Public Affairs Lead in Manchester

Office Locations: Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bolton, Southport, Newcastle, Reading, Birmingham, Northampton, Cambridge. Hybrid working available with the flexibility to work from home and collaborate in-office when needed. We believe we offer our colleagues the best hybrid and flexible working practices, balancing working from home with time collaborating and socialising with colleagues in our modern offices.

A trusted voice shaping the policy environment our clients operate in. We are seeking an experienced Public Affairs Lead to shape and influence the external policy and stakeholder environment in which our firm operates. This is a senior, high-impact role at the heart of our external positioning—working with leadership, senior lawyers and communications teams to ensure the firm is seen as a credible, trusted authority on the issues that matter most to our clients, partners and wider society.

The successful candidate will build and sustain long-term relationships with policymakers, regulators and sector bodies, ensuring the firm has a respected and influential voice across relevant policy debates and reform agendas. Combining strategic judgement with practical delivery, you will translate complex legal and policy issues into clear, evidence-based positions, helping the firm navigate risk, seize opportunity and contribute meaningfully to public policy discussions. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and brings calm authority, professional integrity and strong influencing skills to high-profile and sensitive issues.

In Return Fletchers Offers:

• 35 hours working week
• Bonus scheme (subject to targets being met)
• 35 days holiday a year including bank holidays and Christmas Closure; you also have an option to purchase up to 3 extra days’ holiday per year, until you receive the 3 days after your 5th, 7th, and 9th full year of employment
• Pension scheme with tax-efficient salary sacrifice option
• Life Assurance Policy
• Medicash policy to cover some dental, optical and other medical expenses
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and IVF schemes
• Flexible, agile working environment with a positive work-life balance
• Varied calendar of funded company social events
• Monthly voucher awards for winning nominees
• A genuinely supportive and friendly culture
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Main Responsibilities:

• Strategy & positioning: Develop and deliver a Public Affairs strategy aligned to the firm’s brand, values and priority markets. Identify priority policy themes and clear positions, working closely with senior lawyers and leadership. Advise the business on political, regulatory and policy developments that may present risk or opportunity.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain trusted relationships with policymakers, civil servants, regulators, parliamentarians and sector bodies. Represent the firm in external forums, consultations, roundtables and working groups. Coordinate engagement activity to ensure consistency, credibility and impact.
• Policy & insight: Lead the development of policy briefings, consultation responses and evidence-based submissions. Work with internal experts and insight teams to ensure positions are underpinned by data, research and lived experience. Monitor and interpret relevant legislative and policy developments.
• Collaboration & integration: Work closely with PR, media and content teams to align Public Affairs activity with wider communications and thought leadership. Support senior lawyers and spokespeople with briefings and preparation for external engagement. Ensure Public Affairs activity strengthens, rather than fragments, the firm’s external narrative.

Experience & Capability:

• Strong understanding of the UK public affairs and policy landscape.
• Proven experience in public affairs, policy, government relations or a related field.
• High credibility and confidence operating with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling positions.
• Calm, considered judgement with a strong sense of professional integrity.

Performance indicators:

• The firm is recognised as a credible contributor to relevant policy discussions.
• Strong, trusted relationships with key external stakeholders.
• Clear alignment between Public Affairs, PR and thought leadership activity.
• Evidence of influence through invitations, contributions and citations – not just activity volume.

Essential Skills And Experience:

• Strong understanding of the UK public affairs, political and policy landscape.
• Proven experience in public affairs, policy, government relations or a related field.
• Ability to develop clear, evidence-based policy positions aligned to organisational strategy.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with credibility at senior level.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including producing persuasive briefings and consultation responses.
• Confidence translating complex legal or policy issues into clear, compelling messages.
• Calm judgement, professional integrity and the ability to navigate sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Collaborative approach, working effectively with communications, PR and senior leadership teams.

Essential Experience:

• Demonstrable experience operating in a Public Affairs, policy, government relations or regulatory environment, ideally within a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Strong understanding of the UK political and policy landscape, including how decisions are shaped across government, parliament, regulators and sector bodies.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining senior-level relationships with policymakers, regulators or influential external stakeholders.
• Experience of shaping policy positions and influencing outcomes through consultations, submissions, or direct engagement.
• Ability to translate complex legal, regulatory or societal issues into clear, credible and compelling narratives for external audiences.
• Experience of working closely with senior leaders or subject matter experts to develop aligned positions and external messaging.
• Track record of integrating Public Affairs activity with wider communications, PR or thought leadership to deliver consistent and impactful external positioning.
• Strong judgement and discretion when operating in sensitive or high-profile environments.

We reserve the right to close this role before the date specified depending on the calibre and volume of candidates.

About Fletchers Solicitors: Fletchers is a fast-growing, dynamic law firm specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence law, with outstanding rankings in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Our workplace culture is inclusive, informal, and supportive, with a strong focus on colleague wellbeing and happiness. We are proud to offer some of the best hybrid and flexible working arrangements in the industry — because we understand that balance drives performance. At Fletchers Solicitors, we also value connection and collaboration. We create exciting opportunities for teams to come together and thrive. We reward those who help build our success and live our values. Our benefits package is designed to grow with you, offering real opportunities to share in our long-term strength. Our base pay and bonus structure is built to recognise and reward high performance. Join us and be part of a law firm that’s not only growing but redefining what it means to work in legal services. Fletchers Solicitors is an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce: we welcome applications from any and all backgrounds. We’re committed to providing a culture and environment where everyone can thrive, understanding and celebrating that no colleague is the same. We’re proud of our work on the Disability Confident scheme, signed up to BITC's Race at Work charter, and working towards Henpicked's Menopause and Menstrual Friendly accreditations.