Assistant Director, Communications & External Affairs

Closing Date: 05/11/2026

Interviews will take place week commencing 16/11/2026 and 23/11/2026

There will be a two stage interview process and you will be required to complete an online Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) prior to second stage.

As a key member of the leadership team, you will lead the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation's communications, engagement and external affairs activities, helping to build support for an ambitious programme of sustainable growth.

You will shape and protect the organisation's reputation, provide strategic advice on complex and high-profile issues, and ensure effective engagement with communities, government, investors, businesses and strategic partners.

Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Chair and Board, you will help influence decision-making, build consensus and support the successful delivery of GCDC's vision for Greater Cambridge.

This role is being recruited by Homes England to support the establishment and operation of the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation. The successful candidate will initially be employed by Homes England and will work predominantly on matters relating to the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and its activities.

We're looking for an experienced and influential communications leader who thrives in complex, high-profile environments and knows how to bring people together behind a shared vision. You will have a strong track record of leading strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and external affairs activity, ideally supporting large-scale programmes, organisational transformation or significant growth agendas.

You will have experience of working closely with Boards, Chief Executives and executive teams on reputation management, political and stakeholder engagement, media relations and complex communications challenges. Comfortable operating in a highly visible and politically sensitive environment, you will bring sound judgement, credibility and the confidence to navigate competing priorities and perspectives.

You will have a deep understanding of the political, policy and regulatory landscape, together with the ability to build influential relationships across government, business, the media, communities and partner organisations. An accomplished communicator, you will be equally comfortable shaping strategic narratives, managing public affairs activity and representing an organisation with senior stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be an experienced people leader with a proven ability to develop high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. You will bring expertise across media relations, digital communications, campaigns, audience insight and engagement, using evidence and insight to maximise impact and continuously improve performance.

Homes England:
The Housing and Regeneration Agency

As the government's housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector. Together with our partners, we're accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

The Greater Cambridge Development Corporation was established by the government on 23 July 2026. It is a…