My client is an influential membership body representing business interests across the UK and EU. They have engaged me to appoint a Policy Advisor to work within their Education and Skills team, based in the London office.
Working with senior stakeholders across Whitehall, the post covers a wide range of policy issues including reform of the national curriculum, GCSEs and A-Levels; apprenticeships and vocational training (VCT); skills; careers guidance and education; and enterprise education. The role will be to develop and communicate to key stakeholders the thinking in these areas.
The postholder will:
- Be the lead point of contact for policy work relating to education, skills in DfE, BIS, HMT and DWP and advocating well developed policy positions on behalf of businesses;
- Maintain a keen awareness of political and legislative developments in the UK (and EU where appropriate) from DfE, BIS and HMT as well as those originating from the EU institutions and identify their impact on businesses, and be proactive in responding to these developments as appropriate;
- Through an in-depth awareness of the policy environment, identify the key policy issues potentially facing the organisation and carry out rigorous research and analysis of the policy options related to the brief, including policy research papers and articles for both internal and external publications;
- Managing relationships with key decision-makers in Government and forming effective stakeholder relations with non-departmental public bodies, such as UKCES and the National Apprenticeship Service;
- Using your in-depth research and understanding of policy, promote the association's policy position both to members and to external stakeholders through a variety of channels including representing them at meetings with civil servants and MPs, and making presentations to internal and external bodies;
- Provide support, information and make recommendations to the internal Policy Committee members and Chair, and to the Policy Director regarding relevant policy issues and campaigns;
- Establish and develop a strong relationship with colleagues in the policy team, and in addition colleagues in the Media and Public Affairs teams, thereby supporting the London Office’s overall aims and objectives;
- Work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure that policy positions on devolved matters are closely aligned with English regional and UK-wide positions where relevant;
- Establish and develop good working relationships with a wide range of relevant external bodies, for example think tanks, and using your extensive policy skills ensure that the organisation is regarded as a credible source of advice, information and policy expertise;
- To maximise the impact of policy work, liaise closely with the Press and Public Affairs team on your relevant policy issues, and plan and manage how policies will be promoted through Public Affairs and Media channels.
Essential Requirements:
- Educated to Degree level (class 2:1 or above) in a related subject;
- Proven policy experience gained from employment in a field related to the post’s policy portfolio in one or more of the following: UK Civil Service or related agency such as a non-departmental public body; UK Parliament; policy / public affairs post in similar organisation;
- Experience of working in a membership organisation;
- Experience of working with EU policy issues;
- Experience of policy issues relating to education, skills or labour markets;
- Previous experience of political campaigning work;
- Thorough knowledge of Westminster political processes and systems;
- Good knowledge of key political figures in the UK Government and Parliament;
- Excellent analytical skills in relation to government consultation work and other related documents;
- High level numerical ability in relation to survey work and statistical analysis;
- Clear and concise presentational skills, both verbal and written;
- Excellent writing skills in relation to the production of in house reports, briefings and publications;
- Excellent communication skills – with a proven ability to give and receive information effectively, using the most appropriate methods to reflect the needs of the audience and to ensure mutual understanding;
- A proven ability to plan, prioritise and organise work and resources to ensure deadlines are met.