The Public Affairs Advisor will support the Head of Policy and Public Affairs in delivering A4e’s parliamentary and public affairs function. This includes developing and delivering the company’s strategies across welfare, skills, justice and advice, as well as a focus on wider stakeholder engagement.
This is a challenging role at an exciting time for the organisation, with real scope to make a difference. Across the globe we help people get back into work, stop reoffending, start their own business, build their skills and manage their money. We do this through delivering a range of front line public services in partnership with governments, the public sector, voluntary and community groups. A deep interest in social issues and experience of working in or with a customer-focused organisation are a plus.
What you will be doing
- Assisting in the design of public affairs strategies and having responsibility for implementation;
- Managing and coordinating local stakeholder relations, including ongoing constituency contact programmes;
- Producing regular internal monitoring reports and providing advice on political developments;
- Managing and maintaining political stakeholder relations across the organisation;
- Project managing specific parliamentary work, e.g. on select committee inquiries;
- Working with a monitoring agency to support the PA function;
- Drafting external briefings, releases, reports and presentations;
- Working with other organisations, such as trade bodies, to deliver public affairs objectives;
- Project managing and delivering political events, e.g. fringes at party conference;
- Working closely with other teams, such as Communications, to provide expertise and achieve joint objectives;
- Representing the organisation at external meetings;
- Promoting the involvement of customers and staff in public affairs activities.
What you will need to have
Essential
- Educated to degree standard or with equivalent experience, with excellent interpersonal skills and first class written and verbal communication skills;
- Knowledge and experience of UK politics, either within the political system at a national or local level, in a consultancy or an in-house role;
- A strong understanding of public affairs and the role it plays within a business;
- Knowledge of stakeholder relations, with skills and experience in political communications and influencing;
- Ability to create and maintain good relations with key contacts;
- Being comfortable with working in an extremely busy, hard-working office. We will expect you to roll your sleeves up, use initiative and have a willingness to get things done;
- Ability to demonstrate A4e’s DNA. – Trusted, Passionate, Driven, Brave, Friendly and Caring.
Desirable
- An ability to work closely with frontline staff and communicate across all levels of an organisation;
- Experience of working in Parliament is valuable, but not essential.