Director of External Affairs

The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the voice of private capital in the UK. We are the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity and venture capital industry in the UK. We have been acting on behalf of this community for almost 40 years, enabling it to uphold its vision and achieve its goals. We actively represent this diverse community of long-term investors enabling them to speak with one clear and consistent voice to wider society, including the Government, media and MPs. The BVCA engages, sustains, and evolves the private capital community, connecting institutional investors, fund managers, companies, advisers and service providers. Our membership comprises more than 700 influential firms, including over 325 private equity and venture capital firms, 100 institutional investors and 220 professional services firms. Our members help companies grow and achieve their long-term ambitions, creating value for the country, economically and socially. Private capital helps create the jobs of the future in high-growth sectors like biotech, software and clean energy and it helps to attract investment and talent from around the world to the UK. From creating medicines to protect us against Covid-19, to backing innovative companies in their quest to find solutions to our low-carbon future, private capital also plays a critical role in addressing the future challenges we face as a society. Together we are invested in a better future.

This full-time permanent position within the BVCA is a key role for someone who has a significant number of years senior External Affairs experience, engaging with and influencing key political stakeholders, media and key business representatives. Your primary responsibility will be to work with the Director General and other senior members of the BVCA team to shape and implement the External Affairs strategy and to ensure responses to both the demands of our external stakeholders, and the needs of our members, are based on a consistent narrative approach which in turn is informed by appropriate research. This will involve the overall responsibility for a team of 9, with direct management of 1 Team Head and 3 Managers.

Responsibilities

• Politics - engaging with ministers, the UK Parliament, political advisers, senior civil servants, think tanks and related organisations; and engaging with those in equivalent positions in the devolved nations and the devolved English regions.
• Media - engaging with relevant media across the UK.
• Business - engaging with leading business organisations and other relevant trade bodies.
• Research - ensuring research of value is produced to members and stakeholders.
• Communications - leading the Communications Action Plan.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Expertise in and knowledge of the highest levels of the UK political system and media.
• Relationships at senior levels with key political, media, business and research (‘PMBR’) stakeholders; liaison with counterparts at international organisations.
• Creation of narratives explaining complex issues to key stakeholders.
• Expertise and understanding of key areas relevant to industry advocacy and research.
• Ability to pick up on and adapt to changing priorities.
• Industry awareness to ensure best practice is incorporated.
• Management of complex projects and diverse teams.
• An empathetic leader who likes to both coach and empower their team to contribute to business and strategic goals.
• A skilled prioritiser, able to execute on multiple objectives at once while ensuring key milestones are reached in a timely manner.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Collaborative and consultative approach.
• Ability to manage pressure and stress well, with a calm and logical approach.
• A positive and flexible outlook.

The BVCA Executive comprises a diverse range of staff unified in their aim to drive forward the industry and actively demonstrate its impact to the Government, media, and the public at large and to reinforce the crucial role our industry plays in the global economy. We support an environment that is based on merit and inclusiveness, where all employees can develop their full potential, irrespective of their race, gender, marital status, age, disability, religious belief, political opinion or sexual orientation.