and stakeholders are engaged and informed.
  • Arrange and manage our Policy and Public Affairs Network, ensuring meetings are engaging for NHC members and help support us to move the dial on northern policy.

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you’ll manage and deliver our public affairs work – from events in Parliament, to visits and tours across the North of England.

We’re looking for a self-starter who can demonstrate confidence and excellent people and project management skills. You’ll have the ability to communicate well with a wide range of people and operate at all levels.

You’ll have strong written and verbal skills and be able to react quickly to new situations. You’ll be a team player and confident at managing multiple projects. You’ll be comfortable both managing/supervising colleagues and working hands-on to deliver our public affairs work.

The successful candidate will:  

  • Work in a friendly and flexible environment with excellent benefits.
  • Expand your profile across the whole of the housing sector and within Government, meet influential people and build your networks.
  • Develop your public affairs experience and management skills.
  • Build knowledge on areas from devolution and regeneration to climate resilience and net zero, along with wider issues around housing in the North.

We are flexible around working patterns and will consider applications for the role on a part-time basis between 30 to 37 hours per week, flexible across Monday – Friday.

What we can offer

The NHC is a small team, but we make a difference. We aim to offer a rewarding, supportive place to work where we invest in people, and they can be themselves and fulfil their potential, celebrating achievements along the way. We have a modern effective working environment. We have always been an agile organisation, and we continue to utilise technology to ensure work is something you do, not just somewhere you go. We are fully committed to supporting our staff to work in a flexible way that allows them to balance their commitments inside and outside of work. We want our people to work in a way that lets them be at their best, whether that’s in our hub office in Sunderland or remotely anywhere in the UK. We meet regularly in person to collaborate as a team at various locations across the North, including in Newcastle, York, Manchester and more. You will also be periodically required to travel to attend meetings and events, or to carry out face-to-face work, to places across the North and in some instances London.

Through staff collaboration we have achieved a Gold accreditation for wellbeing through the Better Health at Work awards.

We value all our staff for the expertise and perspectives they bring to our organisation. We work in an inclusive way, celebrating our diversity whilst working together as one.  With this in mind, we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

  • Flexible working arrangements
  • The ability to work from a location which suits you
  • Workplace pension scheme offering above statutory contributions
  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increases by one day per year to 30 days)
  • Access to Benenden Healthcare and Employee Assistance Programme
  • Bespoke training and development opportunities, including payment towards gaining professional qualifications
  • Mental health and wellbeing supportive employer including our Wellbeing hub with discounts to gyms and numerous online stores

To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter, which demonstrates how you meet the requirements, to enquiries@northern-consortium.org.uk by midnight on 1 June 2025.

For an informal discussion, please contact Joanne Wilson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, joanne.wilson@northern-consortium.org.uk

Interviews will take place on Thursday, 19 June 2025.