Job Description
Job Purpose
Permanent opportunity - full time - up to £56,000 per annum + benefits
Working from home, national responsibility with regular travel expected
The Trust
We are the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.
We have a wonderful opportunity within our Communications Directorate for a Policy & Public Affairs Manager. This role will work with the Director of Communications and External Relations to build political influence, policy support and advocacy for the canal network as well as for the Trust. The post holder will lead on driving the delivery and evaluation of the Trust’s political engagement strategy, including plans, records, political campaigns and initiatives in England and Wales which aims to secure influence over decision makers within government and across Whitehall, and positions the Trust both as a critical contributor to national challenges (such as urban deprivation, health, water security, climate change mitigation and nature recovery) and as a highly recognised and respected charity.
Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience
About the Role:
Key Accountabilities:
- Drive and monitor the delivery of the policy and public affairs strategy, including strategic relationship building and management with UK and Welsh government ministers, other politicians and advisors, peers, civil servants and other key stakeholders to deliver required outputs and outcomes.
- Lead the development of the mechanisms and processes needed to deliver the integrated policy and public affairs strategy, including putting in place a robust and easy-to-use system for records management for engagement with key political and policy stakeholders (routine correspondence with MPs as well as more strategic engagement).
- Work with the Trust’s Regional Directors and their teams to design and deliver a joined-up programme of national and devolved public affairs activity, including reach-out to key regional stakeholders and working relationships with Regional Advisory Boards; and regularly evaluate and review the effectiveness of the programme outputs.
- Draft materials to be used for political engagement, including evidence-based position statements and case studies, and demonstrating how Trust activities contribute to national challenges and policy areas; coordinate with other Trust narratives (e.g. fundraising, strategy, marketing). Communicate these as required internally and externally.
- Contribute to Board reports/Exec papers as required.
- Identify opportunities for the Trust to influence the development of public policy, legislation, guidance and regulation in England and Wales for the benefit of waterways and their communities, whilst protecting assets and interests of the Trust, through:
- Identifying relevant consultations from UK and Welsh government departments and their sponsored bodies on policy, procedural change or legislative reforms and technical matters;
- Coordinating the Trust’s delivery of timely and evidenced formal responses to these consultations, including caseload management of responses and production of policy advisory notes for internal and external stakeholders as required.
- Ensure the results of political monitoring are used effectively to support the above activities.
- Relationship and budget manager for external Public Affairs agency/agencies.
About you
This is a role with influence and impact, both internally and externally. It is essential that you can demonstrate that you are a strategic thinker with analytical and other critical skills relevant for understanding the challenges of policy-making and political advocacy, as well as public policy implementation and evaluation. You will be able to demonstrate experience and success in influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills, with high levels of integrity. You will be have highly effective written and verbal communication, networking and presentation skills, paying great attention to detail; the ability to successfully communicate a range of technical and complex issues effectively to a wide range of audiences; as well as being able to engage and galvanise support amongst decision makers, policy/opinion formers. Strong interpersonal skills with experience of working effectively with colleagues from across the organisation; a flexible and creative approach to work; able and willing both to lead and be a hands-on’ member of a team.
Knowledge, experience & skills
Technical knowledge
Sound knowledge of political system, policy making at different levels and a wide range of policy issues in UK and Wales. A public affairs professional with experience in:
- Effective political advocacy, including experience of building awareness and support across all political parties.
- National public policy, public affairs and political engagement campaigning in England and Wales, with experience in planning strategic relationship building and stakeholder management with ministers, key politicians, advisors, local/combined authorities etc.
- Developing influence campaigns and initiatives, evidence-based policy position statements and advisory notes.
- Working across government departments, with a well-established network of productive working relationships with special policy advisors and civil servants at a senior level.
Leadership experience
The role currently does not have line management responsibility but may in the future; the post holder will manage relationships with Public Affairs agencies and oversee management of the political CRM system
Communicating and influencing
Skilled at building confidence and effective working relationships with senior leaders, other teams and technical and legal experts within the Trust to ensure a strategic and effective approach; skilled at building productive relationships with a range of external stakeholders
If you require any further information about this role, please contact the recruitment team at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk
To apply: upload an updated CV to your candidate profile in iCIMs and upload a supporting statement as a supporting document. If you require any support with your application, please contact the recruitment team building confidence and
Closes: 28/06/2024 at 23:59
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of up to £56,000, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits. We are also open to flexible working arrangements. These other benefits include:
- 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing after 3 years and again further after 5 years of service
- Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home and meet with colleagues.
- Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity (conditions apply).
- Free access to a 24 hour GP service, specialist counselling and advice , e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
- Access to a range of employee benefits including fitness apps, store discounts, boating holiday discounts and additional holiday purchase scheme.
- 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
- Free fishing facilities across our canal network.
At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.
When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us