Make UK have a unique and challenging opportunity for a Senior Education & Skills Policy Adviser to join our well established, well connected team in London. This is a maternity cover contract of up to 12 months.
In this role you will support our Director of Labour Market and Skills Policy in developing Make UK’s education and skills policy. You will develop and promote both strategic and tactical level skills policies, aimed to deliver the skilled workers needed by the manufacturing sector.
Make UK are a membership organisation and the UK’s leading trade body focused in the Manufacturing and Engineering Sector. We are a prominent organization and this role will provide you with a high level of visibility; you will work with a large number of varied organisations and gain exposure to government, interacting directly with senior civil servants and MP’s, you will work with key stakeholders of well-known brands within our member companies and you may be required to complete interviews or reports for the press/media.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Undertaking research to support Make UK’s policy work on education and skills, and producing policy reports;
- Responding to UK Government and European consultations and select committee inquiries;
- Participating in meetings with Make UK’s key stakeholders in the UK and Europe, including representing Make UK at roundtables, external events and advisory groups;
- Supporting the work of Make UK’s National Employment and Skills Committee, regional skills groups and where applicable Make UK’s National Membership Board and Regional Advisory Boards;
- Liaising and working with various Government departments and stakeholders with regards to the skills and education agenda;
- Engaging with Make UK member companies, including presenting at member companies where required, responding to questions on education and skills issues;
- Providing information on where and how to access support on education and skills issues e.g. inquiries on apprenticeships.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Experience of working in a senior policy role, within education and/or skills, or with sufficient transferrable skills from a policy/public affairs background;
- A working knowledge of manufacturing would be useful, but is not essential. However, it is important to have a good understanding of the key business concerns and demands placed upon employers;
- Good analytical skills and readiness to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances;
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills, including Authorship proficiency;
- A self-starter with the ability to deliver against challenging deadlines;
- Advocacy skills – possibly gained through representation experience;
- The ability to think laterally and creatively;
- Proficient IT skills – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, online research etc;
- Ability to engage with Make UK members; work effectively with a wide range of colleagues as well as individually, and without close supervision. Responsive.