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- Tasks: Lead public affairs strategy across Europe and engage with key stakeholders.
- Company: Join MDPI, a pioneer in open access publishing with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, special days off, health cash plan, and bonus incentives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in public affairs while working in a dynamic city centre office.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 2-5 years in public affairs or strategic communications.
- Other info: Enjoy a friendly environment with monthly events and a focus on diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
To strengthen the External Affairs team, we are seeking a Public Affairs Lead Europe to support and implement MDPI’s public affairs strategy across the region. Acting as a regional lead, you will manage public affairs activities across assigned European countries and serve as a key contact for policy, institutional, and governmental engagement. This role requires working fully on-site. Our office is located in Manchester city centre.
Responsibilities
- Regional Public Affairs & Strategy
- Support and implement MDPI’s public affairs strategy across Europe in alignment with External Affairs objectives.
- Manage public affairs activities across assigned countries and act as a key internal contact for policy-related topics.
- Contribute insights to strengthen MDPI’s positioning at a regional and European level.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy
- Support engagement with academic, governmental, and policy stakeholders across Europe.
- Coordinate meetings, consultations, initiatives, and participation in relevant events.
- Maintain stakeholder records and support long-term relationship management.
- Coordination, Policy Monitoring & Reporting
- Coordinate with public affairs and PR/PA agencies to ensure consistent messaging and effective delivery.
- Support team workflows, guidelines, and process improvements.
- Monitor relevant policy and regulatory developments and prepare briefings, intelligence updates, and advocacy materials.
Requirements
- Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- 2-5 years of professional experience in strategic communications, public affairs, policy, or related roles.
- Experience working with public affairs or communications agencies.
- Experience in or knowledge of publishing, research, or the academic sector.
- Experience supporting small teams, mentoring and leading collaborative initiatives.
- Hard Skills & Languages
- English - fluent (C1 required); additional European languages are an asset.
- Ability to prepare clear and concise policy briefings, reports, and stakeholder materials.
- Familiarity with European policy environments and institutional landscapes.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
- Soft Skills & Competencies
- Proactive, reliable, and detail-oriented working style.
- Confidence in meetings and stakeholder interactions, internal and external.
- Strong communication and coordination skills.
- Problem-solving mindset with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
- Team-oriented, resilient, and motivated to contribute to long-term objectives.
About MDPI
A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI has the mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. We operate over 400 diverse, peer-reviewed, open-access journals supported by over 66,000 academic editors. We serve scholars from around the world to ensure the latest research is openly and broadly available. Besides our main publishing business, we develop and maintain digital platforms and software ranging from scientific exchange platforms to article databases and search engines, all focused on empowering scholars and giving them the best possible product and service. As of the end of 2022, we count more than 6700 colleagues in 17 offices across 11 countries.
Benefits
- Flexible Working Times: You are able to start work anytime between 7-9am, and finish between 3pm-6pm.
- Special Days Off: Getting married or moving house? No need to use up your holidays; MDPI offer paid time off for such occasions.
- Our Culture: A friendly working environment with monthly lunch parties, office snacks and seasonal events.
- Bonus Incentives: Depending on your role, you may be eligible for one of our bonus schemes which rewards high-performing employees.
- Perkbox: Access to our benefit platform with discounts and benefits across retailers, including savings on food, drinks, tech, travel, and more.
- Health Cash Plan: After passing probation, employees are enrolled into our private health membership with Bupa. You can claim money back on dental, doctors, and prescriptions amongst many other health services.
- Modern City Centre Office: Located next to Piccadilly Gardens; 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road stations. Tram stops outside the building.
- Cyclescheme: Save between 25-39% on a bike and accessories.
- Techscheme: Save up to 10% on tax when purchasing tech equipment from places such as Ikea and Currys.
- Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion: At MDPI, we believe in fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and values individual differences and prioritises growth through continued learning, support, and feedback. We are always seeking new initiatives to advance diversity and inclusion across all our offices to create a more equal workforce.
Public Affairs Lead - Europe in Manchester employer: MDPI AG
Contact Detail:
MDPI AG Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Public Affairs Lead - Europe in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the public affairs scene. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research MDPI’s public affairs strategy and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practice answering common questions and come up with some insightful questions of your own to show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! If you’ve got experience in policy monitoring or stakeholder engagement, make sure to highlight that in conversations. Bring examples of your work to interviews to demonstrate how you can contribute to MDPI’s mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at MDPI and contributing to their public affairs efforts across Europe.
We think you need these skills to ace Public Affairs Lead - Europe in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Public Affairs Lead role. Highlight your relevant experience in public affairs, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your hard and soft skills! We want to see your proficiency in preparing policy briefings and your ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Let your personality shine through!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Avoid jargon and make sure your passion for public affairs comes across!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at MDPI AG
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in MDPI’s public affairs strategy and the specific challenges facing the academic publishing sector in Europe. Brush up on recent policy developments and be ready to discuss how they impact the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to share specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your skills in stakeholder engagement and strategic communications. Highlight any experience you have with public affairs agencies or in the academic sector, as this will resonate well.
✨Be Proactive and Engaging
During the interview, don’t just wait for questions—engage with your interviewers. Ask insightful questions about their current public affairs initiatives and express your enthusiasm for contributing to their goals.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
MDPI values collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully worked in teams before. Share examples of mentoring or leading initiatives, and emphasise your ability to adapt to changing priorities while keeping the team motivated.
