External Affairs Co-ordinator

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

£30,230 (Band

E)

Closing date for applications

Friday 9th January 2026, 17:00

Full salary & employment details

Responsible to:
Public Affairs & Media Manager
Type of Position: 12 month Fixed Term
Annual Leave: 29 Days & 10 Public Holidays (pro rata)

Job Type

Full Time

Help us tackle the housing emergency.

It’s an exciting time to join SFHA’s external affairs team as we look ahead to a seismic election and work towards ending the housing emergency. If you’re passionate about social housing and politics, we want to hear from you.

SFHA is looking for an External Affairs Co-ordinator to support our engagement with politicians and Parliaments, with a key focus on the run‑up to the 2026 Holyrood election and building relationships with new MSPs afterwards.

This role involves engaging with the political landscape to support SFHA’s election campaigns and promote the value of social housing across Scotland.

You will work to influence the political parties in the run‑up to the election, monitor parliamentary and political developments, draft briefings to inform debates, and help newly elected MSPs understand the importance of social housing.

Enthusiasm and initiative are more important than extensive experience for this role, where you’ll have the chance to develop your policy, communications and lobbying skills in an organisation that’s driving real change.

Closing date for applications is 9th January with interviews scheduled for the week commencing 19th January. Please email a CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role to

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Support SFHA’s election campaign work, seeking to build support for social housing in Scotland
• Keep up to date with the Scottish Parliament’s business and other political sources to identify opportunities for influence
• Draft briefings based on existing policy work to inform parliamentary debates
• Work to inform and upskill a record new number of MSPs on the value of social housing following the election
• Working with the wider team, deliver key Parliamentary events
• Support engagement with SFHA members through forums, focus groups etc
• Assist with the drafting of briefings and policy positions

Communications

• Occasionally draft content for our platforms
• Keep our database up to date to ensure we have accurate records of our political and member relationships

General Duties

• Arrange and support meetings with members, politicians and policymakers
• Work with the communications team to keep our External Affairs Grid up to date
• Contribute toward effective knowledge management within SFHA
• Ensure compliance with, and implementation of, SFHA’s policies, including those relating to health and safety, emergency procedures, equal opportunities, code of conduct and disciplinary procedures
• Undertake any other duties considered reasonable within the scope and purpose of the post as may be instructed by the line manager

• Meticulous attention to detail
• Enthusiastic and willing to learn
• Familiarity with Microsoft software
• Interest in politics and public policy
• Familiarity with Office
  365 and Salesforce

This job profile has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this post. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the role. It is expected that the job holder will carry out all reasonable requests by Line Managers to facilitate the requirements of the SFHA.

These may therefore be subject to future amendments following appropriate consultation.