Public Affairs Manager

Job description

• Lead and be responsible for Scope’s political strategy to deliver our influencing programme with political stakeholders, business and Government making sure our objectives are seen, heard and acted on by Government, decision makers and wider Westminster.
• Manage Scope’s Political Strategy team
• Oversee and build relationships with political stakeholders, manage Scope’s reputation in Westminster and, develop of the Political Strategy Team.

Main responsibilities

• Deliver and lead Scope’s political strategy and lead the delivery of Scope’s influencing priorities to Government, Westminster and Cardiff.
• Responsible for Scope’s reputation in Parliament, Government and Cardiff
• Providing strategic and political insight to the Policy and Research planning process as well as specific campaign plans
• Manage Scope’s relationships with politicians and develop further to ensure the voice of disabled people is heard by decision makers and stakeholders
• Oversee the monitoring of parliamentary and government activity
• Lead Scope’s communication and engagement with Parliament, including across consultation, inquiries, committees, debates, questions
• Build relationships with officials and advisors
• Lead Scope’s Political Strategy function, effectively line managing and developing the Political Strategy Team
• Work closely with the Campaigns and Mobilisation Manager on developing and delivering influencing campaigns
• Work closely with Policy Managers to make sure policy objectives are met and achieved
• Provide timely and informed political briefing to Scope’s senior team and Board of Trustees
• Be a Scope ambassador and spokesperson with external stakeholders, representing the organisation at external events and in the media to promote our influencing priorities

Internal contacts

• Colleagues across the directorate and wider Scope, including particularly, Communications, Marketing, and Services.

External contacts

• Politicians across all parties and both Houses of Parliament
• Think Tanks
• Disability Charities
• Consumer Groups
• On occasion, Members of Senedd

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Excellent understanding of Parliament, Whitehall and politics
• Knowledge and experience of achieving change through public affairs activity
• A track record in developing, delivering and measuring impactful social change through public affairs
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure to a number of deadlines
• Ability to develop relationships with all colleagues, at all levels and with external stakeholders
• Ability to think creatively and identify new ways of doing things
• Understanding of the Senedd.

Desirable

• Line management experience
• Demonstrable understanding of the social model of disability
• Experience of involving customers, service users and beneficiaries in the development, delivery and evaluation of projects
• Understanding of the ability for disabled people to deliver positive change and an understanding of disability policy
• Experience of representing an organisation in the media
• Experience of working within a political party or parliament

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates diplomacy, sensitivity and empathy with disability.
• Ability to persuade
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to be able to communicate with stakeholders in a clear, meaningful and effective way.
• Ability to be flexible, respond positively to change, and work effectively under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities
• Provides evidence of effective IT skills particularly Microsoft Office

Desirable

• Ability to build relationships and rapport with external stakeholders
• Ability to take on board and understand information, keeping abreast of ever-changing political developments