Creative UK is the independent network for the UK Creative Industries. Our goal is simple: to cultivate a world where creativity is championed, valued, and nurtured.
We are looking for an experienced professional with an extremely strong public affairs, policy and research background – who is imaginative, innovative and bold, who can communicate complex ideas accurately, succinctly and clearly, and who can be persuasive. We have been able to grow an authentic voice which represents, promotes, and enhances the interests of the UK’s world-leading creative sector through high-profile public campaigning and representations to the UK Government and a wide range of national and regional governmental bodies on policy solutions. This is made possible through convening, mobilising, and partnering with an influential and diverse mix of creative organisations, creators, education providers, trade bodies and unions that make up our membership. The role is responsible for ensuring Creative UK effectively uses policy and advocacy in the UK to support its mission.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional and leader who is enthusiastic, dynamic and looking to make a real difference to the cultural and creative industries across the UK. Our new Head of Policy & Public Affairs will join a fast-paced and agile team within the Policy & Engagement Directorate, developing a high performing policy and public affairs function, establishing policy positions, delivering flagship policy-driven campaigns and effective stakeholder engagement to further the reach and impact of Creative UK. You will work with Creative UK’s membership, the Chief Executive, the Director of Policy & Engagement, colleagues across Creative UK and wider stakeholders to secure policy changes on behalf of the UK’s cultural and creative industries.
The ideal successful candidate has a strong track record as a senior policy and public affairs practitioner with measurable evidence in positively influencing change in UK Government policy, ideally across the cultural and creative industries. You will have an established network, strong communications skills and the ability to take the lead in managing complex issues and external relationships. This postholder will lead the design of effective policy solutions with and for Creative UK’s membership across a range of cross-cutting areas. This includes building and coordinating a framework for influencing and campaigning across diverse UK audiences, as well as providing briefings and support across Creative UK’s working structures including the membership, UK Council, Director of Policy & Engagement and the Chief Executive.
You will need to have the credibility and the gravitas to engage confidently with senior leaders and the intellectual curiosity to cultivate all that Creative UK has to offer in order to engineer the design and landing of policy solutions which matter for the creative economy at large. You will have confidence around the building and use of evidence to make the case for change, the passion to consistently engage across diverse stakeholders to design rigorous policy solutions, a strong understanding of the workings of Whitehall and Westminster and a clear and persuasive written and verbal style.
This role provides a unique opportunity to work directly with policymakers, politicians and individuals and organisations from across the UK’s cultural and creative industries, from advertising, architecture, museums, galleries, fashion, film, tv, craft, heritage, publishing, visual arts, performing arts and video games, and others; you’ll be a real game-changer helping to lead a movement for positive change.
CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Strategy & delivery: Development and delivery of successful policy and public affairs strategy;
- Convening and managing: including debate, co-production and communications across industry bodies, Creative UK member networks and task and finish groups and relevant leaders and officials within UK Government and UK Parliament;
- Campaign management: successful execution of policy-led high impact campaigns;
- Effective member stakeholder engagement: which enables and delivers policy change;
- Relationship and account management: including key stakeholders and Creative UK members.
THE PACKAGE
- Flexible hybrid working: 2 days min per week from our central London office;
- Pension enrolment 5% employer contribution from 3 months service;
- BUPA medical insurance + Medicash;
- Cycle 2 Work scheme, in partnership with Halfords;
- Benefits hub, discounts across a broad range of partners;
- Employee Assistance Programme, Health Assured;
- Mental Health Guardians within Creative UK;
- Summer Fridays, finishing work at 3pm every Friday throughout July & August;
- Your birthday off as paid leave, extra days off over the annual festive period;
- 2 paid volunteer days per year to give something back to the community.