Merrifield Consultants is delighted to partner with Autistica to find an Interim Director of External Affairs (6-month contract) to join the senior management team and be responsible for building the relationships that ensure Autistica creates breakthroughs for autistic people over the next decade. You will fit in well at Autistica if you are passionate about enabling high performance and you value working with a team that thinks in diverse ways.Job Title: Interim Director of External AffairsOrganisation: AutisticaSalary: 55,692.00Contract: 6-month maternity contractHours: 0.8 contract, over a 4-day working week.Autistica operates a 4-day working week.Location: London (One day a week in the office)Closing date: Monday 15th December 2025 Required: CV and Cover LetterAutistica is the UK''s leading autism research and campaigning charity. Their mission is to create breakthroughs that enable autistic people to live happier, healthier lives. They make that happen by funding research, shaping policy and working with autistic people to make more of a difference.Key Responsibilities: Ensure autism and autism research remain policy priorities, with Autistica continuing to have strong relationships with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.Ensure you build constructive collaborations and relationships with organisations working in related areas to Autistica.Develop relationships with key members of parliament ahead of the election, and post-election (both independen