Senior Public Affairs Specialist

Senior Public Affairs Specialist

6 months fixed-term contract

Circa £50,000

Flexible working hours (open to full-time or part-time options)

London, Wimbledon (hybrid working)

The Role

Working closely with the Senior Public Affairs colleagues, you'll help deliver the CIPD's public affairs activity, taking the lead on specific priority areas and projects. You'll develop public affairs strategies, build relationships with stakeholders across Government and Parliament, and play a key role in raising the CIPD's external profile and building support for our priority policy positions.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong interest in UK policy and political processes who's looking to develop their public affairs career, working autonomously while representing the CIPD at external meetings and events.

What You'll Be Doing

• Taking the lead and driving forward public affairs work on specific priority areas and projects, maintaining a strong understanding of the relevant policy issues and CIPD's positions
• Developing public affairs plans to promote CIPD's profile and build support for our priority policy offers
• Supporting the team's engagement with key political stakeholders, including Ministers, shadow spokespeople, parliamentarians, government officials, and sector/industry representatives
• Representing the CIPD in meetings with key stakeholders
• Preparing high-quality briefings and written materials for political audiences
• Engaging with government and parliamentary processes, such as the passage of legislation, select committee inquiries, and government consultations, on behalf of the CIPD
• Proactively monitoring the parliamentary and political agenda, spotting opportunities to advance CIPD's public affairs goals
• Managing projects such as consultation responses and inquiries that require input from multiple stakeholders to tight deadlines
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across CIPD's public policy, press, and content teams, as well as our retained public affairs agency

What you’ll need to be successful

• Experience of leading and delivering public affairs activity
• Experience of working in a membership organisation or similar
• A strong understanding of the UK’s political system and how to engage with political stakeholders
• Understanding of employment/skills policy issues
• Ability to grasp political landscape and make sound decisions using data, insights and knowledge
• Ability to work proactively and independently
• Ability to pick up new policy areas and projects quickly
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including an ability to distil complex issues into clear and persuasive messages
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Able to produce high quality, well‑written and engaging content for public affairs audiences, using CIPD research and other relevant external sources identified through background research
• Campaign planning, stakeholder mapping and excellent organisational skills as well as experience of project management.

About us

We’ve been championing better work and working lives for over 100 years. We help organisations thrive by focusing on their people, supporting our economies and societies. We’re the professional body for HR, L&D, OD and all people professionals – experts in people, work and change. With over 160,000 members globally – and a growing community using our research, insights and learning – we give trusted advice and offer independent thought leadership. And we are a leading voice in the call for good work that creates value for everyone.

We offer an inclusive and collaborative working environment, a wide range of development opportunities and a competitive benefits package, including 28 days’ annual leave (with the option to buy and sell), a personal development allowance, access to an award‑winning pension scheme and a strong focus on wellbeing, including a cashback health scheme. We also support colleagues at different life stages, with enhanced parental leave, fertility and family‑forming support, and support for those who are full‑time carers for their loved ones.

We value everyone as an individual and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, ensuring fair opportunities for all and strengthening how we work and deliver impact together.