Application Guide
How to Apply for Group Director of External Affairs - Family Fund
at Russam
🏢 About Russam
Family Fund is the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children, providing essential grants and services while championing families' voices. What makes it unique is its dual focus on direct support and systemic advocacy, challenging inequality and shaping national conversations on disability and childhood illness. Working here offers the chance to drive meaningful change for vulnerable families while being part of a newly created, high-impact role with real scope for influence.
About This Role
As Group Director of External Affairs, you'll lead a specialist team spanning communications, media, public affairs, partnerships, and research to raise Family Fund's national profile and influence. You'll develop and execute a joined-up external engagement strategy that positions the organization as a trusted, evidence-led voice on childhood disability and serious illness, securing visibility and resources to drive lasting change. This is a central leadership role that directly strengthens the charity's ability to support families when they need it most.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning strategy sessions with your communications, public affairs, and partnerships leads to coordinate messaging, followed by meetings with policymakers or funders to advocate for Family Fund's priorities. Afternoons could include reviewing research briefs, planning media responses to breaking news affecting disabled children, and developing partnership proposals to secure new resources for families in need.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Russam Is Looking For
- Proven experience in senior external affairs leadership within the UK charity or public sector, with a track record of raising organizational profile and influencing policymakers
- Strong strategic thinker who can integrate communications, media, public affairs, partnerships, and research into a cohesive external engagement strategy
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders including policymakers, funders, media, and the public
- Passion for social justice and deep understanding of issues affecting low-income families with disabled or seriously ill children
📝 Tips for Applying to Russam
Highlight specific examples of how you've raised an organization's national profile and influenced policy in previous roles, quantifying impact where possible
Demonstrate your understanding of the unique challenges facing low-income families with disabled children by referencing Family Fund's recent reports or campaigns
Show how you've integrated multiple external functions (communications, public affairs, partnerships) into a unified strategy in past positions
Emphasize your experience working remotely in leadership roles, as this is a remote part-time position
Tailor your application to show how you'd help Family Fund secure resources and visibility during a time of increased need for families
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience developing and implementing integrated external affairs strategies that combine communications, public affairs, and partnerships', "Specific examples of how you've influenced policymakers or secured funding/resources for charitable organizations", "Your understanding of the challenges facing low-income families with disabled children and how you'd amplify Family Fund's voice on these issues", 'How you would approach building and leading a remote external affairs team to maximize impact']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Family Fund's recent research reports and policy positions on disability, childhood illness, and family poverty
- → Current UK government policies and political landscape related to disability support, children's services, and social welfare
- → Family Fund's recent media coverage and public campaigns to understand their current public profile
- → The charity's annual reports and funding sources to understand their resource needs and stakeholder relationships
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic external affairs experience without specific examples related to disability, childhood illness, or family poverty issues
- Focusing only on media relations without demonstrating integrated strategy across public affairs, partnerships, and research
- Lack of understanding about the unique challenges of part-time remote leadership in a newly created role
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!