At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead policy advice and stakeholder engagement to shape client outcomes in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join DLA Piper, a leading firm committed to inclusivity and professional growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for mentorship and development.
- Other info: Supportive team environment with a focus on talent development and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on government policy while building valuable relationships.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of UK politics and experience in public affairs or advisory roles.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
This role is a key position within the UK Government Affairs team, delivering high-quality policy, regulatory, political and strategic advice to clients navigating complex regulatory environments. Working within a growing and high-profile practice, you will lead and contribute to policy engagement, stakeholder management and advocacy activities that shape client outcomes. You will also play a significant role in business development and enhancing the team’s external profile. By combining commercial insight with political and policy awareness, you will support clients to effectively influence and respond to government policy and regulatory developments.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of high-quality policy and regulatory advice, supporting clients to navigate complex political and legislative environments.
- Work closely with Partners to shape client engagement strategies, including identifying key stakeholders, defining messaging, and determining desired outcomes.
- Support clients across the full engagement lifecycle of government affairs mandates, from early-stage problem solving and strategy design through to implementation and follow-up activity.
- Draft high-impact written materials, including briefings, correspondence, and engagement outputs for senior political and regulatory audiences.
- Manage and drive forward stakeholder engagement programmes, ensuring timely execution and maintaining momentum.
- Take ownership of the day-to-day management of client mandates, ensuring delivery is coordinated, deadlines are met, and outputs are aligned to client objectives.
- Act as a key point of contact for clients, building trusted relationships and providing clear, commercially focused advice with increasing autonomy.
- Play an active role in business development, including contributing to pitches, identifying opportunities, and supporting the growth and profile of the Government Affairs practice.
- Train, mentor and support more junior advisors, contributing to talent development within the firm.
About you
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of UK politics, policy and regulatory frameworks, with relevant professional experience gained in government, Parliament, a regulator, or a public affairs/advisory environment.
- Having established networks across Whitehall would be an advantage.
- Demonstrate well-developed analytical skills to assess political, policy and regulatory developments, translating these into clear, commercially focused insights and advice for clients.
- Ability to communicate complex issues confidently and credibly, with experience engaging directly with senior stakeholders including policymakers, regulators, and clients.
- Demonstrate experience supporting or leading stakeholder engagement strategies, including identifying target audiences, shaping messaging, and driving desired outcomes.
- Build and maintain effective relationships both externally (e.g. Parliament, regulators, trade associations) and internally across multidisciplinary legal teams.
- Show the ability to manage multiple workstreams independently, taking ownership of deliverables and ensuring high-quality execution in a fast-paced environment.
- Contribute proactively to business development activity, including identifying opportunities, supporting pitches, and strengthening client relationships.
- Demonstrate sound judgement, professionalism, and an understanding of the ethical and regulatory considerations relevant to government affairs and advocacy.
We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify. We’re committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know. At DLA Piper, we aim to make meaningful progress and build an inclusive culture where anyone affected by disability, neurodiversity or a long-term health condition has an equitable and accessible chance of success. If you think you may need adjustments or additional support to enable you to participate in our recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment team and we will be happy to support you.
