Public Affairs Manager (Hiring Immediately) in Leeds

We’re recruiting for a Public Affairs Manager to join the Asda Corporate Affairs Team. In this role you’ll be responsible for coordinating all aspects of Asda’s public affairs engagement, with a particular focus on Westminster and Whitehall. Working in a small, high performing team, you will be collaborating with colleagues across the business to enhance Asda’s reputation externally and strongly advocate for good policy making to reduce the cumulative burden on our business, so we can deliver even better value for our customers.

You will be a vital link in maintaining positive relationships with a wide range of interests, with a particular focus on politicians, civil servants and NGOs in Westminster. You will report to the Head of Corporate Affairs UK. You will represent the business on all relevant aspects of policy, working directly with colleagues in Government Affairs, and regularly collaborating with multiple teams across Asda including Property, Media Relations, Community, Health, Local Sourcing, Legal and with local store operations.

The role will be based primarily in London. There will be a requirement for regular travel to Leeds (approx. 2 days per month). There will also be regular travel across the UK as required to attend meetings, store visits, etc.

You will be responsible for delivering a proactive political engagement plan for the UK. You will monitor trends and developments in policy, regulation and legislation, identifying business risks and developing clear plans to mitigate where possible and help the business to prepare. You will help guide the business through major new legislation. You will coordinate political engagements across the year including parliamentary events and political store visits. You will coordinate communications to our political stakeholders on relevant issues such as our community work and local sourcing. You will collaborate with subject matter experts across the business to prepare submissions on relevant consultations. You will prepare responses to correspondence from MPs and local councillors. You will prepare briefings for senior leadership. You will coordinate day to day liaison and management with our public affairs agencies, trade bodies and support services. You will regularly represent the business at a range of events and meetings with stakeholders. You will manage a team budget.

Let's find out about you: You will bring experience working in politics/public affairs and business or trade body. A track record of building networks and developing / maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders. You have a demonstrable passion for public and current affairs. You are customer focused with an empathy for Asda customers. You have strong organisational and coordinating skills and an eye for detail. You have an ability to research, understand and summarise complex issues quickly and accurately. You are a proactive self-starter with a willingness to perform a very wide range of tasks. You have a can do and proactive approach to work, a highly organised self-starter. You have personal integrity, resilience and the drive and ambition to succeed. You are a strong team player, able to work to tight deadlines and manage a varied and significant workload in collaboration with team members. You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and are a confident presenter and influencer.

Everything you'll love: To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots. You will also get an excellent benefits package including:

• Discretionary company bonus
• Company pension up to 7% matched
• Company Car allowance of £5,700
• 15% colleague discount in store and online
• Free access to wellbeing services such as Stream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.
• Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated
• Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.

We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves.