Chief responsibilities: to work under the direction of the Public Affairs & PR Director to lobby for and raise the profile of, RIA, its members and the rail supply sector issues to policy makers and influencers, and amongst key rail clients such as Network Rail, Transport for London, Transport for the North, Midlands Rail Hub, HS2, and East West Rail.
In addition, to work closely with the RIA Policy function in articulating strategic issues to key stakeholders such as the Department for Transport, the Business Department, HM Treasury, the Office of Rail & Road, and the Great British Railways Transition Team.
The below sets out the main aspects of the Public Affairs & PR Executive role. It is not exhaustive, and responsibilities and tasks can change over time, depending on the needs of the Association.
Main objectives of the role:
- Providing both: i) PA/PR strategic advice and input; and ii) PA/PR activity delivery for and with the RIA team, Board, RIA Public Affairs & Comms forums, and wider membership;
- Conducting and facilitating PA, PR and communications related administrative tasks, as required;
- Being a public advocate for RIA positions, in political, regulatory and PA related areas.
Public affairs:
- Conducting and advocating campaigns, for example on major railway projects and Rail Decarbonisation;
- Political relations, party conferences and contact programme activity; and arranging and attending meetings with the Chief Executive and senior Director colleagues, and preparing political briefings as required;
- Organising and attending parliamentary events and political conferences;
- Stakeholder engagement and related meetings/events management, including lead on the RIA Rail Fellowship Programme;
- Overseeing political and parliamentary monitoring function and ensuring team members are aware of significant developments;
- Any RIA Public Affairs & Communications forums activity, including preparation of papers, arranging meetings and note-taking, and general communications with the forums;
- Conducting political lobbying alongside RIA Policy and Technical & Innovation functions on relevant Government issues such as funding, Digital Railway, sustainability and innovation, in addition to cross party engagement across the political parties;
- Facilitating RIA’s PA-related events schedule, including Devolved Nations & Regions events, politically related receptions, lunches, etc;
- Liaising and working with any RIA contract PA support.
PR and communications:
- Arranging and conducting both RIA and campaigns-related media relations activity, including PR sell-ins;
- Drafting press releases and media content and materials, and updating the RIA website with relevant material;
- Being main PR and social media contact and practitioner on the cross-sector Unlocking Innovation programme;
- Developing multimedia content for RIA digital channels;
- Ensuring media and political monitoring function is appropriate, and ensuring team members are aware of significant developments;
- Providing written material for RIA members’ newsletters and weekly emails, and managing their distribution;
- Arranging media tours and, where required, attending meetings with the Chief Exec / Snr Director colleagues;
- Liaising and working with RIA contract PA and PR support, where appropriate;
- Speech-writing assistance for RIA flagship events.
Person specification
- University leaver through to a professional PA / PR / comms practitioner with demonstrable experience in a related role;
- A self-starter who is proactive and willing to take the initiative;
- Good time management and ability to manage competing and multiple tasks and interests;
- An energetic and self-motivated person who has the drive to deliver high quality PA & PR activity, often under tight deadlines, and is able to work individually and as part of a team;
- An ability and willingness to work outside of office hours on a regular basis, to develop political and stakeholder networks;
- The role is office based in an often fast-paced Westminster HQ, with regular meetings in central London and also frequent trips and sometimes overnight stays around the UK, and there will be occasional overseas trips too .