External Engagement Manager

Job summary

This is a genuinely unique and high-profile position in which the post holder will play a direct role in shaping and delivering a No.10 and Prime Ministerial priority in some of the most innovative regions in the world.

The Global Talent Taskforce (GTT) sits in the Office for Investment and reports directly to No.10 and HM Treasury. It has been established to support the Government’s growth mission by ensuring that the world’s most exceptional entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, technical leaders see the UK as the best place to live, work, innovate, invest and build long-term roots.

The GTT provides targeted, concierge-style support to a small number of globally mobile individuals who have the potential to drive significant economic growth, strengthen priority sectors and enhance the UK’s innovation ecosystem. Its work spans pipeline development, pitch and proposition, bespoke account management, policy intelligence gathering and unblocking.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape one of the Government’s most high-profile growth priorities from the centre, in a strategic, fast-paced and delivery-focused role.

The position centres on developing an external engagement approach that ensures we can develop and sustain a strategic network of the most influential thinkers, founders, leaders and innovators. You will contribute directly to increased investment, business growth, and the UK’s wider economic competitiveness.

Job description

We are seeking a proactive, ambitious and highly organised SEO to join the Global Talent Taskforce in a supportive role to the Head of External Engagement. The postholder will help coordinate GTT’s external engagement activity, supporting the development and delivery of a strategic programme of domestic and international stakeholder engagement that strengthens lead generation, supports the UK’s proposition to exceptional global talent, and helps progress priority relationships into tangible UK outcomes.

This is a high-profile, fast-paced delivery-focused role at the centre of government. The postholder will work closely with the Head of External Engagement, G6 Deputy Heads of the GTT, G7 Account Managers, the Deputy Director, the Global Talent Hub, International leads and communications teams across government. They will support external engagement that generates high-quality referrals, informs policy and proposition development, supports senior engagement, and strengthens the UK’s reputation as a destination for world-leading talent.

Key Responsibilities include:

External engagement strategy and delivery support

• Support the Head of External Engagement to develop and deliver the GTT’s external engagement strategy, helping to integrate domestic and international stakeholder activity and align it with the Taskforce’s objectives, priority sectors, target audiences and delivery plan.
• Help maintain a structured programme of engagement with stakeholders who can identify, influence, support or champion exceptional global talent, including industry leaders, investors, founders, universities, accelerators, professional services firms, regional ecosystems and other talent-facing organisations.
• Track engagement activity, next steps, owners, risks and opportunities, ensuring the Head of External Engagement has clear and timely information to support decision-making and senior reporting.
• Translate senior priorities into practical engagement activity, stakeholder plans and opportunities for senior engagement, working under the direction of the Head of External Engagement.
• Maintain accurate engagement records and reporting products, supporting senior leaders with timely updates on stakeholder engagement, referral routes, risks, opportunities and outcomes.
• Contribute to high-quality delivery across the external engagement workstream, supporting colleagues to coordinate activity and maintain momentum across priority actions.

Relationship building, stakeholder management and lead generation

• Support GTT’s engagement with Talent Ambassadors, industry and business leaders, investor networks, universities, accelerators, professional services firms, relocation specialists, sector bodies and other external partners, developing structured, high-value relationships.
• Coordinate practical arrangements for domestic events, delegations and high-profile engagements, including opportunities linked to major government, investment, innovation and sector moments.
• Support referrals into the GTT pipeline, working closely with Account Management and International Engagement colleagues to ensure leads are captured, triaged, prioritised and progressed appropriately.
• Work with colleagues across the Global Talent function to ensure external engagement supports policy development, proposition development, communications activity and account management.

Cross-government coordination, communications and senior support

• Support coordination with DBT, No.10, HM Treasury, the Home Office, DSIT, FCDO, OfI and other cross-government partners to ensure external engagement is coherent with wider talent, investment, innovation, immigration, science and technology priorities.
• Act as a helpful and reliable point of contact for partners involved in global talent engagement, escalating issues and opportunities to the Head of External Engagement as needed.
• Work closely with the Global Talent Hub and communications colleagues to support a clear, credible and consistent narrative for external audiences.
• Draft and coordinate external-facing products, including pitch materials, engagement packs, scripts, speaking points, briefing content and tailored stakeholder messaging, with appropriate quality assurance.
• Prepare briefings, suggested interventions, follow-up plans and clear asks to support ministers, No.10, senior officials or external champions in priority engagements where appropriate.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage.

• A strong motivation to deliver HMG’s Growth Priority and the objectives of the Global Talent Taskforce.
• Experience supporting external engagement, stakeholder engagement, partnership activity or delivery programmes in a complex organisation.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners, including industry leaders, investors, founders, universities, professional services firms or other influential networks.
• The ability to represent the UK’s brand, values and economic ambition professionally and credibly in external settings, with support and direction where appropriate.
• Experience working in or alongside startups, scale-ups, investors, universities or the wider innovation ecosystem, with an understanding of what high-growth businesses and influential individuals seek from government engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, concise material and present confidently to senior audiences.
• A friendly, open-minded and proactive approach to networking, with the ability to build trust quickly with influential stakeholders.
• Evidence of successfully working in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities, including maintaining grip on delivery and producing high-quality outputs for senior stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

• Understanding of the UK’s innovation, investment, scie