Public Affairs Manager

This role reports to the Head of Public Affairs and is part of the External Affairs Directorate working as a senior member of team devising and delivering the Public Affairs strategy.

Successful candidates will have six to eight years of public affairs or policy making experience and will be able to demonstrate a track record of working with key political stakeholders and delivering public affairs campaigns.

We are looking for someone with extensive political knowledge, experience in both creating and delivering public affairs campaigns, and who is able to identify and build key relationships. You will be expected to work both independently and to lead a team, and to deliver a very high standard of written work.

You will work closely with all teams within the External Affairs Department – comprising External Communications, Economic Strategy, Public Affairs and Research – as well as all parts of the wider BVCA, such as Policy, Marketing, Membership and Events. You must be a team player, who can deliver individually as well as through and with others. A proactive self-starter with a strong work ethic is critical to the success of this role.  In addition, as you will be working closely with a range of members and external stakeholders, the ability to build strong and effective working and relationships is a must.

Responsibilities include:

• Working with the Head of Public Affairs to develop and implement the Public Affairs strategy
• Monitoring the political and legislative agenda and advising the organisation on how to respond.
• Drafting and reviewing written evidence and consultation documents
• Briefing senior leaders for public appearances ministerial set piece events and Select Committees.
• Mapping, and maintaining a stakeholder management programme with key stakeholders across parliament, devolved administrations and the policy-making community.
• Oversight of key BVCA events including building agendas, identifying speakers framing topics.
• Overseeing team members in communicating key BVCA publications, data and policy positions to external stakeholders
• Producing clear and engaging external facing documents such as reports from complex reports and data.
• Writing speeches and presentations for the Chief Executive and Chair of the BVCA and other senior colleagues.
• Oversight of the production and roll out of core scripts and briefing documents.
• Working with senior colleagues to ensure clear and consistent external communications across the organisation
• Researching complex policy issues using internal BVCA and external sources
• Reviewing briefings written by junior colleagues to ensure consistency, clarity and tone.
• Planning social media posts and drafting and reviewing them with an eye to a political audience.
• Representing the BVCA to members and other external audiences
• Oversight of the team leading the BVCA’s MP Connect programme
• Line managing two PA team members.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role.
• Clarity of organisation and written communication, including consistency of tone language and formatting of public facing documents.
• Proven expertise in and knowledge of the UK political environment
• Sound political and communications judgment
• Experience of producing primary research and drafting clear communications for research publications
• Understanding of and/or interest in key areas relevant to advocacy for private equity and venture capital
• Eye for detail and creativity
• Knowledge and understanding of social media platforms and their respective audiences (LinkedIn,Twitter etc.) and how they can be most effectively used
• Sound knowledge of digital communications
• Excellent IT skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and the ability to learn and use other software packages
• Highly self-motivated, with the ability to work autonomously
• Ability to form effective working relationships with internal and external contacts
• Strong administrative and organisational skills and great attention to detail
• Demonstrable initiative and enthusiasm, and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Strongly results-focused, able to clearly demonstrate success via proven metrics
• Creative and full of ideas of how to improve and innovate

Why come work for the BVCA? 

• Be part of the leading trade body for the private capital industry in the UK, supporting the growth of the industry and deepening the understanding of external stakeholders to the benefit of the industry 
• Experience a friendly, engaged, and passionate work environment (with regular social activities) with a supportive culture  
• A competitive salary, reflecting the technical requirements and seniority of the role, and a performance-related discretionary bonus 
• Enjoy important benefits: 25 days holiday in addition to Bank Holidays; a 10% non-contributory pension; non-contractual day off for your birthday 
• Life and medical benefits: life assurance (4 times salary); private medical Insurance for you*; health cash plan*; critical Illness and income protection insurance*; employee Assistance Programme – includes Mental Health support, Virtual GP, Nutrition advice and Financial wellbeing 
• Other benefits: interest free season ticket loan; corporate discounts; reimbursement of up to 2 relevant professional institutes; generous support for professional and personal development, Cycle to Work Scheme

The BVCA supports an environment that is based on merit and inclusiveness, where all employees can develop their full potential, irrespective of their race, gender, marital status, age, disability, religious belief, political opinion or sexual orientation.