ukactive is the not-for-profit health body with a long-standing and uncompromising vision to get more people, more active, more often. ukactive will achieve this by facilitating big impact partnerships, championing innovation, providing high quality services to our members, campaigning, providing research and sharing insights. Our members range from long standing health and fitness chains such as Fitness First, Local Authority National Operators and Commercial Brands such as Asda.
Principal Purpose of the post:
To service clients within the ukactive Consultancy Service whilst growing the overall value of the service, and contributing to the wider External Affairs objectives of ukactive.
Over the last two years the ukactive External Affairs team has grown its partnerships, into a recognised consultancy service through which it provides strategic, public affairs, policy, communications and business development advice to clients.
The current client base ranges from the traditional leading health and fitness chains to commercial brands all with the shared interest in getting more people, more active, more often.
The post-holder will deliver bespoke services to clients whilst also connecting clients to ukactive’s existing Public Affairs and Policy Services through standalone events, policy monitoring and reporting. As such the post holder will be responsible for communicating the work of the Public Affairs team for its priority clients, and will also regularly contribute to the work of the Public Affairs team.
Bespoke advice will range from structured business development advice for established brands to Public Affairs briefing and reporting for organisations integrated into local authority contracting.
This is a crucial new development opportunity for ukactive as such the post holder will work directly with the Director of Public Affairs to maintain and develop consultancy opportunities.
The role requires proven track record within a client facing Public Affairs role and would be perfect for someone who is seeking to broaden their experience across all manners of Public Affairs and Business Development.
Key Responsibilities:
Management of the ukactive Consultancy Service:
- Provide strategic, policy, business development and communications advice to clients, both the clients your directly manage and others;
- Design a clear portfolio of consultancy services provided by ukactive;
- Establish and nurture a strong working relationship with client representatives and to develop and maintain an understanding of clients' commercial and policy objectives;
- Help clients achieve their objectives through the development of effective strategic public affairs programmes;
- Develop pro-active solutions to clients' objectives;
- Manage your own time to achieve levels of chargeable hours as agreed with the Public Affairs Director;
- Contribute to the identification of development needs for more junior staff, and where appropriate assist in staff development. Dependent on scale of work this could include the recruitment and subsequent management of further Account Executive Posts;
- Provide regular briefings to junior colleagues on clients requirements and provide them with constructive feedback on the tasks they undertake;
- Hosting issue focused roundtables and networking events for clients which provide insight on key issues.
Grow the ukactive Consultancy Service:
- Contribute to the identification and pursuit of new business opportunities - through existing client relationships or new prospects - both on your own initiative and as required as part of a wider team;
- Maintain dialogue with ukactive’s large members in order to ensure that the team are always well placed to provide advice and guidance to these members;
- Draft proposals and presentations outlining consultancy services;
- Manage renewals and contracting matters with consultancy clients;
- Work with the External Affairs Team to draft insight reports which both inform members and stakeholders whilst also positioning ukactive consultancy services.
Contribute to the wider work of the ukactive External Affairs Team:
- Work with the External Affairs Manager, Research Manager, and Parliament and Policy Manager to coordinate a broad ukactive external affairs strategy that includes leading members, partner organisations, stakeholders and public bodies;
- Contribute to policy briefings and consultation responses;
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with key partner organisations.
Skills and Knowledge:
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The post-holder may be a generalist but the knowledge is desirable:
- Demonstrable knowledge of ukactive key policy areas such as Public Heath, Commissioning, and Sports Policy;
- Understanding of the activity, fitness and leisure sector;
- Experience in managing clients proven preferably through a client facing role;
- Excellent communications skills with a commercial ability to generate additional business;
- Excellent written skills;
- Excellent organisational skills, and an ability to multi-task, plan and work to timetables;
- Confidence in steering the direction of a programme and influencing stakeholders to achieve programme objectives;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and an approachable, friendly manner. Ability to empathise with customers who may have multiple barriers to being able to be physically active;
- Demonstrable business development and commercial experience.