We’re looking for a politically engaged individual with experience of working in parliament, public affairs or a related political field, to join us as Public Affairs Officer and develop and implement impactful public affairs strategies to shape opinion and win change.
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.
Our Public Affairs team is responsible for achieving political change and building relationships across the political and policy world to help us achieve our goals. Major priorities over the coming year include our work pushing for a new model of housebuilding, reform of the private rented sector and affordable housing, and campaigns around affordable housing. Whoever joins us in this challenging role will be critical to the delivery of all of these projects, and much more besides.
About the role
As a Public Affairs Officer, you’ll work on a range of public affairs strategies with other Shelter teams and make sure all campaigns are built on sound theories of change informed by an understanding of what makes decision makers act. We’ll also rely on you to produce high quality briefings, publications and other materials and help develop and deliver approaches to communicating with specific public affairs audiences via the most appropriate channels. Playing your part in stakeholder management by helping to identify key public affairs stakeholders, both nationally and locally, and develop and maintaining effective relationships with them, will be important too. And, when it comes to advising and supporting senior colleagues in their political relationships with ministers and senior advisers, again, we’ll count on you to deliver.
About you
As well as a keen appreciation of what motivates decision makers to act, you have a good understanding of how the political and policy making system operates and the confidence to represent us externally. You also have experience of developing political insights to inform effective influencing strategies and a track record of planning and delivering successful and innovative projects. Excellent all round communication skills are a must have too, including a proven ability to translate complex ideas into compelling messages and effectively make a case, both in writing and in person. Strategic in approach, with an innate ability to see the bigger picture and focus on the end goal, you can also bring a flair for integrating public affairs with policy, media, public focused campaigns and services activities.
Benefits include 30 days’ annual leave, the possibility of flexible working, enhanced family friendly policies and significant opportunities for learning and development.
Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.