Director of Public Affairs

SUMMARY:
The Director of Government Relations will represent the interests of the company with Government, political audiences and other relevant stakeholders

POSITION INFO:

Director of Government Relations to lead our government relations activities.

Main Responsibilities

The Director of Government Relations will represent the interests of the company with Government, political audiences and other relevant stakeholders. The position holder will be accountable for: advocating a public policy environment that creates competitive advantage for the company; developing and implementing political engagement strategies to help identify, win, maintain and grow HP’s public sector business; supporting company executives in their engagement, profile and relationship building with Government; providing political advice and counsel to senior business leaders to inform business strategy and decision-making.

The incumbent work with colleagues in the various business units and other functional teams including PR and Analyst Relations, Marketing, Legal and HR. The position holder will support local and UK business but will also have responsibility for aligning and integrating with the EMEA and Global Government Relations teams.

Essential Experience

• Experience in a government relations or public affairs role;
• Experience leading the development and implementation of government relations strategies for a number of different organizations and/or companies;
• Experience working in a business environment, providing advice and counsel to senior management and presenting to senior level boards and committees;
• Highly sophisticated knowledge of UK Government and the policy making, legislative and other processes that surround it;
• Strong political networks, a track record in successful relationship building and political influencing, and a willingness to dedicate time and effort to broadening and deepening those networks;
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills and a proven track record of producing high quality content and materials;
• Outstanding organizational abilities, in particular, the capacity to manage several different work streams at one time and the proactivity to drive work programmes forward and co-ordinate the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders;
• Experience of leading a team, setting strategy, objectives and individual goals, managing workload and competing priorities across a team and demonstrating measurable outcomes and achievements.

Preferable Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of Government procurement processes;
• Experience of providing Government relations advice and support to businesses and/or organizations competing for public sector business.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following policy areas: work and pensions; defence; health; education; local government; justice and home affairs;
• Experience undertaking a Government relations or public affairs role in a major multinational corporation;
• Experience and understanding of the technology sector and the policy issues that impact it;
• Experience of providing Government relations or public affairs advice in a consultancy or client service capacity.

Personal Competencies

• Thrives on challenge and working in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent analytical skills, political instincts and judgment;
• Confidence to provide advice and counsel at senior levels;
• Team player with a collaborative approach;
• Self-starter with the initiative to drive projects forward;
• Highly organized and results-oriented with strong business acumen;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Highest personal and professional integrity.