Melbury Wood are instructed exclusively on a fantastic opportunity with the The National Hairdressers’ Federation (NHF) to hire a Director of Policy and Public Affairs. This is a newly created role to work with the UK’s biggest trade association for hairdressing, barbering and beauty salon owners. There are 40,000 salons within the hair and beauty industry, which generates turnover of almost £7bn per year and employs around 300,000 people. The NHF has over 5000 members and aims to help them run successful and profitable businesses.
In 2018 the NHF unveiled its new sister trade association the National Beauty Federation (NBF) who provide specialist support for beauty salons tailoring its services and advice for the unique challenges of running a beauty business.
Main responsibilities
Working with the Chief Executive, you will shape NHF/NBF’s policy on matters which affect our Members and their businesses, campaign on their behalf and effectively represent their interests with Ministers, MPs, government agencies and other stakeholders. You will ensure that other team members and our PR agency are aware of policy issues and that our campaigning, communications and other materials are up-to-date and relevant.
You will be responsible for:
- Developing and promoting our position on key policy issues affecting Members and their businesses either now or potentially in the future.
- Researching and sourcing information, providing briefing notes for the Chief Executive and other senior colleagues before meetings on policy or public affairs issues.
- Identifying relevant government consultations and responding to them to promote and protect the interests of our members.
- Writing press releases, position statements or responding to media requests (including the NHF/NBF’s own salonfocusmagazine) for comment on issues relating to policy and public affairs.
- Liaising with the Director of Marketing and our PR agency to ensure our campaigning activity is effectively communicated to members and other stakeholders.
- Working with the Director of Marketing on our Community Awards and liaising with MPs and Ministers attending the House of Commons reception.
- Speaking at events on campaigning, policy and public affairs
- Representing the NHF/NBF at meetings with Ministers, MPs, roundtable meetings, government agencies and at other meetings or events where there is an opportunity to influence policy makers.
- Working with other trade bodies in related sectors eg retail to establish common grounds and opportunities for working together for the benefit of members.
- Keeping up to date with political developments and party policy in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Working with our agency, the secretariat for the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
- Any other responsibilities considered appropriate to this role by the company.
Qualifications, skills and experience
- Substantial experience working in a public affairs role, ideally for a trade body or a public affairs agency, and having a well-developed network of relevant contacts.
- A good understanding of the workings of Parliament, the government and political processes.
- Familiarity with and interest in politics and current affairs.
- Familiarity and interest in the small business sector, especially issues which are highly relevant to the hair and beauty sector such as the high street, minimum wages, business rates, tax and VAT, apprenticeships, employment and self-employment.
- Ability to summarise complex policy issues and communicate them effectively in writing or verbally.
- Experience of working alongside PR and marketing communications.
- Educated to degree level, ideally in a business, politics or communications-related subject, with the ability to understand and analyse basic statistical information.
- IT literate.
- Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Able to work to deadlines and pay attention to detail.
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to work with and communicate with people from a wide range of backgrounds and opinions, including senior colleagues and stakeholders.
*The role will involve regular travel to London for meetings, with occasional visits to the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, the Scottish Government in Edinburgh and visits to MPs in their constituencies. We are therefore willing to consider alternative locations.