EngineeringUK is a not-for-profit organisation, which works in partnership with the engineering community to inspire tomorrow’s engineers and grow the number and diversity of people coming into engineering. EngineeringUK leads engagement programmes for young people, The Big Bang and Tomorrow’s Engineers; creates inspiring engineering careers resources; and produces a body of research including the flagship State of Engineering report. We work with employers across engineering, providing advice, guidance and consultancy as part of the Engineering Skills Partnership. Everything we do to inspire young people into engineering is based on clear and up-to-date evidence, gained by listening to and learning from our community.
We are driven by a series of values that we apply to everything we do: insightful, inclusive, passionate and courageous.
The role will be based at the EngineeringUK offices in central London and is likely to involve occasional travel, including attendance at The Big Bang Fair in March.
Responsibilities of the Head of Public Affairs and Policy:
- Developing a strategy for, planning and delivering EngineeringUK’s work to influence parliamentary and stakeholder audiences;
- Ensuring our work is informed by key education and skills policy developments and based on evidence, including that identified through EngineeringUK’s research activity;
- Developing, formulating and promoting policy positions for EngineeringUK;
- Pro-actively identifying public affairs opportunities to engage with stakeholders to promote EngineeringUK’s programmes and influencing priorities;
- Producing written communications, including parliamentary briefings, select committee submissions, and responses to Government and other relevant consultations;
- Identifying and delivering speaker opportunities and producing appropriate speeches, briefing materials etc;
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders across Westminster and Whitehall to support the delivery of EngineeringUK’s objectives;
- Representing EngineeringUK externally at stakeholder meetings and proactively identifying opportunities for joint working. This includes leading EngineeringUK’s work with the National Engineering Policy Centre;
- Planning and delivering policy and public affairs events;
- Working with the Business Partnership Managers across the UK to develop relationships with key devolved administrations including combined authorities;
- Working with the wider communications team to leverage EngineeringUK’s programmes, including the State of Engineering report and other research activity;
- Managing the Policy and Voice Manager;
- Managing the annual budget for policy and public affairs activity.
Requirements of the Head of Public Affairs and Policy:
Essential
- Proven public affairs and policy experience within an in-house environment, consultancy or political context;
- An excellent understanding of the UK political landscape, specifically an active awareness of key developments in education and skills policy;
- Strong research and writing skills;
- Proven ability to develop and implement successful stakeholder relations strategies and align public affairs activities with colleagues across EngineeringUK;
- Excellent skills in project planning and management;
- Experience of working with and influencing at a senior level;
- Excellent networking skills and interpersonal relationship skills;
- Committed to EngineeringUK’s values: courageous, insightful, passionate and inclusive.
Desirable
- Existing networks within key Government departments: BEIS, DfE, DfT;
- Experience of using Salesforce.
Benefits of becoming the Head of Public Affairs and Policy:
- 10% pension contribution;
- 28 days of annual leave plus office closure between Christmas and New Year;
- flexible working culture;
- 2 paid days off work each year to volunteer for a good cause;
- Employee Assistance Programme.