EEF, recently rebranded to Make UK can offer exciting, challenging, diverse and rewarding positions for two Policy Directors; one for Central Policy and one for Industrial Sector and Technology. Working as part of our well-connected Policy team in Central London.
As a Policy Director you will be a key member of a multi-disciplinary policy management team and Make UKs ‘authority’ on your specialist area. You will help formulate policy and take the lead role in representation work; performing the role of ‘subject matter’ expert in your specialist domain.
Make UK is a long standing, well-established, forward thinking company. We have been established for over 120 years and are the UK’s leading trade body focused in the Manufacturing and Engineering Sector.
We champion UK manufacturing and engineering, and are a powerful voice at local, national and international level. We represent the issues that are most important to our members: working hard to ensure UK Manufacturing remains in the government and media spotlight.
Almost 3 million people work in the sector and deliver almost half of all UK exports. Our companies drive over 60 percent of all UK research and development. We’re at the cutting edge of innovation; leading the way in developing skills and driving competitive advantage for the UK.
The responsibilities of the role primarily fall into – Political, Member Engagement, & Media:
- Representing and influencing policy central to the company's strategy, to UK and EU politicians and officials;
- Contribute to the overall annual policy ambitions and help influence CEO and Board level decisions;
- Ensuring policies remain current and adopt a coherent view of the overall company's strategy and policy priorities across manufacturing;
- Assuring that the approach taken to evidence, analysis, evaluation and policy development should be coordinated and consistent across the policy directorate;
- Establishing policies which reflect a clear analysis and understanding of the trends and developments that influence and affect manufacturing;
- Enforcing the implementation of a central strategy;
- Responsible for preparing and executing survey work, and leading on information and research;
- Project managing activity, allocating resources, and managing relationships with membership/ commercial teams, whilst maintaining a consistent partnership link;
- Consultation of policies with internal and external experts;
- Managing engagement with members on specified consultations;
- Building consistent and effective relationships with internal functions, with the ability to communicate what needs to be done to enable UK manufacturing to prosper and grow;
- Building productive relationships with the media and acting as a spokesperson on labour market and skills matters;
- Fulfilling public speaking engagements and attending relevant conferences, seminars & symposia as a company representative.
Desired skills & experience:
- Experience in a similar role – advising on and influencing policy;
- Lobbying experience;
- Excellent understanding of policy related issues affecting both the Manufacturing sector and wider industry/ commerce;
- Knowledge of the current political agenda;
- A strong network of political and media contacts;
- Knowledge of consultation and parliamentary processes in the UK and EU;
- Analysis and interpretation of complex data, with an ability to recognise the big picture;
- The ability to take a strategic approach to issues;
- Management and leadership skills;
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills, including the ability to deliver messages effectively to small groups or large conferences;
- Ability to deliver against challenging deadlines.