Head of Policy
Hybrid working (Westminster office)
Competitive salaries and excellent benefits including up to one day’s paid leave each year to undertake volunteering opportunities
Make UK directly represent over 4,500 businesses who are members of Make UK. Everything they do – from providing essential business support and training to championing manufacturing industry in the UK and the EU – is designed to help British manufacturers compete, innovate and grow. From HR and employment law, health and safety to environmental and productivity improvement, their advice, expertise and influence enables businesses to remain safe, compliant and future-focused.
As Head of Policy you will manage and deliver the policy work programme spanning these different areas of policy. Make UK is a highly influential and impactful trade body, so as Head of Policy you will be responsible for working closely with the Director of Policy to ensure that the voice of UK manufacturers is heard at the very top of Government.
Role and Responsibilities
Strategic
- Design, manage and implement Make UK’s policy work programme in accordance with team objectives, activities and measurements of success.
- Report and evaluate on Make UK’s policy work programme to Senior Management Team, members and wider stakeholders.
Operational
- Deliver Make UK’s policy work programme, managing the projects to ensure they are delivered on time and reflect Make UK’s lobbying position.
- Deliver Make UK’s policy responses to consultations and inquiries to shape outcomes for the benefit of Make UK members and present Make UK as a thought leader.
- Build relationships with key policy and political stakeholders to maintain Make UK’s reputation, profile and influence across Whitehall and Westminster.
- With the Director of Policy, identify, plan and manage research projects designed to shape Make UK’s policy and public affairs objectives.
- Speaking and presenting at external policy committees and groups to ensure members’ needs are effectively represented to policymakers and other external stakeholders.
- Supporting the policy team in managing member policy groups to support the development of policy and provide Make UK with a strong member mandate.
- Apply strong project management skills to deliver all tasks on time and within budget.
- Relationship management and team working
- Key relationship with the Director of Policy in delivering policy activities.
- Line management of Policy Unit
- Working closely with Government Affairs colleagues in the Communications Department and other departments to ensure policy messaging is consistent in all communications to internal and external stakeholders.
- Work with Make UK membership colleagues to coordinate influencing activity.
About you
Essential
- Demonstrable experience in a policy role.
- Comprehensive knowledge and experience of the policy-making process in the UK, including successfully shaping policy outcomes.
- Proven ability to design, manage and deliver policy projects, often at pace.
- Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including senior civil servants and politicians.
- Ability to react swiftly to events in a fast-paced media and political environment.
- Self-starter and results-orientated.
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and deliver to deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to speak confidently and authoritatively in front of an audience.
- Line management experience is necessary.
Desirable
- Previous experience of having provided policy and public affairs functions for a membership organisation.
- Budget management experience.
Apply now
What we do
We stimulate success for manufacturing businesses, helping them to meet their objectives and goals. We empower individuals and we inspire the next generation.