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The Public Affairs Officer will carry out work on behalf of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) on issues specific to Dispensing Opticians, as directed by the Head of Policy and Development.

In addition, they will assist the Senior Public Affairs Officer with the implementation of Optical Confederation public affairs strategy to raise the profile of the eye care sector and promote eye health within Parliament, to Government and to other healthcare professions on behalf of the Optical Confederation.

The Public Affairs Officer’s time will be split 50/50 between Optical Confederation work and ABDO work.

The Public Affairs Officer will spend four days a week working at ABDO’s office in Paddington and one day a week at the Association of Optometrists office in Clerkenwell (although we can be flexible on this).

Directorate: The Association of British Dispensing Opticians is a membership organisation that has approximately 9000 members and represents the interests of 6000 qualified dispensing opticians in the UK.

The Optical Confederation public affairs team consists of three people who work to a brief defined by the CEOs of the member organisations of the Optical Confederation. The role of the directorate is to identify and exploit opportunities for the OC to promote the role of the optical sector to Government and Parliament.

Duties and key responsibilities

Parliamentary and Government business

  • Read and summarise reports;
  • Produce a weekly monitoring report.

Relationships

  • Build and develop relationships with parliamentarians and other stakeholders;
  • Arrange meetings and events to promote eye health.

Events: assist with the planning and organising of

  • Party conferences fringe meetings;
  • Parliamentary receptions.

MPs' practice visits

  • Liaise with MPs’ offices;
  • Liaise with LOCs;
  • Produce materials – press releases and briefings.

Optical Confederation

  • Publicise work of the OC;
  • Ensure the website is kept up to date.

Support Senior Public Affairs Officer as required.

Experience

  • Experience of working in a public affairs role or in Parliament;
  • Knowledge of parliamentary processes;
  • Clear communications skills, face-to-face, on the phone and in email;
  • Writing skills – the ability to write succinctly about complex areas;
  • IT skills at a level that supports email, internet and databases;
  • Ability to work alone and cooperatively and flexibly as part of a team;
  • Experience of working with a range of key stakeholders and building relationships;
  • Able to work to multiple and changing deadlines.

Closing date

Applications for this post closed 11:59pm on Thursday 13th July 2017